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Scrivener7

(56,549 posts)
Mon Jul 21, 2025, 10:35 AM Jul 21

Here's why the Maga base became obsessed with the Epstein files.

A lot was made in 2016 about the fact that Taco brought out a whole army of voters who never voted before. There's a reason for that.

Much of the maga base is not smart. Typical topics that dominate a presidential election are not things they think about a lot. Taco will mess with the geopolitical balance? "What's a geopolitical balance?" They're going to take away entitlements? "Great! Get those deadbeats off the rolls! As long as no one messes with my food stamps!" Taco is getting rid of undocumented immigrants? "Great! Someone told me they've taken all the good jobs, and my job sucks, so ..."

There is a reason why they decided we look down on them. We didn't, of course. We never gave them much thought before 2016, just as we never expected them to give us much thought. But they really do think about us. Because they look down on themselves. A lot. And rather than admit that, it's easier for them to project that emotion onto us. And if we didn't look down on them before 2016, we certainly do now.

But child abuse? That they can understand. Most of them live in more rural areas. The incidence of child abuse is higher in rural areas, and that's the reported cases. https://scholars.unh.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1169&context=carsey It's logical to assume that more cases go unreported in isolated areas with fewer services, so it's possible the incidence is MUCH higher in rural areas.

So they get this. Many probably have experienced this. It doesn't confuse them. But it pisses them off on the same visceral level as it pisses us off. And a guy who promises to expose it, who even magnifies and distorts the incidence of it, builds them up and makes them feel like they're fighting the good fight against this terrible thing that may be very close to them. So they're going to follow that guy.

And now it looks like that guy is one of the guilty ones. Can you imagine what that must be doing to them emotionally?

24 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Here's why the Maga base became obsessed with the Epstein files. (Original Post) Scrivener7 Jul 21 OP
Recommend! sheshe2 Jul 21 #1
I might add ... It doesn't get much past Pizzagate. usonian Jul 21 #2
Well said. Protecting children from harm always attracts a crowd underpants Jul 21 #3
This. It's really just the repackaged Satanic Panic. And when that's pointed at some people, it's Scrivener7 Jul 21 #4
The "Satanic child abuse day care" hysteria was a sight to behold. yardwork Jul 21 #5
I didn't include that but yes that was insane. underpants Jul 21 #8
There was a big case in California, too. yardwork Jul 21 #10
Those poor Hondurans (I think they were) underpants Jul 21 #13
Wow. People are so gullible and weird sometimes. yardwork Jul 21 #15
My Trumpster in-laws rushed to watch that stupid movie a couple years ago. yardwork Jul 21 #6
"They care about & understand child abuse..." A bit ironic given the issue SHOULD extend beyond sexual abuse... hlthe2b Jul 21 #7
The study you linked to does not support the assertion you made - Ms. Toad Jul 21 #9
I'm also skeptical that MAGA cares about Epstein because of personal experiences. yardwork Jul 21 #12
I agree - even on DU, the reaction to child abuse, based on personal experience, Ms. Toad Jul 21 #16
Trump encouraged people to believe in conspiracies. yardwork Jul 21 #17
Most of the republicans I have met Tree Lady Jul 24 #20
It's so frustrating. yardwork Jul 24 #21
Yes beyond frustrating Tree Lady Jul 24 #22
Does she blame Trump now? yardwork Jul 24 #23
I notice she is real quiet Tree Lady Jul 24 #24
Us vs them KentuckyWoman Jul 21 #11
I think this article is way off leftstreet Jul 21 #14
All of the reporting says there were many 13, 14 and 15 among the victims. Scrivener7 Jul 21 #18
"America has an Incest Problem" mountain grammy Jul 24 #19

usonian

(19,415 posts)
2. I might add ... It doesn't get much past Pizzagate.
Mon Jul 21, 2025, 10:52 AM
Jul 21

IMO, they have been brainwashed into thinking that ALL the child-trafficking is a Democratic operation, and throw in some cannibalism and blood-drinking. Check me on this, as I don't go to those conspiracy theory posts and threads.

"He" promised to expose it all, even though the plain truth is that Epstein's customers were all rich folk among the privileged class, not subject to laws like the unrich masses.

They got away with it, because politicians are deeply in debt to them and covered up.

And you know who was all over everything, like stink on a skunk.

'FBI agents were told to 'flag' any Epstein records that mentioned Trump, Sen. Durbin says'



But there was a panic when their hand was called. Withholding anything was seen as protecting "filthy libs", since it was UNTHINKABLE that any in the republican party were party to the partying.

And they feel betrayed. That's one of the few exit points of a cult member ... from the "leader" if not the cult itself.

A lie turned around and bit itself.

Seems there's only poetic justice in this world, since real justice is either ignored or perverted by the perverts.

underpants

(191,750 posts)
3. Well said. Protecting children from harm always attracts a crowd
Mon Jul 21, 2025, 11:14 AM
Jul 21

I heard a really good NPR feature on it years ago. For centuries people, whether the have kids or not, have been eager to help. This has been used to
manipulate in some circumstances.

Two of the most recent examples before QAnon were the heavy metal Satanic hysteria of the 80’s and an ABC Geraldo documentary on the metal thing or missing children or both. Geraldo’s documentary is still one of the highest rated (if not still the highest) documentary on network television. Local stations will go to stories or elements of it when they need content for their local news airing.

Scrivener7

(56,549 posts)
4. This. It's really just the repackaged Satanic Panic. And when that's pointed at some people, it's
Mon Jul 21, 2025, 11:17 AM
Jul 21

actually nothing but a cruel manipulation.

yardwork

(67,345 posts)
5. The "Satanic child abuse day care" hysteria was a sight to behold.
Mon Jul 21, 2025, 11:19 AM
Jul 21

There was a notorious case in eastern NC that helped get our worst Democratic governor elected. Nationally, everybody became convinced that Satanic child rapists were drinking babies' blood.

The sad thing is that the mass hysteria ruined innocent peoples' lives, while Epstein, Trump, and other powerful people really were running sex trafficking rings.

underpants

(191,750 posts)
8. I didn't include that but yes that was insane.
Mon Jul 21, 2025, 11:35 AM
Jul 21

I thought it was in California for some reason.
I remember a short news story or documentary on how the whole happened. Everyone wanted to jump in.

Remember the DC Sniper in a white minivan? It was a black or blue Buick sedan.

yardwork

(67,345 posts)
10. There was a big case in California, too.
Mon Jul 21, 2025, 12:02 PM
Jul 21

It might have given the highly ambitious DA in eastern NC the idea.

The white vans!! Don't get me started. Laci Peterson was supposedly abducted by what "eyewitnesses" described as "Hispanic people in a white van." Her husband was convicted of killing her in their house. She was mot abducted.

underpants

(191,750 posts)
13. Those poor Hondurans (I think they were)
Mon Jul 21, 2025, 12:19 PM
Jul 21

The DC sniper and the kid shot at someone coming out of a Shoney’s in Ashland just north of Richmond. We had actually been in Ashland that night out for dinner with friends I think. A couple days later the sniper made a call from a pay phone (it was a while ago) from a gas station on West Broad. They were gone before the call was traced and cops could get there. They were definitely in Richmond. White van white van white van.

A couple days after that a mini van of construction type guys (painting roofing drywall not sure) stopped there to call for their job that day. Cops swarmed them. The van still had a 30 tag in it. This was a new van to them I’d guess which means they were doing pretty well. Probably hadn’t been watching the news much. Hondurans maybe Guatemalans. No documentation of any kind. They were gone in a week. Deported. Pure bad luck.

yardwork

(67,345 posts)
6. My Trumpster in-laws rushed to watch that stupid movie a couple years ago.
Mon Jul 21, 2025, 11:21 AM
Jul 21

I think the director or actor turned out to be involved in sex trafficking themselves.

hlthe2b

(110,830 posts)
7. "They care about & understand child abuse..." A bit ironic given the issue SHOULD extend beyond sexual abuse...
Mon Jul 21, 2025, 11:24 AM
Jul 21

And while I don't doubt many of them experienced violent beatings at the hands of abusive or drunken parents, a not insignificant number among them will perpetuate the practice. Not just a problem among rural areas of the country, of course, but historically easier to hide (along with he sexual abuse). With the closure of rural hospitals, violent abuse--whether sexual or not-- is only going to become less reported, responded to, and perhaps even treated.

So, apparently, the global "they" actually DON'T care about and understand child abuse--at least and perhaps, especially, beyond the sexual abuse.

Ms. Toad

(37,414 posts)
9. The study you linked to does not support the assertion you made -
Mon Jul 21, 2025, 11:53 AM
Jul 21

Of more child abuse in rural areas.

It addresses the disposition of reported cases, concluding that more are substantiated in rural areas. But without knowing the reporting rate, it says nothing about the relative frequency. There could be substantially fewer reports per capita, so that even with more being substantiated the number of substantiated cases still happens less frequently in rural America.

(I don't know one way or the other . . . But the claim struck me as confirmation bias, so I followed your link to see where it came from.)

yardwork

(67,345 posts)
12. I'm also skeptical that MAGA cares about Epstein because of personal experiences.
Mon Jul 21, 2025, 12:12 PM
Jul 21

That might be true, and it might not. Observers expected the "grab em by the pussy" audio to sink Trump in 2016 and it did not. In fact, his hardcore base doubled down on their support of him.

I think the reason MAGA cares about Epstein is because Trump and his campaigns have made a very big deal out of the issue of child sex trafficking ever since 2016. It was used against Hillary then. Films have been made about the issue, marketed heavily to fundamentalist groups. It's been a steady drumbeat of propaganda aimed at smearing Democrats.

All while Trump's behavior toward his daughter and friendship with Epstein - documented in decades of photos - were being ignored by MAGA. Not to mention the obvious disappearing of children and young people via ICE.

I am not hopeful that MAGA will wake up. But at least some of them seem to have noticed that something is a little off.

Ms. Toad

(37,414 posts)
16. I agree - even on DU, the reaction to child abuse, based on personal experience,
Mon Jul 21, 2025, 12:33 PM
Jul 21

is to dismiss it. Just look at the thread (I've lost where it is) on the video of an "entitled woman" being arrested - I was appalled at the tone of the responses to the comment about people who have never been told "no" when they were children. Many were along the lines of, "If I'd done that as a child I'd have been smacked across the face," with little suggestion of any awareness that what they suggested they experienced was abusive. I expect members of DU to have more, not less, awareness.

I suspect your explanation is closer to the truth - they expect top Democrats to be in the files, and Trump's refusal to release them (and lying about the existence they have touted) doesn't pass the smell test.

yardwork

(67,345 posts)
17. Trump encouraged people to believe in conspiracies.
Mon Jul 21, 2025, 12:43 PM
Jul 21

Having been conditioned to believe that a shadow conspiracy is running the world, controlling the weather, stealing elections and kidnapping children, it's probably pretty easy for people to decide "they got Trump now too."

Tree Lady

(12,570 posts)
20. Most of the republicans I have met
Thu Jul 24, 2025, 12:22 PM
Jul 24

Think that most of what Trump says including pussy comment was to joke wth the dems or just guy talk.

They think it's all political because he has money and power that he is businessman and didn't do those things.

Because news is so shitty these days they truly believe that, the truth isn't out there even with all that has come out.

yardwork

(67,345 posts)
21. It's so frustrating.
Thu Jul 24, 2025, 02:00 PM
Jul 24

People pounce on every little misstep that Democrats make, but excuse the entirety of Trump's life.

So many people assume that Republicans are sensible and reasonable, while assuming that Democrats are dumb and extreme. They trust Trump. They ignore all evidence to the contrary.

It's infuriating.

Tree Lady

(12,570 posts)
22. Yes beyond frustrating
Thu Jul 24, 2025, 02:08 PM
Jul 24

My older daughter is one of them who doesn't watch the news, busy manager making good money is convinced that her taxes will go down.

She doesn't own a house because Bay Area prices are in the millions and she already helps both her kids in their 20's. So she pays high taxes.

She has been getting influenced for many years by rightwing boyfriend and other republican managers at work.

We finally had to agree not to talk politics to keep relationship.

But she is seeing it is worse this time, they are already having to lay people off from work because company is not making as much money with people not able to afford things.

Tree Lady

(12,570 posts)
24. I notice she is real quiet
Thu Jul 24, 2025, 03:16 PM
Jul 24

About all he is doing, maybe has a spot of guilt. Like I said I don't talk to her about him, but on family calls my other daughter has talked about how bad he is and she gets quiet.

KentuckyWoman

(7,167 posts)
11. Us vs them
Mon Jul 21, 2025, 12:04 PM
Jul 21

I hear you. Really I do. A solid portion of MAGA voters will never be reached.

But I bet 10% can. That's all we need. The reasons people vote can get complicated but at the end of the day, we are all Americans. The 99% are all on the same side.

Any "us vs them" should be saved for those 1%er who actively work against everyone else. My humble opinion... which I know gets me flamed on DU.

leftstreet

(36,899 posts)
14. I think this article is way off
Mon Jul 21, 2025, 12:21 PM
Jul 21

There's been zero reporting that the victims were 10 yr old kids or something. MAGA's don't view Epstein Maxwell Trump whatever victims as "children." In their minds they're women "girls" and they shouldn't have gotten themselves in those situations, blah, blah, blah. They don't give a shit.

But they ARE enraged because if the "Epstein files" aren't true and maybe just a big conspiracy....then what about Pizzagate, or Clintons, or.....OMG

Scrivener7

(56,549 posts)
18. All of the reporting says there were many 13, 14 and 15 among the victims.
Mon Jul 21, 2025, 12:59 PM
Jul 21

Those are children.

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