There have always been several flaws in the “voters decided” defense, starting with some voters’ lack of focus on the issue or uncertainty about the extent of the claims. In any case, what voters once thought doesn’t absolve pols from saying what they think — especially about Trump standing for office in the future. Many Republicans, for example, voiced the view that Roy Moore was unfit and said they’d have moved to expel him from the Senate in defiance of Alabama voters’ wishes. Where’s their verdict on Trump going forward? Moreover, what’s their explanation for supporting Trump even after the “Access Hollywood” tape? If voters think enablers of sexual abusers should be held to account, they’ll have their chance.

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More to the point, voters change their minds all the time. In one cycle, they’re rabidly against Obamacare; in another, they are insistent that no one take it away. The “but 2016” argument won’t sound very effective in 2018, when Democrats have demanded their own miscreants leave office and Republicans are unwilling even to give Trump’s accusers a forum. (Why Sens. Pat Leahy and Joe Manchin are expressing regret that Sen. Al Franken is resigning is beyond me. Is there an accused sexual-predator lobby that has persuaded them?)

The poll numbers look daunting (albeit 11 months out) for Republicans:

Voters disapprove 65 – 23 percent of how the Republican Party is handling sexual harassment/assault in politics. Republicans approve by a lackluster 46 – 37 percent. … American voters give both parties negative overall favorability ratings, 37 – 44 percent for the Democratic Party and 25 – 60 percent for the Republican Party. Voters say 52 – 37 percent they want the Democrats to control of the House of Representatives, and say 53 – 37 percent they want Democrats to control the Senate.

Republicans keep telling themselves that giving voters a tax bill they don’t like and never prioritized will cure all their political ills. Maybe, but the effects of the tax bill won’t be seen in voters’ tax filings until 2019. In any event, Republicans — not unlike Democrats in 2016 — are confusing a policy transaction (here is money!) with emotional fervor. The latter is on the Democrats’ side for now, with fury at the anti-democratic, obnoxious, misogynistic and erratic president. That intense anger is fueled in part by the presence of an accused sexual miscreant in the White House, who is defended by Republicans telling women (and men), “Too late!” Actually, elections are about the future, and if voters want to correct what they see as a monumental injustice and end the fear-inducing one-party rule of Republicans, they’ll do just that. Republican will need better excuses — or a different president by the midterms.

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