Clinton Jokes that GOP Nominee’s Supporters Need ‘Conversion Therapy’ at LGBT Fundraiser
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Democrat Hillary Clinton suggested that some Donald Trump supporters need “conversion therapy,” while gay icon Barbra Streisand mocked the GOP nominee in song Friday night at an LGBT fundraiser in New York City.
Clinton said during the star-studded event at Cipriani Wall Street that half or Trump’s supporters are “irredeemable” and belong in “a basket of deplorables,” because they are “racist, sexist, homophobic, xenophobic, Islamaphobic, you name it.”
“And unfortunately, there are people like that and he has lifted them up,” Clinton said, according to a report from CNN. “He has given voice to their websites that used to only have 11,000 people, now have 11 million. He tweets and retweets offensive, hateful, mean-spirited rhetoric.”
But she said the other half of Trump supporters are just desperate for change and should be treated with sympathy, adding that her supporters can’t afford to be complacent.
“We can’t take anyone or any place for granted and therefore I am asking you to volunteer for a phone bank or a canvass. At the very least, if you know anybody who’s even thinking of voting for Trump, stage an intervention,” Clinton said before introducing Streisand. “That may be one conversion therapy I endorse. Just remember: friends don’t let friends vote for Trump.”
Clinton’s “basket of deplorables” remark drew a stern rebuke from Trump’s campaign manager, Kellyanne Conway, but Nick Merrill, a spokesman for the Democratic nominee, backed it up:Â
Later, Streisand performed Stephen Sondheim’s “Send in the Clowns” with lyrics rewritten to skewer the GOP nominee.Â
“Is he that rich, maybe he’s poor, ‘til he reveals his returns, who can be sure?†Streisand sang. “Something’s amiss, I don’t approve, if he were running the free world, where would we move? …Â
“And if by chance he gets to heaven, even up there, he’ll declare chapter 11. This sad, vulgar clown. You’re fired, you clown.â€
Also speaking or performing at the event, which reportedly raised $6 million, were transgender actress Laverne Cox, gay singer/songwriter Rufus Wainwright and Chelsea Clinton, according to BroadwayWorld.com.Â
Watch video of Streisand’s performance below.Â