Herschel Walker reportedly paid for an abortion.
Does that surprise anyone?
Bad behavior isn't disqualifying, not during wartime. And we are in a war.
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| Washington Post |
We stopped condemning bad sexual behavior by male politicians who we already understand to be "bad boys." Revelations of misbehavior were fatal to Gary Hart, Jonathan Edwards, Al Franken, and Andrew Cuomo. They hadn't pre-qualified themselves as shameless sexual predators, so their revelations surprised us. When the critics piled on them they were not ready to defend themselves. They felt guilt and shame. That communicated. Democrats abandoned them, and their criticism was fatal.
It is a test of a politician's brand, and whether they have the courage to sustain it, despite criticism. Everyone knew Bill Clinton had screwed around. Bill Clinton wasn't proud of that reputation, but he communicated that he didn't consider it dispositive. He and Hillary acknowledged that there were "problems" but then didn't back down. Bill and Hillary were carrying on. Then, in 1998, when Bill Clinton said "I never had sexual relations with that woman" Democrats wanted to believe it. Soon the world learned he did have sexual relations-- oral sex anyway. Most Democrats didn't care, at least not much. "Move on," they said.
Like Clinton, Trump had pre-qualified himself as a womanizer. The Access Hollywood tape was shocking in its crudeness, but not its content. Bill Clinton took his beating: Confession, lawsuits, disbarment, impeachment. Not Trump, who fights and denies, and condemns the media for reporting it. Trump brought Clinton accusers to his debate with Hillary, a heavy-handed counterpunch. Shame on me? No, shame on you, and here are Bill Clinton's accusers. It proved that Trump wasn't about being good. He was about being strong. Net-net, it may have even been a positive for Trump. It proved that even an injured Trump would take the fight to the Democrats.
Everyone knew Herschel Walker was a star. As Trump observed, "when you're a star they let you." Women let Herschel Walker. He had five kids that we knew of, so of course there would be a high likelihood of abortions. And Walker is a gentleman, and he had money, so of course he paid for them.
Walker denies it. People who want to believe Walker have that fig leaf to hang onto. Even if it turns out that more evidence shows up, it won't matter. Walker's sexual history is baked into his brand. Confirmation of what we already know and accept does not change minds. That was back then, he can say. Maybe there were some mistakes. He can say he is a better Christian now and has learned from them.
No one likes Herschel Walker because he was a good father, husband, or even because he practiced what he preaches. Herschel Walker is a fighter against abortion and for the Republican agenda. On the football field he split the defensive line and stayed standing and kept on charging. His Christian Evangelical supporters are standing by him.
People know what they are getting with Herschel Walker.
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12 comments:
If this is their best "soldier" they are doomed.
A couple of cycles ago this candidate would be gone. Remember the "a woman's body rejects a rape pregnancy" guy? Now the Republican party is so so lost and desperate that they'd run a convicted felon if they could.
In fact, they just might.
Integrity isn’t a qualification for public office. Stand by yo’ man!
This story paints the left-favoring mainstream media’s standard operating procedures in stark relief. The double standard lies in the disparate gatekeeping, as in what does and does not warrant full-fledged treatment up front as A Story.
No, I have no idea whether Walker did what is described here. Yes, the featured WaPo piece uses the word “alleged”.
What we see repeatedly, however, is the WaPo or NYT choosing sometimes to rely on anonymous sources, or upon Someone Else Is Reporting, or both, as here, for purposes of greenlighting above the fold saturation coverage.
Comparable stories unfavorable for prominent Democrats, on the other hand, typically require named-sourced corroboration in triplicate before they receive legacy media coverage even as a story that may yet or may not prove true.
Walker’s opponent, Warnock, is accused by his ex-wife of domestic violence and being a deadbeat dad to the children of that marriage. Legacy media coverage, in the rare instances it even occurs, has been skeptical or minimizing.
Politics is hardball. Walker’s a big boy. But as PolitiFact would say—well, sometimes—this story requires context.
Mark Dennett
POSTED ON THE SUBSTACK COMMENTS AREA;
2 hr ago
Correct in your analysis. Most people just don't grasp the power of a brand. It is why companies spend billions of dollars building a brand to create brand loyal consumers. If you are consistent with your brand, it works. Trump is totally consistent with his brand - a fighter, a sexual predator, do what is best for you, to heck with others, just call them liars." Herschel loves that brand and he has a similar brand. His only real weakness, he is not the brightest blub in the chandelier. But that is not his brand, so it doesn't hurt him either. No one expects or wants him to be a thinker.
Interesting, LD. The mainstream media paints Warnock as the second coming of MLK. Then again, MLK had his own difficulties in the marital realm…
Herschel Walker will be a useful idiot for the GOP. The Republican ranks are swelling with "Trump-branded" placeholders and useful idiots that hold governance views in opposition to the Constitution and the framework of our republic. Herschel will take his place in the US Congress and be fed instructions by his keepers and tenders. I can't imagine Walker raising his hand to take the Oath of Office swearing to anything or anyone but Trump. If this "brand" of candidate is elected, I feel the Senate will be lost and perhaps our country's system of governance.
Just when you think we’ve hit bottom, politics keeps sinking to new lows. If we can’t trust what the press says about a candidate, maybe we should listen to their children. Herschel Walker’s son recently said: “Family values, people? He has four kids, four different women, wasn’t in the house raising one of them. He was out having sex with other women. Do you care about family values?”
Walker is on record lying about graduating from the University of Georgia and then denying he said it. He also lied about working in law enforcement. He isn’t just a hypocrite, he’s a mentally ill compulsive liar. No doubt that’s what makes him so appealing to the GOP – he fits right in.
Mr. T—
Well met all ‘round! I believe I read that the Right Reverend Warnock actually holds King’s former position at Ebenezer Baptist in Atlanta.
There is a decided diminution in education and intellect, however. Warnock comes off like he should be selling cars or cell phone plans.
Speaking of intellect and education, I can hardly wait for the debate between Herschel and Warnock, currently scheduled for Oct. 14 - unless Herschel backs out again.
If the Georgia senate election plays as the common man versus the elite intellectual snob, Walker is going to be spiking the ball in the electoral end zone…
Walker is such a compulsive liar that he lied about Trump's Big Lie, claiming Trump never said the election was stolen. Fortunately for those who care about sanity and integrity, Warnock has a 12-point lead.
Idiot is correct. Useful? We'll see. The GOPee is a danger to this country
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