When Conservatives Are Mean

Some online conservatives' distaste for leftist and Democrat policies has spilled over into personal insults of prominent politicians, and I think the carping hurts our credibility. Here are three examples:

First Lady Hillary Clinton's Pantsuits: There's a lot one could say about Hillary Clinton without resorting to snark about the pantsuits she chooses to wear. Yes, Clinton went on to become Secretary of State, then a senator and then a candidate for president--all the more reason to keep our critiques sharp and substantive. Parroting the pantsuit observation makes it seem like we can't offer any concrete commentary, so we resort to seventh-grade tactics. I understand how pantsuits seem to be an outworking of Hillary's angry rejection of traditional female roles. Maybe they are and maybe they aren't, but perhaps we let her wardrobe choices speak for themselves while we tackle topics such as healthcare, foreign policy, e-mail protocols, etc. (Note: I tried to locate examples of Hillary's regalia online and found that most of her pictures cut her off at the waist. The incriminating garment has been edited away.)

I actually really like pantsuits, and at least in the '90s, many women wore them. They're more comfortable than dresses and often look sharp. From what I can tell, Clinton's clothing choices were savvy and flattering. I wish our fashion trends would drift toward the kinds of pantsuits worn in Vietnam and India--these are stunning. Western pantsuits are at least a cousin of these feminine varieties, and in my opinion, dresses are not the only womanly accouterments out there. I see no problem with a First Lady sporting a pantsuit in her White House portrait.

Michelle Obama's Looks: With Mrs. Obama as a potential contender for a national office, we would be neglectful to not say anything about her worldview and political stances. These have implications for the future of the U.S., for our freedom and prosperity. But I've read petty Internet comments about her appearance, and these are often harsh personal remarks. I think these comments come from an overflow of negativity and frustration toward leftist policies in general, and they may have been a bit of a reaction against the wave of worshipful enthusiasm for President Obama. (And a touch of tart raisins, too.)

Honestly, however, to many of us, Michelle Obama is beautiful, and she knows how to dress to accentuate that trait. An online commenter on Reddit or wherever is free to believe otherwise, but it would be best for that individual to turn his or her gaze toward more important topics than someone's looks or lack thereof. Appearance is a delicate subject, as one can't help what she was born with. It would be rude for me to walk up to a lady and tell her she has an ungainly body part or an unattractive face--harshly announcing my opinion in a public forum would not be classy, either.

A Couple Sideways References to a Crude Older English Verb Referencing Joe Biden: One of the earlier incidences of this vulgarity, at a sporting event where the reporter claimed the crowd was chanting "Let's go, Brandon" in support of the guy she was interviewing, was kind of funny for its strangeness, especially since the reporter was clearly trying to cover up what was actually going on. But the crassness of chanted phrase, and the happy conservative recycling of "Brandon" and "FJB," reflects a devolution in our discourse that, in my opinion, doesn't help anyone. It's crude and small-minded. It hurts our cause and further closes the ears of folks whose stances we don't like.

Conservatives care deeply about the country and where it's headed. Many of us are thoughtful and well-informed. Let's put our brains to use in this desperate conversation and not talk as if the national stage were an episode of Donahue.