Mark Joseph Stern, walking on eggshells

I can't fathom living like this

Jan 10, 2023

I was not familiar with Mark, a senior writer for Slate. Apparently, he admires David French and posted a kind tweet when David was brought on by NYT, saying it was a “marvelous hire”. Not so fast in Wokeville! Any such praise must be run through quality control, and it looks like this did not pass muster with the color guard. Just a few days later, here comes Mark with some public groveling…

Mark Joseph Stern @mjs_DC

My friend @ZackFord reached out to ask about my support for David French becoming a NYT opinion writer. Others I respect deeply including @transscribe and @AngryBlackLady have expressed dismay about my tweet too. I appreciate the respectful feedback and want to explain further.

Mark Joseph Stern @mjs_DC

First, here's what I told Zack, and I stand by it. There's a reason why so many Republicans, anti-LGBTQ activists, and other culture war conservatives despise David and mock him at every turn. (Even ADF's lead attorney recently turned against him.) He has shown real principle.

You know, I really come at this from the perspective of someone who has watched David's legal views evolve in a positive direction over the years. Obviously he holds many upsetting personal views that I find odious. But unlike so many conservatives, I think he's able to separate his personal views from his legal analysis, at least SOMETIMES. So think he could be a persuasive to conservatives who take the in-group, knee-jerk reaction against (for instance) drag shows, gay rights, and pro-LGBTQ speech in public schools.

David has said inexcusable, terrible, humanity-denying things about gay and trans people in the past. Absolutely no question about that. But he has since broken sharply with a lot of those views, I think. He defended Bostock as a principled textualist opinion, incurring the wrath of basically all his ideological bedfellows. He has very strongly opposed "anti-woke" and "don't say gay" style censorship laws. I think that is a good thing!

I feel like his belief model could be an effective off-ramp for moderates or conservatives who feel nauseated by the increasingly vitriolic and violent rhetoric toward LGBTQ people. More persuasive, at least, than a liberal like me explaining why they should change their minds. And I think those kinds of people exist! I think there are normal voters out there who currently hold backward views on legal issues but could be persuaded to change their minds! And so I have hope that David can provide an alternative to the ultra-oppressive, all-culture-war-all-the-time model that's dominating the rest of the right at the moment.

Mark Joseph Stern @mjs_DC

However, I want to acknowledge that it was hurtful for trans friends and followers to see me laud someone so effusively who personally denies their true identity, an act that degrades their humanity. My off-the-cuff praise should have acknowledged this and I'm sorry it did not.

“Hurtful”, “humanity”, “degrades”, apologies, supportive evidence to appease the mob. My god. I cannot imagine completely subordinating myself to others like that. There is the expression “turning in your man card”, but this is something beyond. It’s turning in your own card, ceasing to be an individual.

And this is David French we're talking about here! Imagine how hard the Overton window has been jammed left when association with David French necessitates public apology and self-flaggelating. It’s so cult-like. We are living through some surreal times.

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