Campaign Finance Laws, John Edwards, Donald Trump, IOKIYAR

Every time I mention IOKIYAR (It's OK if you are Republican) someone tells me that there is no such thing.

Well, I have another case for you to consider.

Donald Trump's former fixer Michael Cohen just admitted in court that he was asked to pay hush money to Stormy Daniels and Karen McDougal.

The purpose was to prevent any electoral damage stemming from these stories.

Do you remember John Edwards?

The senator from North Carolina? John Kerry's running mate in 2004, presidential candidate in 2007 primaries?

He was the Democratic rising star, a great trial lawyer, with good looks and charismatic presence.

Do you remember what happened to him?

He had an affair with a campaign staffer called Rielle Hunter and paid her some hush money to cover up the affair.

He was indicted by the Justice Department for having violated the same campaign finance laws Donald Trump is accused of breaking.

At the time you could not believe the shitstorm this caused. Everybody was up in arms, Democrats and Republicans stepped on each other to vilify Edwards.

He was an immoral person, the cause of decline in national moral standards, the worst human being imaginable. People were outraged and enraged. You would think that he was the first politician to have an affair.

As a result, his political career was ruined and he could not show his face in public. No one would vote for him for the lowliest position.

Fast forward to today. Trump has done exactly the same thing. He had affairs and paid to cover them up. Just like Edwards, he lied about them, he changed positions many times as did the people around him.

The reaction? Nothing.

No senior Republican leader would comment on it.

A spokesperson for the House of Representatives speaker, Paul Ryan, issued an abrupt statement, saying: “We are aware of Mr Cohen’s guilty plea to these serious charges. We will need more information than is currently available at this point.”

Leslie Graham said there was no collusion with Russia and Mitch McConnell didn't even bother issuing a statement of tweeting.

The Guardian ran a hilarious piece highlighting the various hypothetical reactions if Trump had actually shot Michael Cohen in the middle of Fifth Avenue.

Then they asked Tumpkins as they always do after such revelations. Unsurprisingly, they were unanimous and categorical. They couldn't care less if he paid off a porn star and broke the law.

When Edwards or Gary Hart has an affair pearl clutching ensues, evangelicals faint. When they lie that is the worst crime.

When Trump has affairs, no big deal. If he lies, who cares?

That's IOKIYAR.

On a related note I wish people stopped speculating about impeachment. It is simply impossible even if Democrats win the House back in November. The Senate trial requires two thirds majority. It is a pipedream that makes look like a martyr to the Trumpkins.

As I said many times, Trump made a mistake by attacking National Security Apparatus. Those folks don't take that sort of thing lying down. They will come up with irrefutable evidence of financial crimes, like money laundering for Russian mafia types.

The crimes will be so obvious and staggering that even Hannity will be unable to defend them. 

Until then, Democrats should work on getting people to vote in large numbers.