# Trump sued by Stormy Daniels over hush payment **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [March 7, 2018, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-sued-by-stormy-daniels-over-hush-payment/810163 "2018-03-07T02:36:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 12
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2018, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-sued-by-stormy-daniels-over-hush-payment/810163/221 "2018-03-18T22:58:17Z")
> [@DSeid](#): > > Trump boinking a porn star is actually is _less_ objectionable to me than Clinton getting a blow job from someone he had power over. I hope the cover-up gets him but I’d rather focus on the harms he does as President by way of policy and by way of criminality and incompetence. The “power over” aspect is precisely the most troubling part about Clinton’s blowjob, agreed. Now, compare that to Daniels, wherein the president’s attorney is threatening to sue her for $20 million for talking about the affair, wherein the president’s attorney told a reporter that she’d never work in this town again if she wrote about the affair. I don’t give a wet fart if my president cheats on his wife: I’m not voting for a good person. I don’t even give a wet fart if my president lies about cheating on his wife, for much the same reason. But I do give a wet fart if my president threatens people into silence. ---
**Author:** ![Morgenstern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2018, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-sued-by-stormy-daniels-over-hush-payment/810163/222 "2018-03-18T23:37:58Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > Does anyone know what his chances of collecting a penny from her would be? I can’t make heads or tails of it. Trump’s “it wasn’t me, but if she tells anyone about the affair I’m going to sue her,” defense would be very entertaining. ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2018, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-sued-by-stormy-daniels-over-hush-payment/810163/223 "2018-03-18T23:44:31Z")
this report says they first tried to keep her quiet back in 2011 [https://www.thedailybeast.com/report-michael-cohens-efforts-to-silence-stormy-daniels-began-in-2011?ref=home](https://www.thedailybeast.com/report-michael-cohens-efforts-to-silence-stormy-daniels-began-in-2011?ref=home) ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2018, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-sued-by-stormy-daniels-over-hush-payment/810163/224 "2018-03-19T02:36:00Z")
If I might hazard a prediction. Perhaps the President will (somehow) fire Mueller just as the Sixty Minutes story airs to use one thing to distract from the other. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2018, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-sued-by-stormy-daniels-over-hush-payment/810163/225 "2018-03-19T03:15:13Z")
Saw this today: 11% of Republicans believe that Stormy Daniels’ story has merit. That means 89% of Republicans believe Trump is suing her for $20M because she breached an agreement to say nothing about nothing. These people are allowed to drive y’all. ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2018, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-sued-by-stormy-daniels-over-hush-payment/810163/226 "2018-03-19T03:23:09Z")
Drive? Hell, they’re allowed to vote. We don’t need driverless cars nearly as much as we need the benevolent robot conquest that takes over human governance to eliminate tribalism from decisions which impact the global economy and biosphere. Stranger ---
**Author:** ![Measure\_for\_Measure](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/measure_for_measure/32/557_2.png) [@Measure\_for\_Measure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Measure_for_Measure)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2018, 5:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-sued-by-stormy-daniels-over-hush-payment/810163/227 "2018-03-19T05:23:18Z")
> [@DSeid](#): > > Nice you don’t do false equivalences … do you do true ones? Maybe not. Quality snark. I approve. > [@](#): > > Here’s the reality: we have biases as to how we interpret information, how we filter it, and how we cast it _if_ we accept it as true. All of us we. It is not something unique to “Trump voters”; it is evolutionary cognitive baggage. Yes. But liberals for the past 20 years have self-policed more than conservatives. (During the 1970s I would argue that the nutbaggery was balanced between parties). So again, I’m not going wave my hands and engage in lazy bothsidesism. > [@](#): > > Here’s some links if you want to dig and see what sort of apples to apples you can come up with. … > > In the Clinton era: I cannot find the partisan breakout, but still. Thanks for digging: sincerely. I know it’s frustrating not to get solid data. But without a partisan breakout from the 1990s, we haven’t moved the ball forwards. … Ok, check out [this article](https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/08b0/95ff279cb97842417b1352836e695deb229f.pdf). Here’s a quote: [INDENT][INDENT][INDENT] Much more pronounced is the decline in the percentage of Mid-westerners who saw Bill Clinton as moral. Although public judgments of Clinton’s morality had already soured significantly by 1996, the change from 1996 to the end of 1998 was dramatic among all parti- san subgroups (see Figure 1). Relatively few Republicans had ever thought of Clinton as a moral individual (25% in 1996 and only 12% in 1998). More than **three-fourths of Democrats (77%)**, and roughly half of Independents (49%), on the other hand, thought of Clinton as moral in 1996, but less than half of the members of these groups judged him as moral toward the end of 1998 ( **49%** and 26% respectively). Clearly, the revelations of Clinton’s scandal-related behavior provided an initial disappointment for many Democrats while it simply confirmed what most Republicans already felt. [/INDENT][/INDENT][/INDENT] Emphasis added. New information changed Democrats’ view of Clinton’s morality. That’s how they roll. They continued to think Clinton was a strong leader during the era, but views of his morality dimmed among Democrats and Independents. And note the language (Something like, “Do you consider Clinton moral?” - though I couldn’t find exact wording) is weaker than today’s question (How well do you think the phrase ’moral leader’ describes Donald Trump?) Only 17% of Trump voters don’t look up to him that way at all. In contrast, at least half of all Democrats acknowledged that Bubba was a horndog. ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2018, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-sued-by-stormy-daniels-over-hush-payment/810163/228 "2018-03-19T12:51:36Z")
> [@Measure\_for\_Measure](#): > > … But liberals for the past 20 years have self-policed more than conservatives. … I would agree. But really that is a low bar. > [@](#): > > … > Ok, check out … > > … New information changed Democrats’ view of Clinton’s morality. … New completely _undeniable_ information _eventually_ did. Great find that article and note what else it observes in that section. > [@](#): > > … Despite earlier stories about Clinton’s involvement with Gennifer Flowers, Paula Jones, and even other women, many Democrats had continued to think of Clinton as a moral individual, thus suggesting that what constitutes moral behavior for these individuals involves some thing other than casual sex or marital infidelity. Democrats view of Clinton’s morality only changed after it was impossible to deny that he indeed had cheated on his wife, with an intern, and _baldfaced lied_ about it to the public and Congress. And _even then_ almost _half_ saw him as moral. Really? Almost half _still_ said he was “moral”? Meanwhile most of the GOP are still in the denial phase. They do not believe she is credible. _Given the hypothetical_ that Trump did have the affair then more than half, 54%, say it would be immoral. As to variations in the language … yes it makes it difficult. The current poll includes a scale, not just yes/no. Only 16% of Republicans believes the phrase “moral leader” describes Trump “extremely well”. Heck 4% of Democrats apparently believe that! Making it a “leader” question muddies it as a comparison too. Not in a less strong way, but by conflating private morality with leadership. The point of that article you cited was how the public was easily able to conclude that Clinton was seen as _personally_ immoral in his private life but still a strong leader. > [@your article](#): > > … If media commentators had attributed more sophistication to the public than they did, they too would have realized that viewing the president as immoral but a strong and capable leader who cared about others was not a contradiction for many. … So, yes, we _all_ can compartmentalize. On the plus side Democratic leadership is not making the same mistake the GOP did then. Mostly they are ignoring the affair and saving fire for actual crimes and lies about policy. The media will do what they will do. ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2018, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-sued-by-stormy-daniels-over-hush-payment/810163/229 "2018-03-20T01:29:47Z")
on MSNBC her lawyer basically said they have dick pics of Trump ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2018, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-sued-by-stormy-daniels-over-hush-payment/810163/230 "2018-03-20T01:42:20Z")
I would pay to not see that. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2018, 12:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-sued-by-stormy-daniels-over-hush-payment/810163/231 "2018-03-20T12:01:35Z")
Warning: Once seen, it can never be unseen. No refunds. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2018, 12:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-sued-by-stormy-daniels-over-hush-payment/810163/232 "2018-03-20T12:02:59Z")
It probably looks like a cheeto that’s been under your couch cushion since last year. ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2018, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-sued-by-stormy-daniels-over-hush-payment/810163/233 "2018-03-20T12:44:39Z")
I wonder if the pic is from a more recent episode than 2006. Seems a bit odd she would keep one for 12 years. ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2018, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-sued-by-stormy-daniels-over-hush-payment/810163/234 "2018-03-20T12:46:28Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > It probably looks like a cheeto that’s been under your couch cushion since last year. Yeah. At that point not even the roaches will touch it. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2018, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-sued-by-stormy-daniels-over-hush-payment/810163/235 "2018-03-20T12:48:26Z")
> [@Bijou\_Drains](#): > > I wonder if the pic is from a more recent episode than 2006. Seems a bit odd she would keep one for 12 years. Maybe she was impressed by the tattoo of his name running along it. ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2018, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-sued-by-stormy-daniels-over-hush-payment/810163/236 "2018-03-20T13:51:43Z")
Dick pic thing is not true, her lawyer never said that. It was tweeted by a crackpot but was also retweeted by at least 1 legit person, Ana Navarro, she fell for it too. ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2018, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-sued-by-stormy-daniels-over-hush-payment/810163/237 "2018-03-20T19:11:02Z")
2 more lawsuits [Trump faces lawsuits from Karen McDougal and Summer Zervos](https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2018/03/20/former-playboy-model-karen-mcdougal-sues-break-trump-silence-agreement/442472002/) one is from another woman paid off about sex with Trump. The other is a defamation suit by a former apprentice contestant. ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2018, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-sued-by-stormy-daniels-over-hush-payment/810163/238 "2018-03-20T20:51:41Z")
> [@Bijou\_Drains](#): > > 2 more lawsuits > > [Trump faces lawsuits from Karen McDougal and Summer Zervos](https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2018/03/20/former-playboy-model-karen-mcdougal-sues-break-trump-silence-agreement/442472002/) > > one is from another woman paid off about sex with Trump. The other is a defamation suit by a former apprentice contestant. The first one you mention is interesting because unlike Stormy Daniels, the woman was NOT paid to keep silent. Instead, she was paid _to tell her story_. (The payer then deep-sixed the story, to protect Trump.) So, conceivably we might hear that story first. In any case, it wouldn’t be wise to bet against the possibility that more women may be coming forward. ---
**Author:** ![jasg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f0a364/32.png) [@jasg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasg)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2018, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-sued-by-stormy-daniels-over-hush-payment/810163/239 "2018-03-20T22:43:17Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > Maybe she was impressed by the tattoo of his name running along it. Based on his hands, I guess it said ‘Don’ instead of ‘Donald’? ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2018, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-sued-by-stormy-daniels-over-hush-payment/810163/240 "2018-03-21T01:04:05Z")
> [@jasg](#): > > Based on his hands, I guess it said ‘Don’ instead of ‘Donald’? D’oh! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-sued-by-stormy-daniels-over-hush-payment/810163.md?page=11) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-sued-by-stormy-daniels-over-hush-payment/810163.md?page=13)