We cannot allow Trump’s contempt for women to become the norm

To the editor: It’s an unfortunate sign of our times that the president of the United States brutally attacking a reporter’s reasonable question by snapping “Shut up, pig” doesn’t generate significant nationwide condemnation. It suggests we have become desensitized to the ugliness endorsed by the president. Columnist Anita Chhabria has written an interesting analysis of the issue (“Shut up, pigs” wasn’t a joke, it was a dangerous call to violence. November 21).

President Trump’s shocking and outrageous insult to this female reporter is the latest in a series of personal attacks on women. His insult is to call a woman “Very Low IQ” (especially when insulting women of color) or calling women “ugly” or “Terrible.”

Like it or not, Trump’s behavior (like the behavior of all past presidents) sets an example for young people. Do we really want Trump’s bad behavior modeled by the younger generation? Do we want this behavior to infect our wives and daughters? By not loudly condemning Trump’s appalling behavior, we seem to be condoning them, or even condoning them. What kind of dangerous society are we creating for women and young girls in this country?

Matthew Singerman, Newbury Park

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To the editor: column marked by Chhabria. He mentions how Atty. General Pam Bundy remains in good graces by following the Trump administration’s playbook. It seems press secretary Carolyn Levitt is also toeing the line — and adding her own unique twist.

Levitt always manages to blast back hard. Her official response The “hush, hush, pig” comment was that Trump is open, open and honest with reporters (calling them by name, apparently), unlike his predecessor, who stayed aloof.

Another Levite tweet came as six Democrats in Congress created a short video to remind service members that they have the right and responsibility to refuse illegal orders. Levitt changed things around saying All orders of the commander are legal. My question is: Does Levitt really believe these things himself?

Jane Nelson, Crescent Mills

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To the editor: A sad and frankly deplorable addition to Trump’s hateful behavior is that at the moment no one – not a single reporter (and including the woman herself, the object of ruthless misogyny) – spoke in her defense, on behalf of their colleague and against the decency and base, harsh and bad behavior.

Being a reporter used to be about getting to the truth, regardless of the cost. Now it seems to be about keeping your place on the plane, in short, in the pool.

Mitch Heaven, Los Angeles