Donald Trump, who came under fire after the first Republican debate for his sexist attitudes about women, said he would consider a female running mate if he secured the Republican nomination for president.
“Certainly, I would consider a woman as a running mate,” Trump told CBS’ Michael Sneed. “I am all for the concept. It would have to be the right person and I’m not going to go into who that would be right now. But I have great respect for women. I have great respect for women who are executives in my company. I have great respect for women’s judgment.”
Well, if the concept of women is within the realm of Donald’s possibility, ThinkProgress has some great suggestions for his vetting committee.
Rosario Dawson
The business executive who has never run for elected office before touched off his campaigns with controversial remarks about how Mexican immigrants are “rapists” and drug mules. He went on to assure everyone that he planned to win the Latino vote. Dawson would help him get there, as a movie star and activist who co-founder of the Latino get-out-the-vote organization Voto Latino.
Megyn Kelly
The Fox News host had some choice words for Trump during the debate, challenging him on sexist remarks. After the debate he called her a “lightweight” and suggested she was probably just on her period. But there’s no better way to make up than take Kelly out of the Fox News lineup and put her on the ticket. Keep your friends close and your enemies closer.
Carly Fiorina
Luckily there’s already a woman in the Republican race who says she’s ready to be president. The former HP executive earned impressive marks after the first debate — just not from her potential future running mate. Trump tweeted after the debate, “I just realized that if you listen to Carly Fiorina for more than ten minutes straight, you develop a massive headache. She has zero chance!” Earlier this year he also had some not-so-kind words for Fiorina: “I think she’s a very nice woman. But she got fired. And, she lost in a landslide. Does that qualify you to run for president?” No word on whether it qualifies you for vice president, though.
Condi Rice
Though Trump was “no fan” of going into Iraq, it’s certainly a popular move with the GOP base. What better way to assure Republican voters than to get an Iraq War architect on your team? Rice, the former national security adviser and secretary of state for his rival Jeb Bush’s brother, would certainly add insult to injury. He also recently said, “I’m the most militaristic person there is.” They’d make a great pair.
Cecile Richards
Though Trump has become opposed to abortion after years of describing himself as pro-choice, he has recently said that Planned Parenthood does “good things,” and doesn’t deserve to have its funding cut off when it provides crucial women’s health care. And given that the reproductive health care organization is more popular than he is, what better way to reinforce your support than asking its president to join you in the race?
Ronda Rousey
Trump recently suggested that Democratic rival Bernie Sanders was weak for ceding the stage at a recent event to Black Lives Matter protesters. When asked what he would do if protesters showed up at his event, he said he would beat the protesters up, adding, “I don’t know if I’ll do the fighting myself, or if other people will.” Enter Rousey, the premier female MMA fighter in America. Plus, he’d lock up that Fast & Furious vote.
Tulsi Gabbard
Trump has made veterans care the centerpiece of his campaign, lashing the Obama administration over the scandal that left wait lists so long at VA hospitals that some died while waiting for treatment. Trump definitely needs a two-fer of a woman and a veteran on the ticket to show he’s serious about both issues. The perfect candidate to fit the bill is this Democratic congresswoman from Hawaii. Plus, he can enlist her in his quest to finally get to the bottom of where Obama was really born.