The moral hypocrisy of conservative leaders is stunning

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/the-moral-hypocrisy-of-conservative-leaders-is- stunning/2020/12/14/35e62f16-3e2d-11eb-8bc0-ae155bee4aff_story.html

 

Another great column from Michael Gerson. A sample:

 

The intellectual bankruptcy and moral hypocrisy of many conservative leaders is stunning. People who claimed to favor limited government now applaud Trump’s use of the executive branch to undermine an election. … People who claimed to be patriots now spread false claims about their country’s fundamental corruption. People who talked of honoring the rule of law now jerk and gyrate according to the whims of a lawless leader.

 

These conservative leaders no longer deserve the assumption of sincerity. They are spreading conspiratorial lies so unlikely and irrational, they must know them to be lies. …

 

Perhaps the assertion of obvious falsehoods about the election has become an entry-level commitment of conservative relevance. Perhaps the base has become so disconnected from reality that sanity is viewed as a betrayal. Perhaps affirming the simple truth would result in declining fundraising, listenership and standing within the conservative community.

 

This fear is understandable but hardly admirable. It is the main justification of political cowards throughout history. How could the world survive, the coward calculates, without my influence?