In July 2020, almost two years ago, I wrote an essay on the devolution of the GOP, and pointed to the bizarre propagation of child pornography and pedophilia accusations.
Not really “accusations,” because they were, and remain, unfocused spews, as if the words had magic powers by themselves. It’s as if 70 percent of the GOP is 6-year-old kids who’ve just learned the word “fuck,” and have observed with delight that if they say it over and over and over they’ll be certain to drive their parents nuts.
Now that these incendiary words are still being thrown around without any anchor, even in a hearing for an exemplary Supreme Court nominee, I’m going to repeat some of the points I picked up about these words. I’m fairly shocked this wretched business is still being used, although still irrelevant.
‡ Charges of “pedophilia” have now metastasized into the political oratory of Republicans running for Congress.
‡ Pedophilia is the Kremlin’s default smear of Putin’s opponents. Putin’s M.O. is to plant child pornography on his opponents’ internet devices, then accuse them of being pedophiles. I’m assuming the GOP picked this up from Putin, who I’d guess holds actual pornographic footage on a range of GOPers, including Trump. Why else would some of these people be degrading themselves so publicly?
‡ The word “pedophilia” is fairly easy to say and as a political scam, it’s lazy. No oppo research required, no substantiation, no elaborate planting of evidence…nothing. Just fling out the word and there you are.
‡ Of all criminal acts, the most repulsive concern the abuse of children. Even before any investigation, any facts or evidence, and no matter how rococo the embellishments, any whisper of such abuse is almost knee-jerk inflammatory. It can provoke a borderline lunatic to an armed assault upon a popular restaurant.
‡ We’ve seen it before, in the insane Comet Pizza case just before the 2016 election. Maybe because of that election result, the GOP has figured these black magic words will always work for them.
‡ “Pedophilia” has long been in Roger Stone’s tool box of filthy tricks.
I am sticking with the facts and the pathology of projection. Who flings vile false accusations at an opponent? Someone who is himself guilty.