who is struggling with whether to vote for Biden or not. All three are brilliant. One is easily swayed by emotion - but they are voting in NY so it doesn't really matter. Another is extremely level-headed, and I am pretty sure will ultimately vote for Biden (he is in Florida, where it matters). The other is my daughter (voting in Ohio, where it matters) - probably between the other in terms of ability to set aside emotion and act rationally.
All three already had concerns about Biden's issues with physical boundaries (as do I). At least two of the three are survivors of sexual abuse or rape - and know first-hand that a lack of boundaries in public is consistent with someone who also commits sexual abuse in private. So they are, from my perspective, understandably disturbed about the Tara Reade's allegations They are not responding to propaganda - they are responding to what they can see with their own eyes - and allegations of sexual abuse that seem consistent with their own observations. One has flat out stated they will not vote for a rapist - so unless there is a reasonable response by Biden, I doubt she will be convinced.
I have my own concerns about the allegations (particularly becuase they are coupled with verifiable inappropriate invasion of others' physical boundaries). But I am old enough to have experienced several bad presidents - so I have the perspective to know that Trump is not only bad, but threatens the very existence of our country and of every person who is not a cis white male. I don't think we will survive another 4 years of Trump as president - so whatever my reservations about the Tara Reade allegations, I will be voting for Biden because of the disastrous consequences of doing anything else.
All three of these are too young to have that perspective. Their entire memory begins with Obama - and most of their politically aware memory begins with Trump. To some extent, for them, Trump is acting as presidents act. They don't recognize how different his actions are than those of previous president. So they don't like what he does, but still see it as merely political differences. They also have no experience with quality journalism - and the respect for it that has helped expose bad actors in the past. In a very real sense, the Trump propaganda is so effective in conveying the concept that news always has a political bias that they don't recognize the difference between Fox news and the Washington Post.
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