ATLANTA — Red State’s Erick Erickson dis-invited GOP presidential candidate and businessman Donald Trump after he insulted Fox News anchor and Thursday night’s debate moderator Megyn Kelly during a CNN interview Friday night.
I have rescinded my invitation to Mr.Trump. While I have tried to give him great latitude, his remark about Megyn Kelly was a bridge too far — Erick Erickson (@EWErickson) August 8, 2015
“Well I just don’t respect her as a journalist. I have no respect for her. I think she’s highly overrated. But when I came out there what was I doing I’m not getting paid for this. I go out there. And you know they start saying lift up. And you know I didn’t know there would be 24 million people I figured but I knew it was going to be a big crowd because I get big crowds I get ratings they call me the ratings machine so I have you know she she gets out and she starts asking me all sorts of ridiculous questions,” Trump said to CNN’s Don Lemon.
He went further saying, “And you could see there was blood coming out of her eyes blood coming out of her — wherever. She was in my opinion — she was off-base. And by the way, not in my opinion, in the opinion of hundreds of thousands of people on Twitter because it has been a brutal day. In one way a great day for Fox. in another day in the Twitter sphere it’s been very bad because she’s been very badly criticized. She’s a lightweight. I couldn’t care less about her.”
Erickson expanded on his tweet on his site writing in part:
I have tried to give a great deal of latitude to Donald Trump in his run for the Presidency. He is not a professional politician and is known for being a blunt talker. He connects with so much of the anger in the Republican base and is not afraid to be outspoken on a lot of issues. But there are even lines blunt talkers and unprofessional politicians should not cross. Decency is one of those lines.
The Red State host told reporters Friday night that his decision was based on “common decency. I mean, come on, you’re going to accuse Megyn Kelly of having her period and that’s why she asked the tough questions … I just think that’s crap.”
A Trump campaign spokesperson responded to the rescinded invitation saying, “This is just another example of weakness through being politically correct. For all of the people who were looking forward to Mr. Trump coming, we will miss you. Blame Erick Erickson, your weak and pathetic leader. We’ll now be doing another campaign stop at another location.”
Republican presidential candidate Carly Fiorina responded to the situation Friday night and tweeted:
Mr. Trump: There. Is. No. Excuse. — Carly Fiorina (@CarlyFiorina) August 8, 2015
She tweeted again:
I stand with @megynkelly.
— Carly Fiorina (@CarlyFiorina) August 8, 2015
Republican presidential candidate George Pataki also tweeted his views on the issue:
Sad but predictable meltdown from Trump. With all due respect to @megynkelly the outrage at Trump’s divisive language is long overdue.
— George E. Pataki (@GovernorPataki) August 8, 2015
Trump was expected to give remarks at the College Football Hall of Fame on Saturday night at Red State’s tailgate event until Erickson made sent out this most recent announcement.