Two Myths to be Discarded
When aspiring leaders of a political movement privately normalize calls for rape or praise genocide, those views won’t stay private forever.
In this moment in American history, two dominant myths must be discarded, especially in light of the shocking revelations about leadership of some Young Republican groups and their “private” text messages.
Myth 1: Private Speech has No Consequences
The myth that private speech has no political consequences must be discarded. Leaked or not, such rhetoric shapes recruitment, peer norms and the ideological boundaries of the movement.
Myth 2: Isolated Bad Apples
The myth that these are isolated bad apples must also be discarded. While individuals are responsible for their speech, the frequency, coordination and shared ownership of these messages suggest a permissive culture in parts of the conservative youth movement.
The normalization of extremism within inner circles nudges the center of gravity outward, making it more difficult for mainstream conservatives to cleanse their institutions of intolerance.
Author's summary: Discarding two dominant myths in American politics.
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