Republicans fleeing the scene of the 2018 elections don’t want to admit that the problem Donald Trump is causing them has anything to do with Republican policy, so … it’s all about Stormy! Here’s Pennsylvania Rep. Ryan Costello, who will be retiring:
Were he running, Mr. Costello said in an interview, he would be inundated with questions about Stephanie Clifford, the pornographic film actress known as Stormy Daniels, who has said she had an affair with Mr. Trump and was threatened to stay silent about it.
“If I had a town hall this week, it would be question after question,” Mr. Costello said. “‘Do you believe him or do you believe her? Why don’t you believe her?’”
Dude, you might get uncomfortable questions on a few other things—guns, for starters. Health care. Whether there’s going to be a nuclear war with North Korea. You’re using “president sued by porn star” headlines as an excuse to avoid the really difficult questions, and doesn’t that just say something. But the New York Times buys it:
As much as gun control, immigration, the sweeping tax overhaul and other issues are mobilizing voters on the left and the right, the seamy sex allegations and Mr. Trump’s erratic style could end up alienating crucial blocs of suburban voters and politically moderate women who might be drawn to some Republican policies but find the president’s purported sex antics to be reprehensible.
The key phrase there is “and Mr. Trump’s erratic style,” which has been baked in all along. And Republicans have stuck with Trump—on policy—despite said erratic style. Sure, Stormy Daniels adds a new layer of Trump problems for Republicans, but a historic number of Republicans had announced their retirement before she came on the scene. She’s not making the Republican situation better, for sure, and maybe she tipped the decision for one or two recent retirees. But let’s not pretend that there’s one problem that, if Trump just dealt with that, would make 2018 look peachy keen for Republicans.