Writing for The Atlantic, David French concerned himself Wednesday with what he sees as an emerging culture on the “new right” that would use the word “unmasculine” as a criticism. This culture of the right “idolizes a twisted version of ‘toughness’ as the highest ideal and despises a false version of ‘weakness’ as the lowest vice.”
The new right's strange cult of toughness treats Twitter like it's Omaha Beach, but the danger extends far beyond trolling. Its definition of "manliness" by its very nature rejects moral limits and breeds threats and violence: https://t.co/IWYmFqRyEa
— David French (@DavidAFrench) December 1, 2021
It took five paragraphs for Donald Trump to make an appearance:
Claims of cowardice have particular purchase among Trump’s followers. Coward is a one-word rebuttal that not only attempts to end an argument, but also aims to discredit the person who made it. Who wants to listen to a coward? Who wants to be known as a coward?
What makes the claims of toughness and weakness especially curious and dangerous is the way in which they’re tied to the person of Donald Trump. Although “toughness” has long been a populist virtue—especially in the South—the age of Trump transformed the right’s definitions of strength and courage by reference to the man himself. And what are Trump’s alleged strong, masculine virtues?
We’d excerpt more but it’s five more paragraphs after those two until French loses the word “Trump.”
Excuse us, but wasn’t Joe Biden the one continually saying he’d take Trump out “behind the gym” and set him straight? Chris Matthews was so impressed he presented Biden with a pair of boxing gloves when he was a guest on his show. Biden also told “fat” critics at his tiny campaign rallies that he could do more push-ups than they could.
You could have written something today to bolster the pro-life argument playing out on SCOTUS. https://t.co/vZPjBOvrxW
— Holden (@Holden114) December 1, 2021
David French has become conservatism's nagging wife who thanks you once for doing the laundry then berates you for 20 minutes for folding it wrong.
— Holden (@Holden114) December 1, 2021
But I guess a conservative case for repealing Roe wouldn't play well at The Atlantic.
— Holden (@Holden114) December 1, 2021
[The day Roe is repealed]
"Yeah, yeah, big whoop. But here's 1,000 words on how the right has gone crazy with anti-abortion zealotry."
— Holden (@Holden114) December 1, 2021
Peak everything. pic.twitter.com/K4MtswxwR5
— David Reaboi, Late Republic Nonsense (@davereaboi) December 1, 2021
Had to confirm this wasn’t a meme. It’s real. 🤦♀️ https://t.co/81m89JkbSI
— Cernovich (@Cernovich) December 1, 2021
Toughness isn't new, you had to be tough to survive, it's weakness-as-a-virtue that is new.
— Erin Holmes (@erinjholmes) December 1, 2021
Very well said.
— Styrian Beaufort (@BeaufortStyrian) December 1, 2021
This is the most beta thing ever lmao
— benny (@benterest) December 1, 2021
I can smell the soy
— Atane Ofiaja (@atane) December 1, 2021
David French is really embracing the "soft men make hard times" concept
— fed (@CryptoNormie3) December 1, 2021
It’s like he intentionally leans into the parody version of himself.
— Matt Lancaster🇺🇸🗡🛡 (@urnamma) December 1, 2021
The opposite is true: the left has elevated weakness to the highest virtue. Nietzche's predictions have been entirely vindicated.
— James Wood (@ajmesodow) December 1, 2021
What an astonishing change from 2016.https://t.co/oyP8SlCPJN
— Andrew Smith (@AndrewSmithClub) December 1, 2021
Same person. Wow.
— David Barlow (@DontDoubtDavid) December 1, 2021
This isn't real. It can't be real.
— Christopher F. Rufo ⚔️ (@realchrisrufo) December 1, 2021
I swear I thought it was photoshopped.
— Larry O'Connor (@LarryOConnor) December 1, 2021
If David was ever going to get real estate in The Atlantic, it was going to have to be this way.
— Restore Federalism (@CTRFederalism) December 1, 2021
A journalist hasn't been this whiny since that Kuntzman guy claimed PTSD from a day at the shooting range.
— Billy Mitchell's Riding Crop (@pawnman99) December 1, 2021
Trump messed a lot of people up
— George (@GHuddlesMD) December 1, 2021
You even lift, bro?
— mind your head ☦️ (@JonathanLessen) December 1, 2021
Related:
‘#NeverTrump case for SUCKING at life’ –> David French DRAGGED over smug piece shaming ‘Trumpists’ for seeing Kyle Rittenhouse as a folk hero https://t.co/oMpEbIIF4V
— Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) November 17, 2021
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