This diary isn't targeted at daily kos readers but rather my response to the many friends on my social media who are pushing the lazy false equivalence memes.
One of the most frustrating things I've seen on Facebook and social media this election year is the equivalence many seem to think exists in the faults and negative aspects of both candidates. I've seen it from people who probably spend about 20 minutes a year thinking about politics, but also from educated people who are otherwise thoughtful and rational. It's a lazy way of characterizing a race that I know has disillusioned many people. I understand the apathy people have towards the political system because it has been broken for decades, but moreso than ever before. And it's tempting to just call both candidates "equally as bad" and leave it there rather than become invested in the race and do research. But the two candidates are not equally as bad. Not even close.
Donald Trump began his political career in 2010 with the racist implication that Pres Obama was a foreigner, and pushed unfounded debunked conspiracy theories even after the President took the unprecedented step of releasing his birth certificate. Hillary Clinton used a private email and was later cleared by the FBI of any wrongdoing and was found to have broken not a single law. They must be equally as bad.
Donald Trump has tweeted propaganda from white supremacist groups, refused to condemn David Duke and the KKK. But Hillary used a private email. Must be equally as bad.
Donald Trump bragged that his position as a powerful celebrity gave him the right to "grab women by the pussy" (aka sexual assault). He cheated on his first two wives and made sexual advances on other women while married to his third wife. Hillary was the victim of adultery and said mean things about the women who she was cheated on with. Equal???