Updated at 9 a.m. Oct. 13, 2016
Sean Colgan of Oceanside has an argument for women repelled by Donald Trump over his 2005 sex remarks: “I would remind women that ALL men are dogs. Just basic to our DNA.”
But Colgan, a 60-year-old Trump supporter, concedes the GOP nominee’s taped “Access Hollywood” comments “made me cringe.”
Responding to a Times of San Diego interview request before a spate of women began alleging being groped or kissed by Trump without consent, Colgan said: “There is zero evidence that he’s actually abused any.”
He added Thursday: “There’s always a spate of ‘Me, too!’ after an allegation of any kind makes the news. If these women had shown up BEFORE the secret recording of that joke had been released, I’d be a lot more willing to believe them. As it is, I don’t. Money inspires people to say whatever will fill their pockets, and politics causes LOTSA money to flow.”
Colgan remains “strong for Trump,” he says, attending nearly every freeway overpass rally and and flag-waving events Tuesday and Thursday evenings at the intersection of Highway 76 and College Boulevard in Oceanside.
“I am always there,” he said via email. “Since the [Sunday] debate, we have MANY more people showing up to wave signs and flags. And, more importantly, we have MANY more people showing their approval of Mr. Trump by honking their horns, giving us a thumbs up, and by shouting encouragement. The honking is almost continuous.
“The support for Mr. Trump by We The People (of North County, anyway) ALSO remains strong.”
Here’s a chat with Colgan, with light editing for style and clarity.
Times of San Diego: Given Donald Trump’s 2005 audio remarks and Sunday debate performance, have you had any second thoughts about supporting him for president? What was your personal reaction to the “Access Hollywood” tape?
Sean Colgan: I have no problems with continuing to support Mr. Trump. “Locker room talk” (an excellent description, BTW) is frequently vulgar. Mr. Trump’s comments were even more so. But, while I cringed at hearing his comments, I realize that locker room talk is all it was. I also realize that this was 11 years ago. People DO mature as time goes on. I also realize that Clinton timed the release the of tape to get maximum advantage.
What is your current voting plan?
My current plan is to still vote for Mr. Trump. While Mr. Trump JOKED about treating women like dirt, Hillary ACTUALLY treated women like dirt. I haven’t forgotten the way she actively treated Monica Lewinsky, Juanita Broaddrick and ALL of the other women that Slick Willy took advantage of. I haven’t forgotten about the 12-year-old rape victim that Hillary ATTACKED and later for so amusing.
And of course, what each candidate plans for America matters. Mr. Trump’s plan is to make America great again. Mr. Trump plans to nominate judges who respect and obey the Constitution. Hillary plans to weaken America, and to nominate judges who will further disrespect the Constitution. It’s really not a tough choice.
What is your prediction of the national vote in November — percentages for Trump and Hillary Clinton? How did you come to this estimate?
I have no faith in polls. My opinion (that they raise and fall like the tide) has not changed. But I still see massive support for Mr. Trump online and at the “overpass rallies” that I attend. This in the very “blue” state of California. I still think that he’ll win. I don’t have an estimate of percentages, but the landslide I expected might not be the margin of victory. But he’ll still win.
The New York Times counts more than 160 Republican leader defections — office-holders and candidates who say they won’t vote for Trump or have withdrawn their endorsement. What is your reaction to this turnabout?
The defections of the RINOs only further proves that the ONLY non-Establishment candidate is Mr. Trump. Which is all the more reason to vote for him.
Trump apparently confirmed Sunday that he paid no federal income tax for many years. Do you salute Trump for this or find any fault?
I salute Mr. Trump for taking advantage of the tax code. EVERYBODY takes whatever deductions available. Anyone who doesn’t is an idiot. Mr. Trump is no idiot. And as he pointed out at the second debate, Clinton, as a senator, was very much part and parcel of making those deductions available. It’s also worth noting that she took advantage of whatever tax deductions that were available for her as well. As did the New York Times, and just about everybody else now trying to defame Mr. Trump.
Trump suggested Sunday that he would jail Clinton if he won the election. Some commentators likened this to Stalin and other dictators who lock up their political opponents. Do you think Clinton should be imprisoned? Why?
There was no suggestion that Mr. Trump would jail Mrs. Clinton because of her politics (the standard for Stalin). He’s going to have a special prosecutor appointed because Mrs. Clinton committed a felony. And a very serious one at that.
Before Mrs. Clinton was given access to classified materials, she, like everyone else, had to sign an NDA, a nondisclosure agreement, wherein she, also like everyone else, assumed the affirmative duty to be careful with the classified materials she was allowed access to. FBI Director [James] Comey, at his press conference, stated that she “knew or should have known” (his actual words) that her handling of classified material was extremely careless. “Intent” to release information is not part of the statute for that very reason. Simply being careless is all the showing that must be made for an arrest (and a successful prosecution).
Director Comey proved that, and showed that Mrs. Clinton violated the statute, and yet still refused to arrest her. To me, this shows that “the fix was in,” and there is a real need for a special prosecutor to examine Mrs. Clinton’s action. And for that matter, Director Comey’s actions as well.
Trump said he disagrees with running mate Mike Pence on how to handle Syria. Do you agree with Trump or Pence on taking on the Syrian regime and its bombing of Aleppo?
I think that taking an action that risks going head-to-head with the Russians is foolish. I understand Mr. Pence’s desire to quickly stop the tragedy that is Aleppo, but concentrating on Daesh (note: I refuse to use the terms ISIS or ISIL), and so ending the basic problem is the better way to go.
An analogy would be the drive into Germany in 1945. We could have diverted resources away from the Nazi Army and headed straight at Dachau or Buchenwald. But the *better* approach was to defeat the Nazi regime and its ability to keep killing. Such is the way to go with the Islamofascist butchers plaguing the world today.
How would you persuade women to vote for Trump?
I would remind women that ALL men are dogs. Just basic to our DNA. ALL men tell jokes about women. But only a very few actually abuse or take advantage of women. While Mr. Trump’s JOKES made me cringe, there is zero evidence that he’s actually abused any. This in contrast to Slick Willy (assisted by Mrs. Clinton), JFK, LBJ or really just about any world leader you care to name. Mr. Trump has had three wives (and that’s not a good thing), but there’s no showing that he’s a serial abuser of interns (or starlets, or anyone else).
If Trump’s plunge in the polls continues and Republican voters flip from either supporting him to deciding not to vote (or voting third party), the GOP fears losing the House and Senate. What is your prediction for control of the House and Senate?
Again, the polls rise and fall like the tide. I have no faith that they accurately reflect what the voters will do in November. But I think that the RINOs who abandon Mr. Trump are at greater risk of losing their seats by abandoning the people’s choice than by sticking with him.
Anything else you’d like to say about your current Trump feelings?
My current feelings? Mr. Trump shared a disgusting joke in a private setting with another guy. I’m just thrilled that I don’t have to worry about hidden microphones when I tell jokes. But for anyone to ignore the actions of Mrs. Clinton, to ignore the policies and plans of the respective candidates for this republic, because of a very bad joke told 11 YEARS ago, would be the height of stupidity. Or in the case of the RINOs abandoning Mr. Trump now, the height of hypocrisy and duplicity.
I’ll add that my feelings on abortion come into play here as well. Mrs. Clinton believes that allowing women to kill the itty-bitty human beings growing inside them should be a sacrament. Mr. Trump is the ONLY candidate who is troubled by this slaughter. He might not be able to do anything about it, but his attitude is worlds ahead of Mrs. Clinton.
