Doesn't it appear that Republicans have a particular high rate of politicians with

[Baitball Blogger]

problematic personal lives? It makes me wonder, what comes first? Do they have candidates who run to the GOP party because they know they can find cover inside the party if they do whatever is asked of them? Or does the party corrupt them, first?

[Midnight Writer]

1. I believe the GOP attracts people with particular personality types.

I think the strident political divisions we see are because conservative political operatives are exploiting pre-existing personality disorders. They are using sophisticated advertising and influencing techniques to reinforce those disorders.

If those personality disorders are strong enough, they can be destructive to one's personal life.

Just my opinion.

[chowder66]

2. They attract them because they see opportunities to commit crimes while others turn a blind eye.

Boy Scouts, Religious Orgs, Corporations, Sports Orgs, Military, Police....you name it they will seek out a way to get their foot in the door to exploit and abuse others. The leaders of these agencies are weak or have corrupt members that cover their dirty deeds and as long as that rot is at the top... the criminally minded will keep seeking roles within.

[Metaphorical]

3. A suspicion about Republicans and Russian money

I've suspected for some time that one way that Putin sought to destabilize the US was to supply dark money to extremist candidates, often candidates who were already compromised or who were fairly unqualified for the positions that they were running for. These candidates would then receive a significant Russian cash infusion through the primaries and into the general election (or put another way, I doubt that TFG was the ONLY Russian asset in play). It also makes me wonder if the Citizens United decision was similarly bankrolled, as the shift from the NeoCons of the Bush II era to the emergence of the Tea Party seemed to happen overnight in 2009.

It's harder to compromise people of principle, and Democrats as a rule tend to be more order-based, preferring the Rule of Law (there are, of course, exceptions). This also means that, in general, it is easier to corrupt Republicans, though again, there are exceptions. However, I do not believe that someone like MTG could have been elected to office prior to Citizens United. Prior to that, Republicans held a slight edge in the number of corruption convictions, but it has been amped up to eleven since then.

[mopinko]

5. they funneled through the nra

and everybody knew it. and it's worked quite well.

[2naSalit]

7. +1

[Irish_Dem]

4. It is easier for Putin to recruit people with big character flaws.

Putin obviously bank rolled and installed GOP leaders, and he needed people who don't care about the law, rules, decorum, etc. And who are foolish and lack a moral core, they do what they are told.

[abqtommy]

6. Science indicates that reTHUGS are born already corrupted. They have no choice but

to join the Fascist Insurrectionist Party and go to cocaine orgies!

'Neuroscience Reveals the Differences Between Republican and Democrat(ic) Brains'

[It goes without saying that there are very different thought processes going on in the heads of Trump supporters versus Bernie ones, for example. Many might argue that political views are largely shaped by our environments, but it turns out that our neurobiology may significantly contribute to whether we think like Reds or Blues.]

http://thescienceexplorer.com/humanity/neuroscience-reveals-differences-between-republican-and-democrat-brains

There's a lot more at the link so enjoy!