When then-Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) announced his candidacy for governor of California, I was beyond surprised. Rumors of sexual misconduct, including allegations of blatant and serial infidelity, had been circulating for years. Having run for this very office, I experienced firsthand the intense level of local, state and national scrutiny one receives when seeking the top job in the biggest state in the country.
The left-wing media treats liberal Democrat candidates different from how it treats conservative Republican candidates, but the media are not the problem if one’s candidacy starts to resonate. The heat comes from the same-party campaign rivals.
When I decided to run for governor of California, I sought the advice of several experienced strategists, politicians, pundits and some professors. They all said the same thing, only worded differently: “Is there anything in your background that would be a problem?”
These questions, they advised, include but are not limited to: Skeletons in your closet? What about your friends, associates and family members? Taxes? Sexual harassment or misconduct or assaults? Any present or past behavior that could be deemed scandalous? Dating history, marriage or divorce? Outstanding warrants? Traffic tickets? Unpaid traffic tickets? DUIs? Automobile accidents you caused or were involved in? Arrests? Misdemeanors? Felonies? Unpaid bills? Credit card debt? Lawsuits filed by or lawsuits against you? Drug use and drug abuse? Alcoholism? Abuse of prescription drugs? Sketchy business dealings? Bankruptcy? Inappropriate internet activity, including porn sites, other illicit sites or sending “compromising pictures”? Social media posts that could come back to haunt you? 911 calls from your home? Your work history? To what church do you belong? Who is your pastor? Ever been fired? If so, why? Is your campaign biography accurate, with no exaggerations or embellishments? Do your neighbors like you?
And, for good measure, I was advised to hire a private detective to investigate myself. My experienced campaign manager took me on only after I addressed all those questions — and others — and obtained a report from a well-regarded private investigator. My campaign manager cautioned, “If you are accused of picking your feet in Poughkeepsie — especially if you DID pick your feet in Poughkeepsie — it will come out.”
This brings us to Swalwell, who, according to a University of California, Berkeley poll conducted in March, was the leading Democrat in the primary. He was endorsed by Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), who, like Swalwell, served as a prosecutor in an impeachment trial against President Donald Trump.
According to Reuters, “… a fifth woman came forward to accuse Swalwell of unwanted sexual contact, saying the Democratic lawmaker drugged and raped her during an encounter in 2018.” Swalwell first denied the accusations. He then dropped out of the race for governor, followed by his resignation from Congress.
Former House Speaker and Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) claimed she knew nothing about the rumors against Swalwell. But Willie Brown, once a mentor to former Vice President Kamala Harris and a former mayor of San Francisco, and who for 15 years served as speaker of the California Assembly, said: “No, I’m not surprised frankly because there have been rumors after rumors after rumors, his colleagues in Washington pretty much said that. That’s what Adam Schiff said, that’s what Nancy Pelosi said.”
But Swalwell’s problems are just beginning. The sheriff of Los Angeles County has launched a criminal probe, as has the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office. Civil lawsuits may follow.
Then there are Swalwell’s financial issues. Despite a combined income with his wife of over $400,000, he is deeply in debt. He owes $100,000 in student loans, borrowed against his retirement account to help fund his campaign and deferred paying income taxes to conserve cash flow. This is not exactly a good look for someone vying to be the chief executive of a state with a budget deficit and massive unfunded pension liabilities.
On top of everything, these scandals could cost the father of three children his marriage. After all, Swalwell set the standard. During the confirmation hearing of Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, Swalwell considered Kavanaugh unfit due to allegations of sexual misconduct. Swalwell tweeted: “Support survivors. Believe survivors. We are with you.”
All of this raises a question. When Swalwell decided to run for governor, “What was he thinking?”
Larry Elder is a bestselling author and nationally syndicated radio talk-show host. To find out more about Larry Elder, or become an “Elderado,” visit here. Follow Larry on X @larryelder. To read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate webpage.
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Well isn’t this funny. What goes around comes around. Here he is this big guy accusing others of actual things he is doing but now comes the big fall. In my opinion he should of resigned years ago when he was with the Chinese spy but got a bye by his democratic colleagues.
Swalwell was thinking the same thing that Matt Gaetz was thinking:
I can do this, and I will never get caught.
Can ALL House & Senate sample the Swalwell Treatment??
any party can apply
If the truth EVER becomes known, Schiff and several others are similarly inclined! It’s part of their “superiority complex.” That’s why all of us are “deplorable.” We just aren’t “progressive” enough to attack women, kill babies, or castrate healthy children!
Ha, couldn’t happen to a bigger piece of crap! Funny though that being a traitor to the United States of America by sleeping with a Chinese spy wasn’t enough to get him out.
Swalwell was never fit for any office. Once the Fang Fang episode came out, he should have been forced to not only resign from his committees but from office entirely, let alone run for governor or any higher office (for which he is supremely unqualified given just his personal finances as example.) This guy was going to run for the presidency?! Typical Democrat M.O. that he came down hard on Cavanaugh and continued to lie about President Trump; he was projecting his sins on them, of course.
When I first started out in the Business World, My boss was a pretty smart guy, which was amazing in its self, him being a Harvard Grad, He was about twice my age and had learned most of the ways of the world at that point, so i listened to what he had to say and took his advise.
Swalwell should have had someone like Bill to give him advise, he always said that “You should never DIP YOUR PEN IN THE COMPANY INK” which sounded like good advise.
God Bless America!
What has remained true through the years, if the Dems are accusing conservatives of illicit activity, that means they are actually performing the same illicit activity. This has proven true over and over again.
As far as affairs in the beltline, it’s an epidemic on both sides.
Democrat politicians are not the brightest bulbs in the marquee. Most of them have a propensity towards drama, exaggeration, flamboyance, and a strong adversity for the truth. Lying is like breathing to them, it comes without thought. They excel at lying, which is no surprise as they are the children of Satan, who is the father of lies. We are in a spiritual battle with the wicked one and he uses democrat politicians to do his work. They have a choice, but it seems they have chosen Hell over Heaven
SWALWELL WASN’T THINKING! Here’s another question people should be asking: What was the democrat party thinking when they nominated ( and elected) this guy for Congress?
Swalwell’s personal “indiscretions” have been known since he was first elected. The democrat party and the media simply ignored it until he became a liability to the democrat communist party. Then, everyone who knew all along, was suddenly flabbergasted and caught “off guard” by the stuff they already knew he’d been doing.
It’s the same ruse the democrat communist party pulled on Biden. He was the man, sharp as a tack, smartest guy in the room … until the debate. Overnight he became a liability and the media / democrat party were suddenly amazed by how senile he was and they dumped him over night
he is a demoncrat, so — “All the rules apply to thee, but not me…”
What was he thinking? He was thinking he was immune to criticism because he’s an up-and-coming progressive. It was hardly an unreasonable thing to think.
I had to laugh at the title to this article….The Implosion of Eric Swalwell: What Was He Thinking? My answer: with the wrong head, pure and simple. I’m happy he was finally caught with his holier than thou attitude. Rules didn’t apply to him, he thought. That was another mistake: he THOUGHT.
Maybe the Democrats did not want a “wild card” in the CA governorship, leaked necessary information against Swalwell, because they want and need a puppet, that they are able to control the state of CA. Just thinking.
Thinking? He was not.
When some men unzip their pants, their brains fall out.
he was thinking, if I can get to be president, I can do all the stupid sh*t like joe biden,harris,the clintons, obama, pelosi, shiffless & every other politicians do & I will never go to jail.
Thank You Eric, I have always thought that a “Religious Hypocrite” was the worst kind of hypocrite. You have now lowered the bar… to include… “Sexual Deviant Hypocrite”… I stand corrected!
Swalwell was a convenient puppet…until he wasn’t. He got in their way when he tried to run for governor, and then his liabilities outweighed his usefulness.
Democrats think? No, really?
He has not done anything any of his cronies did not do, just had a misfortune of being caught with pants around his ankles, so were others but did get pass, there must be a reason, they want him under the bus or he is a sacrificial offering.
What a circus, so left threw him to the lions, he is only a sacrificial lamb to satisfy the beast while virgin remains intact. Women coming out of woodwork , I believe her is a mantra. Who believes a 5 year old sold by illegals and used by who knows whom and how many, who speaks for her, certainly not left, with whose blessings she ended up where she is. Who speaks for murder and rape victims of illegals who are here with the blessing of those who now threw Swalwell under the bus, one less competitor for aunties nephew. Beyond words.
He wasn’t.
Politicians are the Scum of the Earth , the only thing lower than a Republican Politician is a Democratic Politician .
Wow…..talk about using a political office to collect notches in your headboard!