That many standard Democratic positions (pro-choice, pro-trans rights, gun control) are morally indefensible to them, even if they are morally indefensible in a different way than Manson's murders are.

But that is incoherent. You (or, more specifically, the people you are referring to) are comparing actual crimes to policy positions. Mike and I can debate policy positions all day. We could spend an evening over dinner and not agree on anything, and probably get along just fine. I don't view him as a monster, and I hope he doesn't view me that way either. It's just policies. Neither of us (to my knowledge) has committed any crimes worse than perhaps a speeding ticket. Manson was a monster**. The convict is a monster of a different sort (i.e. I'm not aware that he has orchestrated multiple murders); being guilty of rape and up to 34 felonies (I'll grant that he may prevail on the appeal of some subset of those felonies, but probably not all of them). Rape is pretty monstrous, IMHO. More felony convictions are pending.

There are positions, and there are actions. I red-line actions (like...oh...rape). I won't refuse to meet up with Mike if he were to come to Phoenix just because we don't agree on a universal minimum basic income. I would refuse to meet the convict, even if he offered to pay.

Plus, Mike just said he wouldn't vote for Manson (were he alive) even if he agreed with all of Mike's positions. So there are red-lines present for Mike, also.

If neither candidate has crossed a red line, then I start looking at policy positions. But some things are disqualifying for me as a human person, nevermind policy or politics. IMO, a vote for a rapist and convicted felon is pretty much indefensible, no matter which party they claim to be. I said before, I wouldn't vote for Menendez, either, and he's a Dem (and didn't rape anyone, or at least hasn't been accused of that).




**Though it is interesting to note that he didn't actually kill anyone. He directed his followers to do it, and I believe was present only at one of the murder scenes (the La Biancas, as I recall, because the Tate murders were too messy for his liking).