republican presidential nominee donald trump | ap photo/john locher by lauren dezenski 10/08/16 03:12 pm edt massachusetts republicans decried donald trump<u+2019>s lewd, sexually aggressive comments about women, but cited his 90-second apology video, released late friday night, to defend their continued support of the party<u+2019>s presidential candidate. trump<u+2019>s massachusetts campaign co-chair geoff diehl said <u+201c>as a father and a husband,<u+201d> he finds the comments <u+201c>unacceptable.<u+201d> story continued below <u+201c>i don<u+2019>t condone what was discussed, but i am glad he has apologized,<u+201d> said diehl in an email to politico massachusetts, before turning to hillary clinton. <u+201c>in the ten years since he made those terrible comments, hillary clinton has jeopardized national security with her emails, sold the services of the office of secretary of state to the highest bidder, obstructed justice in congressional and fbi investigations, and has allowed four americans to die." party chair kirsten hughes called trump<u+2019>s comments <u+201c>horribly offensive and disgusting<u+201d> but added <u+201c>it is appropriate that donald trump has apologized.<u+201d> hughes then turned to down-ballot races, a key focus for the state party as its de facto leader, gov. charlie baker, has refused to support donald trump. <u+201c>i believe now more than ever that our outstanding candidates here in massachusetts will succeed come november because they are stressing the positive alternatives they offer voters: fiscal responsibility, lower taxes and real plans to make government work for the people," she said. trump drew a firestorm of criticism after the washington post reported and posted video of trump in 2005 telling access hollywood<u+2019>s billy bush that with women, <u+201c>i don<u+2019>t even wait,<u+201d> and bragged about how he would 'grab them by the pussy.'<u+201d> late friday night, trump apologized in a 90-second video posted online, saying <u+201c>i've said and done things i regret. anyone who knows me knows these words don't reflect who i am. i said it, i was wrong, and i apologize.<u+201d> he then promised to be a <u+201c>better man.<u+201d> massdems party chair tom mcgee issued a statement saturday morning saying the video <u+201c>showed the real donald trump.<u+201d> <u+201c>donald trump's disgusting comments are inexcusable and his rushed midnight apology rang hollow,<u+201d> mcgee said. lauren dezenski's must-read rundown of what's up on beacon hill and beyond
massachusetts republicans stand behind trump after apology
lauren dezenski