I think that sense has driven some of the choices. But I think it may have been, overall, um, a mistake. It’s true there would be stupid, vicious scandals over every misstep. 1/

Think AOC’s college dance, Obama’s tan suit. But the net effect of that kind of scandal is often net positive, beyond the disingenuous already-opponents who gin them up. 2/

By walking into scandals like that, tolerating them, moving forward, a person comes to seem authentic — uninhibited rather than guarded — and therefore known, trustworthy. 3/

Harris managed this beautifully with criticism of her laugh early on, turned stupid scandalmongering into an advantage, a likable quirk. /fin