This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/jul/28/trump-immigrants-rapists-what-about-married-american-men

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Trump thinks immigrants are rapists. What about married American men? Trump thinks immigrants are rapists. What about married American men?
(34 minutes later)
I never thought I’d find myself thinking that someone should be legally banned from getting married, but if there was ever a person who deserved it - I’m sure I’ve found him. Michael Cohen, special counsel for the Trump Organization, responded to a reporter’s questions about a decades-old rape accusation against Republican presidential hopeful Donald Trump by claiming marital rape is legal.I never thought I’d find myself thinking that someone should be legally banned from getting married, but if there was ever a person who deserved it - I’m sure I’ve found him. Michael Cohen, special counsel for the Trump Organization, responded to a reporter’s questions about a decades-old rape accusation against Republican presidential hopeful Donald Trump by claiming marital rape is legal.
Apparently someone went to law school at Todd Akin University.Apparently someone went to law school at Todd Akin University.
The comment came after a reporter from the Daily Beast asked Cohen about Ivana Trump’s claim in a divorce deposition that Trump raped her in 1989:The comment came after a reporter from the Daily Beast asked Cohen about Ivana Trump’s claim in a divorce deposition that Trump raped her in 1989:
You’re talking about the frontrunner for the GOP, presidential candidate, as well as a private individual who never raped anybody. And, of course, understand by the very definition, you can’t rape your spouse. It’s true, you cannot rape your spouse. And there’s very clear case law.You’re talking about the frontrunner for the GOP, presidential candidate, as well as a private individual who never raped anybody. And, of course, understand by the very definition, you can’t rape your spouse. It’s true, you cannot rape your spouse. And there’s very clear case law.
The law is clear, but not in the way that Cohen thinks. Marital rape has been illegal in every state since 1993, and was made illegal in New York - where Trump and this then-wife lived during the alleged incident - in 1984.The law is clear, but not in the way that Cohen thinks. Marital rape has been illegal in every state since 1993, and was made illegal in New York - where Trump and this then-wife lived during the alleged incident - in 1984.
Related: Donald Trump's loud mouth got him into trouble, and it will get him out | Jeb Lund
Democratic National Committee Chair Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz released a statement this morning, saying: “This is a new low. Rape is rape. Full stop. End of story. There is no difference or division between ‘forcible’, ‘legitimate’, ‘marital’ or any other label Republicans slap on before the word ‘rape’.Democratic National Committee Chair Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz released a statement this morning, saying: “This is a new low. Rape is rape. Full stop. End of story. There is no difference or division between ‘forcible’, ‘legitimate’, ‘marital’ or any other label Republicans slap on before the word ‘rape’.
Trump, who made racist comments last month about Mexican immigrants being rapists, hasn’t responded - but a campaign spokesperson told an ABC reporter that “nobody speaks for Mr Trump, but Mr Trump.”Trump, who made racist comments last month about Mexican immigrants being rapists, hasn’t responded - but a campaign spokesperson told an ABC reporter that “nobody speaks for Mr Trump, but Mr Trump.”
In that case, I’d like to hear what Mr Trump has to say. Trump denied the claims as “false” when they were first outlined in the 1993 book, Lost Tycoon: The Many Lives of Donald J Trump. (The scene depicted is a horrible one - where he also allegedly ripped hair out of her head.) But considering the way that Trump throws the word ‘rape’ around with abandon and claims to take the crime seriously, I think we deserve to hear more about his stance on sexual violence.In that case, I’d like to hear what Mr Trump has to say. Trump denied the claims as “false” when they were first outlined in the 1993 book, Lost Tycoon: The Many Lives of Donald J Trump. (The scene depicted is a horrible one - where he also allegedly ripped hair out of her head.) But considering the way that Trump throws the word ‘rape’ around with abandon and claims to take the crime seriously, I think we deserve to hear more about his stance on sexual violence.
After all, he’s a presidential contender. So I want to know what exactly he thinks about Cohen’s ignorant and terrifying comments, and - more importantly - what exactly he thinks rape is. Women have been treated to the GOP’s ridiculous theories about what constitutes rape for too long without demanding that the explain themselves. We know you all think rape is horrible - but what do you think rape is? Does it happen in marriage? What about college campuses?After all, he’s a presidential contender. So I want to know what exactly he thinks about Cohen’s ignorant and terrifying comments, and - more importantly - what exactly he thinks rape is. Women have been treated to the GOP’s ridiculous theories about what constitutes rape for too long without demanding that the explain themselves. We know you all think rape is horrible - but what do you think rape is? Does it happen in marriage? What about college campuses?
Do you think, like former Wisconsin Representative Roger Rivard: “some girls rape easy?” Or that pregnancy from rape is a “gift from God,” as Rick Santorum does?Do you think, like former Wisconsin Representative Roger Rivard: “some girls rape easy?” Or that pregnancy from rape is a “gift from God,” as Rick Santorum does?
Forget waiting for the next “gaffe.” If someone wants to be president, I think the least Americans deserve is to hear what they think rape is, and what we can do to stop it.Forget waiting for the next “gaffe.” If someone wants to be president, I think the least Americans deserve is to hear what they think rape is, and what we can do to stop it.
Oh, and maybe get a new - less vile - lawyer.Oh, and maybe get a new - less vile - lawyer.