By casting himself as the righteous defender of women who have been abused and discarded by powerful Republicans, Avenatti has become a hero to the left. If our national life were a reality TV show, Avenatti would be one of the central characters—for Democrats, the breakout star with a heart of gold.
Like Trump, Avenatti enjoys a kind of invincible adoration among his partisan fans, no matter what crazy thing he says. When Heilemann asked him why Swetnick never told anyone about the crimes she supposedly witnessed at the multiple gang rape parties she says she attended, his answer was that young people don’t generally go to the police when they witness crimes. Really…
But there is a crucial difference between Trump and Avenatti: Trump might be a braggart and a buffoon, but at the end of the day he is a patriot. Trump loves America not because she is perfect but because she is America. “Make America Great Again” is not a policy slogan, it is a crude expression of a primary loyalty.
