Megyn Kelly’s first question for Republican front-runner Donald Trump at the GOP debate Thursday night was basically Why are you such a sexist jerk and wouldn’t Hillary Clinton take advantage of that fact if you were the nominee? Trump responded by endorsing past misogynistic comments Kelly had listed, making a joke about Rosie O’Donnell, and blaming a culture of political correctness for hurting the country. The audience in Cleveland ate it up.
“You’ve called women you don’t like ‘fat pigs,’ ‘dogs,’ ‘slobs,’ and ‘disgusting animals,’ ” Kelly began her question before Trump interrupted her with the one-liner “Only Rosie O’Donnell.” Trump has sparred with O’Donnell in the past, but as Kelly noted he’s issued similar insults to other women. “I think the big problem that this country has is being politically correct,” Trump responded to Kelly. “I’ve been challenged by so many people, and I frankly don’t have time for total political correctness, and to be honest with you, this country doesn’t have time either. This country is in big trouble. We don’t win anymore.” The only time the crowd really turned on Trump during this answer was when he issued a veiled threat to Kelly, saying, “I’ve been very nice to you, although I could probably maybe not be based on the way you have treated me,” which elicited boos from the crowd. Perhaps the lesson is you can call women the vilest names as a Republican Party candidate for president, as long at they are not Fox News personalities.
For her part, Rosie seemed taken aback by the latest attack:
