Daily Kos Elections Morning Digest: Pete King: 'The only victim here is Denny Hastert'

Leading Off:

•NY-02: For reals? Pete King said this?

"I don't know what this is about. Apparently this person came and threatened to disclose something on Denny Hastert that goes back over 35 years, that happened 35 years ago, and he was taking money out illegally to pay the person. The only victim here is Denny Hastert."

What on earth is his percentage here? Why would a Republican congressman like King think it's to his advantage to defend Denny Hastert? Community member Bart Ender put it so well, we're just going to quote him:

Between Hastert and Duggar, why do so many Republicans feel they will benefit politically by claiming that the alleged perpetrators of horrific actions are the victims, rather than the alleged victims being the victims, especially since the claims of King here and the Duggar defenders aren't based on the allegations being false?

Who are the voters who aren't voting Republican today who will vote Republican in the future because of the defense of Republicans of other Republicans accused of sexual abuse?

Indeed. King faces his first serious Democratic challenger in many years, in the form of Suffolk County Legislator DuWayne Gregory, so perhaps he's gotten rusty. He should have just stopped talking after admitting he didn't know what any of this is about.