The Lincoln Project always has a lot to say, but they’ve been been conspicuously silent when it comes to co-founder John Weaver. Ever since Weaver was accused of — and subsequently copped to — sexually grooming young men in exchange for empty promises of plum political jobs, the Lincoln Project has done their best to erase him.
While the Lincoln Project’s recent scrubbing efforts are understandable, it’s also understandable that a lot of people suspect that the Lincoln Project knew that John Weaver was super-sketchy from the get-go. The guy had a history of being shady and terrible, and the Lincoln Project’s team of fellow shady and terrible people chose to throw their lots in with Weaver.
According to Manhattan Institute Senior Fellow Max Eden, there’s another story that sheds even more light on Weaver’s garbage character:
So, I have a story about John Weaver… fortunately not one thematically similar to the young men who he groomed and sexually exploited, but certainly one of historical and moral interest 1/x
— Max Eden (@maxeden99) January 17, 2021
In 2011, @michaeljknowles and I formed a student group to draft Mitch Daniels to run for President. We thought he had the character, temperament, and leadership skills to put America back on better moral and fiscal footing 2/x
— Max Eden (@maxeden99) January 17, 2021
The main factor said to be holding Daniels back at the time was his wife's reservations. They had divorced and remarried, and she did not want the media to pick over every detail in the very likely politics-of-personal-destruction that could come with a Presidential run 3/x
— Max Eden (@maxeden99) January 17, 2021
Ultimately, she vetoed after a rival campaign orchestrated an incredibly dirty political hit – connecting the ex-wife of the man Daniels' wife was briefly married to with a reporter, leading to a story that all but promised "If you run, Mitch, we will destroy your wife" 4/x
— Max Eden (@maxeden99) January 17, 2021
Recommended
After Daniels decided not to run, Knowles and I were contacted by John Weaver who offered us a "seat at the table" on the Huntsman campaign if we endorsed him and helped to lead his youth operation. He ghosted us after getting what he wanted 5/x
— Max Eden (@maxeden99) January 17, 2021
We later learn that it was the Huntsman campaign, under Weaver's leadership, that orchestrated the political hit job against Mitch Daniels' wife. We were later assured by members of the Huntsman family that this was done entirely behind their backs and without their knowledge 6/x
— Max Eden (@maxeden99) January 17, 2021
Going after a man's wife is one of the the dirtiest things you can do in politics.
If Weaver's team hadn't done it, Daniels might have run.
If he ran, I believe he could have won – or at the least that the course of American political history would have been v different 7/x
— Max Eden (@maxeden99) January 17, 2021
Many inflection points of gross immorality lead to where we are today in American politics.
This was one of them.
A man who attached himself to politicians purporting to represent Republican Virtue (TM) and Principled Conservatism … 8/x
— Max Eden (@maxeden99) January 17, 2021
Was not only grooming and sexually exploiting young men, but was also ran the campaign that conducted one of the grossest, least-remembered, and plausibly most consequential personal-destruction-hit-jobs of the 21st century 9/x
— Max Eden (@maxeden99) January 17, 2021
One could say many things about this…
I'll refrain from further personal comment or moral/lesson conclusions and just end the thread having provided these facts as fodder for reflection on why we are where we are today in American politics.
Fin
— Max Eden (@maxeden99) January 17, 2021
For Weaver to have pulled something like this would be pretty much in-line with what else we’ve come to learn about his character.
And it would certainly explain why he fit in so well with the rest of the Lincoln Project.
This would certainly explain their current line of attack.
— Back The Blue (@cathandler) January 17, 2021
Lincoln Project mercenaries being the reason we don't have Mitch Daniels b/c they credibly threatened to destroy his wife is almost too perfect for words.
Wonder how we got here. https://t.co/Y6e9B7U9Ub
— Seth Mandel (@SethAMandel) January 18, 2021
Editor’s note: This post has been updated with an additional tweet.
Join the conversation as a VIP Member