Thread by @SethAMandel

1. I’m just going to add to the completely anecdotal discussion of whether ranks are closing around Kav. First, to be clear, I don’t have any idea what this means for voters or the midterms or whatever. And I don’t care. I’m just offering an observation with no larger lesson.

2. I simply find this interesting, not to be taken as an indication of anything more. BUT: I’m fascinated by the sheer number of very mild mannered conservatives who have said, some on here but some in private, that what’s happening to Kav is a gross injustice and must be fought.

3. These are, almost without exception, men and women who are horrified by Trump, and horrified by his treatment of women, and don’t take sexual assault lightly (or are even victims themselves).

4. I’ll tell you what these folks are NOT: they are not “but he fights!!” right wingers who tweet cruise ship emojis at Bill Kristol. In fact, all of those I can think of make fun of the “But he fights” nonsense.

5. What this tells you is this—and it’s really important that ppl on the left or righties opposed to Kav understand: This is not about Trump.

Repeat: this is not about Trump to them. That’s important, b/c they’re not even saying “well now I’ll vote Trump.”

6. I’ve observed this from a distance: I find Ford’s claim credible and have said in the past Republicans should cut their losses. I’ve talked about the “cultural reckoning” I’m seeing and how conservatives are, I think, missing it.

7. But I’ve been pretty surprised at how often I’ve been the squish standing alone among discussions with fellow squishes. I genuinely don’t know what to think of some of this stuff, but lines are forming in places they didn’t used to. So why am I saying this? For this reason:

8. Because the rush to judgment here—and by that I mean not ppl who believe some of these claims, but rather the CERTAINTY we’re all seeing from certain corners that Kav is a rapist—is is going to leave a lot of good ppl, judicious ppl, empathetic ppl branded “rape apologists.”

9. And that’s so incredibly unfair I almost find it ridiculous that it even has to be said. When we talk about rapid polarization, this is what we mean: THIS IS A COMPLETELY UNNECESSARILY EXTREME ATTEMPT TO ROB PPL OF THEIR LEGITIMACY.

10. The attempt at persuasion has completely evaporated. Ppl on the left are going to hold up reasonable conservatives and say, “hey remember this guy’s a rape apologist. Don’t forget it!”

Well, this naked character assassination won’t be forgotten either.

11. I can’t figure out why so many are invested in driving the non-Trumper pundits out of politics. But it’s what they’re doing. It’s being done by mainstream publications and folks who will staff the next Democratic White House.

12. The reputations of good ppl are collateral damage here. You will wonder where the “good conservatives” have gone, but only because you feel like hunting again. You are painting American politics Trump.

And just as you wish, it won’t be forgotten.

/fin