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.
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.
What this actually proves is the swaying power of not caring over caring. Democrats (at least, most of us) actually care about issues we support and try to walk the talk. Sure there are exceptions, weaknesses and failures ... and it often leads to shooting ourselves in the foot.
Republicans don't really care. Not one whit about any policy that they promote. Zero.
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.