Advocates for women in the military doubt that Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump can be a credible commander in chief for all service members given the recent sexual harassment and assault allegations leveled against him.
"It would especially problematic for the military culture, because leaders have been working so hard to end gender bias," said Kate Germano, chief operating officer of the Service Women's Action Network. "With a person like that in charge of the military, there's no way you could say women would stand a fair chance to have equal opportunities to succeed."
At least six women have publicly accused the GOP nominee of unwanted advances, groping and harassment in the days since recordings surfaced from a 2005 TV appearance where Trump bragged about forcing himself on women.
Trump has adamantly denied all of the charges, calling the accusers opportunists and liars, and dismissed the 2005 comments as little more than "locker room talk."
But the news has shaken his campaign's support among women in recent polls, and Germano said it re-emphasizes concerns advocates like her group have expressed for months about his candidacy.
"It's not just a matter of the latest complaint," she said. "Donald Trump for months now has had a record of disparaging comments against women, comments about reversing the progress for opportunities for women in the military, had talked about how the new combat integration process (for female troops) is nothing more than politically correct action.
"There's a real danger with him."
Other advocacy groups like Protect Our Defenders have criticized Trump for his past statements related to women in the ranks, particularly after his comments at the Commander in Chief Forum in September where he defended remarks blaming sexual assaults in the military on men and women working too closely together.
Campaign staffers for both Trump and Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton met with military advocacy groups in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday. Germano said she broached the topic of assault and harassment at that event, but walked away dissatisfied with Trump surrogates’ responses.
SWAN officials have met with Clinton staffers in recent months to discuss her views on opportunities for women in the military, and have expressed support for her comments lauding integration of women into combat units.
In contrast, the Republican platform approved earlier this summer includes language supporting "the advancement of women in the military" but opposing their inclusion in ground combat units.
Germano said in an internal poll of its members earlier this summer, the overwhelming majority of members favored Clinton’s plans on female service member issues to Trump’s.
"With the cultural issues in the military now, in some branches more than others, it is disturbing to think that this would be the individual we would call commander in chief, be able to look him in the face and believe he is fully committed to making sure women are treated with dignity and respect," she said.
More than 800,000 women serve in active-duty, National Guard and reserve roles.
Last month’s Military Times/Institute for Veterans and Military Families Poll of service members showed male troops supporting Trump over Clinton by a 39 percent to 15 percent margin, but female troops favoring him by a 27 percent to 23 percent margin. Follow @LeoShane
Leo Shane III covers Congress, Veterans Affairs and the White House for Military Times. He can be reached at lshane@militarytimes.com.
Leo covers Congress, Veterans Affairs and the White House for Military Times. He has covered Washington, D.C. since 2004, focusing on military personnel and veterans policies. His work has earned numerous honors, including a 2009 Polk award, a 2010 National Headliner Award, the IAVA Leadership in Journalism award and the VFW News Media award.
