My theory, supported by the steady stream of people that attempt to have these consent discussions is there are places in the world (parts of white, rural American being one of them) where sex with an underage person (around the ephebophilia range) is simply not considered taboo, fuelled by the idea that minors get horny and want it anyway, so they might as well and grooming is fine if you justify it to yourself.
There's that, combined with the fact is that he strikes me as bitter and probably suffering from a physical disability, given he's been vocal about Medicaid cuts. I know people like that in the bush and they've lost any reason to care what people think.