We won't be able to have a conversation about sexual abuse during the upcoming election because both candidates are hoping certain stories will die. Both camps are locked in a pact of mutually assured destruction on the issue.

So survivors of abuse will lose. Again.

Shrugging the shoulders & saying, "Yeah, but the other side is even worse" is the ultimate way to ensure survivors hear loud & clear that they do not matter if listening to them has political costs.

We shouldn't ask, "What will happen politically?" We should ask, "What's right?"

Some Republicans held their nose to vote for Trump despite the Access Hollywood tapes and other allegations because "Hillary was so bad."

Dems are going to do the same thing with Biden because "Trump is so bad."

Am I somewhat naive and looking at this from only one angle? Yes, I am, and I recognize that.

But it's not like all the politically savvy calculations and clever strategists are any less naive about the unintended consequences of electing people for utilitarian purposes.

The point is not to flatten complexities.

The point is that we're seeing the *exact* same reflexive defenses used against Reade that were used against Ford, and ultimately, that so many survivors hear. "Attention! Politics! Why'd you wait? No evidence! No one else complained."

The point is that if we are going to stand up for all victims (and expose those who would exploit false allegations for political means), we cannot respond to allegations by perpetuating myths about abuse and abuse victims. Innocence won't be protected by peddling myths.