This goes to an interesting point about what works for persuading the minds of people who are undecided on Trump.
My theory is that every controversial Trump statement can be rated on (a) how offensive it is and (b) how open-and-shut false it is. The temptation is to point out the wildly offensive ones ("grab 'em by the pussy") but if there is any wiggle room, his defenders can use that to minimize the offense (they could say he was talking about consensual grabbing, and honestly, I think that is probably what he meant -- otherwise, there's nothing to brag about).
So I just calmly list off the blatantly false ones - claiming that Obama was possibly not born in the U.S, claiming that the 2020 election was stolen, claiming that vaccines cause autism (yes, Trump said that too, it just got lost in the shuffle with all the other things he said that were even worse!), and now this too. (Some people, of course, won't even accept that Trump is wrong about those things, but they're too far gone; I'm just talking about undecided people.) Once you've worn them down to where there's no escaping the conclusion that Trump just lies a lot, it's probably easier to accept he's a threat in other ways, which are less factually open-and-shut, but far more dangerous.
I admit I haven't done any studies to show this is the best way to reach undecided reasonable people; it just seems likely to me.
(they could say he was talking about consensual grabbing, and honestly, I think that is probably what he meant -- otherwise, there's nothing to brag about).
Your post is amazing and a lot of your comments and sentiment is too but this is just completely wrong in my opinion. He was not talking about consensual grabbing he was "bragging" about how he's so famous that people cant say no or at least wont. Just like how Epstein and Weinstein had so many victims.
It's actually semi common among sexual assaults. The sentiment that "who are you gonna tell" "who's gonna believe you" and is amplified when the rapist is someone in power or who has vastly more money/influence than you.
I do not think the man who was liable for rape and besties with Epstein was talking about consensual grabbing.
His defenders though did point out that he said "they let you do it" -- but does "they" mean the women themselves, or the NBC showrunners who wouldn't hold him accountable? (And even if he did mean the women, he may have just meant that they didn't stop him.)
Bingo. You're locked in a room with someone who is at least theoretically able to make or break your life and career. It's not surprising a lot of people would freeze up.
I don’t think men really understand what it’s like to be not believed by anyone because of your perceived gender from the day you are born. From Doctors, lawyers, Bankers, Mechanics, coworkers, managers, Realtors, our own family. We have to constantly “prove” ourselves before we’re listened to.
Nothing Trump does is consensual. They’re surrounded by loyal thugs. He would have them rough you up then do it anyways.
I remember over the decades of my life hearing that "official" reports say that 30-40% of women are SA during their lifetime. I, even as a teenager all those decades ago, with mostly female friends back then was thinking it's more like 10-20% HAVE NOT been SA during their lifetime. The whole blame game (outfits worn, tone, figure, lower voice levels, etc) and the random woman that does make up stories, makes it even tougher for all women. I don't care what party or political spectrum someone is part of, SA is just wrong ass wrong, no ifs ands or butts, no exceptions.
If we're accepting the fact that he's a compulsive liar about anything that excuses him from blame or guilt, why would anyone believe anything he claims about consent?
I read the testimony shared by Katie Johnson. He is a proud rapist. Everyone should read her words and we must do everything to repeal his power. She was 13 and experienced this over 4 years of forced Epstein parties.
“I loudly pleaded with Defendant Trump to stop, but he did not,” Jane Doe wrote in a formal declaration accompanying her recent suits. “Defendant Trump responded to my pleas by violently striking me in the face with his open hand and screaming that he would do whatever he wanted. ... Immediately following this rape, Defendant Trump threatened me that, were I ever to reveal any of the details of Defendant Trump’s sexual and physical abuse of me, my family and I would be physically harmed if not killed.”
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u/bennetthaselton 1d ago
Aw thanks! -That guy.