Conservative writer explains how Trump's allies are trying to cynically 'exploit' Joe Biden's accuser

Some of President Donald Trump’s allies have been quick to promote the allegations of sexual misconduct that Tara Reade, a former U.S. Senate aide, has made against former Vice President Joe Biden, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee. But conservative Trump critic Amanda Carpenter, in an article for The Bulwark, argues that Trump apologists are the last people who should be talking about allegations against Biden.

“The way Trump’s aides have put on masks of righteous indignation to scold Biden over his treatment of women is a disgusting act of its own,” writes Carpenter, a former communications director for Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas and ex-speechwriter for former South Carolina Sen. Jim DeMint — who now heads the Heritage Foundation. “Calling them hypocrites is too charitable; what they’re doing is a whole lot smuttier. To these opportunists, Tara Reade is just another woman to be used.”

Carpenter names some specific allies of Trump’s reelection campaign, including his campaign manager, Brad Parscale, and GOP operatives Mercedes Schlapp and presidential daughter-in-law Lara Trump. And the Bulwark writer stresses that they have no credibility where Reade’s allegations are concerned.

“Remember, Trump’s operatives proved their loyalty by running cover through the dozens of allegations of sexual misconduct women have made against him, revelations of hush money payments, and his infamous ‘grab ’em by the pussy’ remarks,” Carpenter writes.

The “grab ‘em” remarks that Carpenter is referring to were made in the “Access Hollywood” recording that surfaced in 2016: Trump can be heard saying that when one has sufficient power and fame, he can grab a woman by her genitals — and Carpenter notes that Kayleigh McEnany, who recently replaced Stephanie Grisham as White House press secretary, claimed that the audio “implied consent.”

Carpenter asserts, “That’s not spin. It’s a wretched thought.” And the former Cruz communications director goes on to say, “But what should we expect? With Trump and his people, it’s nothing but lies upon lies. The only news value in listening to these surrogates, whether they be employed by his campaign or in the White House, is in documenting what sorts of lies they are telling today.”

Trump allies,  Carpenter stresses, could care less about Reade — they only view her as a weapon to be used against Democrats.

“For many Trump-loving Republicans, Reade represents the chance to shove double standards down the throats of Democrats who have chanted ‘believe women’ even in the absence of compelling evidence,” Carpenter explains. “She’s a means of exacting sweet revenge…. Regardless of whether her story holds, Reade will be weaponized for their purposes…. Those who have lied about or dismissed the dozens of allegations of sexual misconduct against Trump only view Tara Reade as a woman to exploit.”