This article has been updated to include a comment from Sam Miller, president of OU College Democrats.
Some local Republicans are standing by Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump after an audio recording was leaked of the candidate making vulgar and objectifying comments about women.
In the recording, Trump claimed he could do anything with women because he was famous.
“When you’re a star, they let you do it," Trump said. "You can do anything. … Grab ‘em by the p---y. You can do anything.”
After the leak, Sen. Rob Portman, R-OH, who had previously endorsed Trump, reneged his support for the Republican candidate in a statement released Saturday.
“Donald Trump's comments were offensive and wrong,” Portman said. “I can no longer support him.”
Trump has also frustrated his supporters in Athens. David Parkhill, president of the Ohio University College Republicans, said the comments were "appalling."
“Those statements obviously do not reflect well on Mr. Trump," Parkhill said. "I don’t think anyone else in the party (agrees with) those statements, and (the comments are) just extremely inappropriate coming from someone who is the potential president of the United States.”
Sam Miller, president of the OU College Democrats, said Trump's comments were "disgusting" and that he should be held accountable for what he said.
"A man that brags about sexually assaulting women is not fit to be president," she said. "Trump has already made a lot of comments that I feel are very demeaning to different demographics of people, but this really crosses the line. It’s ridiculous and crazy to me that people are still backing him and supporting him."
Ryan Evans, vice president of OUCR, said that the comments were “crude and disturbing,” but said he still supports Trump in order to keep Hillary Clinton out of the presidency.
“It’s his words versus her actions,” Evans said. “We can’t let Hillary Clinton get into the White House.”
Casey Kinsey, the political director of OUCR, said though he disagrees with Trump’s comments, he still supports the candidate.
“First and foremost what voters should pay attention to is the issues and what they align with and what’s gonna make this country successful,” Kinsey said. “I 100 percent believe that Donald Trump’s policies are what’s gonna make this country thrive, whereas Hillary's policies will cripple us.”
John Haseley, chair of the Athens County Democratic Party, criticized Republicans who continued to support Trump after his comments.
“I think that it’s inexcusable for anybody in the Republican Party not to repudiate Donald Trump for his comments,” Haseley said.
He also said Trump’s comments give the public a better view of Donald Trump’s personality and makes it more difficult for people to support the candidate.
“Undoubtedly it gives people a clearer window into his character,” he said. “And I think it makes it really hard for somebody to face their daughters, their wives, anybody. It makes it hard to face anybody and say that they support a man who could say and do such things.”
Parkhill said, as of now, the OUCR will continue to support the Republican nominee.
“We are the College Republicans,” Parkhill said. “And as of now Donald Trump is still our nominee.”
