A common theme in modern entertainment is the devastating effects that a single predator can have on a family, and a community, and in some cases, the entire world. By targeting the most innocent among us, they obliterate our sense of security in the world we occupy. To be a victim of a predator changes who you are, fundamentally, forever.

To ramp up the horror, the most shocking crimes usually reveal that this monster lived, worked and operated in full view of normal people for years, or decades even. The signs were surely there to see, certainly for those who were closest to him. But those in his circle made the choice to remain willfully blind, until the very end of the charade, in the revealing of the sins and crimes against that which God made pure but is now forever tainted.

For those who are in the blast radius of a predator, waking up to the truth can be a kind of death. The death of innocence; which ushers in the birth of the intimate knowledge of evil. Similar to what happened in the Garden when Adam & Eve engaged in humanity’s first act of rebellion. We were never the same after that.

For most, it can seem impossible to acknowledge the evil of a loved one, or a friend. Because acknowledgment admits our own culpability, however deeply repressed or unrealized. But as they say, “Silence is violence”; for the simple fact that by refusing to confront bullies, predators and other forms of bad men, we manufacture future victims.

In Ephesians, Paul admonishes us to:

 “Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. 12 It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. 13 But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light.” Ephesians 5:11-13

Of course, the idea of a predator in modern times usually brings to mind deviants of a sexual nature. But there are other varieties of sociopath moving through our society that warrant our attention.

In politics, the ability to manipulate, coerce, mock, intimidate, charm, seduce, belittle, deceive, blackmail and mesmerize your fellow man are all features, not bugs.

So, how can we know if we are dealing with an honest legislator who is merely trying to do their very best to represent their constituency, or a predator? It can be very difficult to know for sure. The very best players become skilled at playing the politics game by making people feel particular emotions that tend to make them question their intellect.

The following was pulled from a website that defines the traits of a sexual predator. I changed a few words to make it more relevant to this post.

What is a (political) Predator?

A (political) predator is a person who seeks out (political)contact with another person in a predatory or abusive manner. People who are (political) predators may or may not have committed crimes — like harassment, extortion, graft, and theft — but all (political) predators have sought out inappropriate contact in one way or another.

Those who exploit others in a (political) manner may not be just seeking (politics). Rather, they see politics as a form of dominance and control.

While some political predators attempt to exploit adult victims, many are (political newby) predators. These abusers have a distinct (political) preference for newbies. They look for newbies, typically 1st term legislators in Pierre, and will build trust with their victim as a form of grooming.

Approximately 96% of (political) perpetrators are male. About 90% of political newbies report that their perpetrator was somebody they already knew and trusted.

Signs of a (political) Predator

Knowing how to identify the signs of (political) abuse and predatory behavior can help stop the abuse as soon as possible — or before any more harm can be done. Not all of these warning signs indicate (political) abuse. However, they can act as a red flag for abusive, and possibly (politically) predatory, behavior.

1. Associating with political newbies

A (political) predator with a particular interest in newbies may show a preference for associating with 1st term legislators. They may have few friendships of their own age or have unusually close friendships with wealthy donors.

In addition to spending a lot of time around wealthy donors, they might also engage in inappropriate behaviors. For example, they may show an unusual interest in crony capitalism.

2. Creating Dependency 

A (political) predator may begin manipulating their chosen victim to create dependency and intimacy. In the beginning, they may be very attentive, showering the individual with gifts, praise, phone calls, and texts.

This creates a feeling in the victim that the perpetrator has a special bond with them. The victim may feel that the perpetrator can provide something nobody else can, such as access to power and money   — and they are the only person who truly understands, respects, and cares for the victim. This builds loyalty and vulnerability, which the (political) predator can then use to their advantage.

3. Using Manipulative Language 

You may notice a potential (political) predator using manipulative language. They may insult or mock the victim on their behavior, appearance, clothes, friends, or other parts of their personal life. When challenged on this behavior, they may lie and twist the information, making the victim feel as though they are at fault. They may repeatedly focus on their own feelings in order to make the victim feel guilty for hurting them.

Some predators may also engage in gaslighting. Gaslighting is a form of emotional abuse where the perpetrator makes a person question their thoughts, memories, and events they have experienced. The goal of gaslighting is to force the victim to question their own memory, or even their sanity, in favor of the abuser’s version of events.

4. Pushing (political) and ethical boundaries 

(Political) predators may push past healthy boundaries. This behavior may begin with seemingly innocent political pressure. But it may escalate to inappropriate name-calling, insults and public humiliation without the person’s consent.

If the predator is already in a relationship with the victim, they may cross pre-established boundaries or fail to ask for consent. They may use manipulation to push the person to carry out tasks they are not comfortable with.

For legislators, this can look like voting for SB201, increasing sales tax, harassing fellow female senators, hugging, or cuddling. This may then escalate to more predatory behavior.

Before doing so, the predator may introduce and normalize ideas of crony capitalism to the legislator. By talking to the legislator about vote-selling, making suggestive jokes, showing them stacks of cash, or encouraging them to be corrupt together, they may be able to introduce RINO activity by telling the legislator it’s a “game”.

5. Expressing Jealousy and Controlling Behavior

In many cases, the (political) predator may be jealous and controlling around friends, family members, or other political interests. They may monitor the victim’s social media activity, personal life, and day-to-day activities.

This can be taken a step further, to the point where the predator becomes controlling. They may seek to limit the victim’s contact with others, especially those of the political grassroots.

If you or someone you know has been victimized by one of these predators, please know that you are not alone, and it’s not your fault. These people are Mind Vampires, whose special skill is manipulation.

The way to deal with these bad actors is by exposing their malfeasance, applying pressure to their benefactors, offering meaningful support to your friends who’ve been targeted, and playing the game of politics so hard that your victories serve to demoralize them into obscurity.

Lee, please leave our freshman legislators alone. You’ve done enough damage to our party, and more importantly, our great state of South Dakota.