The Fuentes/Tucker Carlson Controversy is Part of Larger problem

Conservative activist Tucker Carlson ignited a controversy among Republicans and conservatives with his overly friendly interview with political influencer Nick Fuentes.

Fuentes is a political and intellectual Neanderthal (with apologies to the Neanderthals).   He:

• Expressed his belief that “America was founded by White Christians and should stay that way”. 
• Is a Holocaust denier, calling the deaths of six million Jews “exaggerated” and “ridiculous”.  
• Told Carlson that America must overcome the influence of “organized Jewry”.
• Openly supports fascist authoritarianism – and has expressed admiration for Hitler and the Nazis.  Among his more infamous statements is “We need to have dictatorship, we need to have a strong ruler, and we need to take away the rights of the people”.
• Said the First Amendment “was not written for Muslims or immigrants”.
• Claimed that “Segregation was good. It was better for everyone. It kept things orderly.”
• Holds extreme hateful opinions about women, declaring that “Women shouldn’t vote. They’re too emotional and easily manipulated.” And “Women want to be raped. They want to be dominated. That’s just biology.”

There is a lot more, but you get the point.  The man is the personification of ignorance and unbridled hatred.  He is among those I usually describe as nutcases.  One can easily understand why Carlson got such blowback for giving Fuentes a platform.

But then there is Carlson himself.  Never liked the guy – and have given my opinion of him in several past commentaries.  I never liked his brand of commentary, even when he was just an occasional guest on the “FOX & Friends”.  I was surprised when he was rewarded with a prime time show, which I rarely watched – but enough to confirm my initial opinion of him.  I was glad to see him booted into the shadow of commentary. 

For me, it was a matter of substance and style.  I often disagreed with Carlson’s controversial opinions and was put off by his mocking laugh and arrogant style.  No … he is not as obnoxious as Fuentes, but still not a person on the fringe of the conservative movement with whom I can align.

Carlson and Fuentes belong in a category of fringe characters that includes such other nutcases as Alex Jones and Steve Bannon.  For me they all have huge credibility problems – and seem to say the most outrageous things to get attention and following.  And sadly, they do.

The Heritage Foundation got drawn into the Carlson-Fuentes controversy when the think tank’s president, Kevin Roberts, produced a video in support of Carlson and his decision to have Fuentes as a guest on his show.  Roberts went full bore in his defense and praise of Carlson.

As a longtime fan of the Heritage Foundation – and a close friend of its founder and longtime president, the late Ed Feulner – I was more than a little disappointed in Roberts’ unnecessary and misguided public reaction.  He referred to Carlson critics as a “venomous coalition” — which some took as a reference to Jews.  The video resulted in a justified wave of criticism from the broader conservative community – including among Heritage donors and staffers. 

Roberts offered a strong mea culpa – saying, “I made a mistake, and I let you down, and I let down this institution. Period. Full stop.”  Adding, “Leadership requires owning the moments where we fall short — then using them to reset, refocus, and recommit.”

With regard to the antisemitic interpretation of his remarks, Roberts said, “We [the Heritage Foundation] will never, ever, ever stop fighting against antisemitism in all its forms.”

I would be naïve to believe that the aforementioned nutcases (excluding Roberts) — and others on the fringe of the conservative movement — do not have an impact on the public.  They do gain a following that mystifies me – and at the same time they damage the principled conservative movement that has been handed down by America’s Founders in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution.  They are principles based on equality, maximum personal freedom and justice for all – not divisiveness and hate.

However, as a free speech extremist, I value the right of even the nutcases to express their opinions – and for free speech to be used to push back at their too often malignant opinions.  And yes … I understand that this commentary will likely get negative – even ugly — responses from some on the extreme right-wing fringe, but that is their right, too.

So, there ‘tis.