General Discussion

The campaign asked for her endorsement a couple of weeks before the recent revelations and she gave it. (Felt terrible about that later, and of course, rescinded.) My daughter liked Swalwell, but had been hoping to vote for Kamala or Eleni (currently Lt. Gov.), so was disappointed when they chose not to run.

What she has since learned (just yesterday!) is that there were rumors he was a cheater. But she had talked with someone higher up in the party last week (as this was unfolding less publicly), who knows Swalwell somewhat, and that person hadn't heard even that.... so I don't think "everybody" knew even that less damaging (but still damaging) part about him being a cheater. When they were trying to figure out the veracity of the allegations (before the Chronicle and CNN pieces made the situation much clearer), that person told my daughter that maybe he could be considered flirtatious. NOT a groomer of young women or rapist, or even the cheating part. It may only be people in his targeted demographic who knew the first part, and "some" who knew the cheating part. My daughter is not unconnected, and we live in the Bay Area, and she didn't know that, and this other person, who is more connected, was also unaware.

I think we have to have zero tolerance for cheating, though. If enough people knew he was cheating that some thought he was "known" as a cheater, that's demonstrates he was reckless, and also he could be blackmailed. (Even without the alleged criminal behavior or grooming.) KNOWING he had a huge Republican target on his back, and how they were still hammering him about supposedly sleeping with a Chinese agent...I mean, forgetting the immorality of cheating (and the betrayal of wife and family)... and setting aside the much more serious grooming and criminal allegations... at least he could have been discreet enough (when "just" cheating) that there were no "rumors" about his behavior. So, even for candidates/electeds who are not engaging in criminal or exploitive behavior, the cheating itself (especially if "known" to some, and especially "serial" cheating) should be disqualifying. We are in precarious times and can't afford unnecessary distractions, so candidates/incumbents who don't have the requisite impulse control to refrain from cheating while in office should also not be tolerated.