Conservative radio host Glenn Beck has come under fire after urging his followers to abandon support of Republican nominee Donald Trump and instead vote for Hillary Clinton, as she can "still be fought' if elected.
"It is not acceptable to ask a moral, dignified man to cast his vote to help elect an immoral man who is absent decency or dignity," Beck wrote in a lengthy Facebook post following the release of a hot-mic tape of Trump saying lewd things about women back in 2005.
"If the consequence of standing against Trump and for principles is indeed the election of Hillary Clinton, so be it. At least it is a moral, ethical choice," he continued.
Beck, who initially backed Texas Senator Ted Cruz, contended that if Clinton is elected, "the world does not end" and she can still be fought - her nominees can be blocked, and her proposed laws voted down.
"Her tactics are blatant and juvenile, and battling her by means of political and procedural maneuvering or through the media , through public marches and online articles, all of that will be moral, worthy of man of principal," the Mormon commentator wrote. "The alternative does not offer a moral person the same opportunity. If one helps to elect an immoral man to the highest office, then one is merely validating his immorality, lewdness, and depravity."
He concluded: "Trump stepping down does not guarantee a Clinton win, but it does guarantee that the Republican party still stands for something, still allows its members to maintain their own self respect and that it still has a future."
In a separate interview with Vice, Beck admitted that while it has "crossed his mind" to vote for Clinton, he "can't do it" and will instead vote Constitution Party nominee Darrell Castle.
"She's just as bad..they're both bad. Under Hillary Clinton, the nation most likely could ... be run by oligarchs," he said. "Under Donald Trump, he's so unstable, I wouldn't put anything past him. I don't know what our country looks like."
Nevertheless, Beck's comments didn't sit well with some, including Fox News contributor Todd Starnes, who took to social media to reassure his followers, "Folks, you can still depend on me for a daily dose of conservative commentary on your radio."
Others took on a harsher tone, accusing Beck of being a "traitor" and a "sell-out": "Since WHEN have you actually seen the GOP stand up to a liberal president? Did they with Obama? No. And you think they will now? Not in your lifetime," wrote Michael Bardsley.
Still others pointed out that if Clinton is elected, she has promised to repeal the Hyde Amendment, forcing American taxpayers to fund abortion and appoint liberal Supreme Court judges.
"She protects the right to murder unborn children, bullies and dehumanizes women that her husband has sexually assaulted, and leaves our soldiers to die alone in a foreign country when she could have prevented the circumstances that led to their deaths," wrote Michael Krieg. "For these reasons alone I would vote for anyone that stands against her and prevents that criminal from being the President of this country."
Meanwhile, Trump's 2005 comments regarding women have prompted other conservatives, including renowned theologian Wayne Grudem, to pull back their endorsement of the Republican nominee.
The Rev. Franklin Graham, who has said he will not endorse any nominee, condemned Trump's comments as indefensible as "the godless progressive agenda of Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton."
"I have said it throughout this presidential campaign, and I will say it again - both candidates are flawed. The only hope for the United States is God," wrote Graham, who is the president of Samaritan's Purse and the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association.
"Our nation's many sins have permeated our society, leading us to where we are today. But as Christians we can't back down from our responsibility to remain engaged in the politics of our nation," he added.
