Excitement that “we’re so back” resounds, but the reality is not as reversed as the political Right and Left make it out to be. The Left, in fact, is even beginning to hate the image of itself in conservative youth.
In imprecise terms, that image is the new, exorbitant confidence among conservatives, particularly those in the 18-to-30 age range, that flowed in with President Donald Trump’s victory. The group demands profiling just by being itself. And seeing as how the president’s current approval has no real racial demographic signal, young conservatives, dominant and vocal, are the political focus. Curious left-leaning outlets are filling in the portrait of a youngster, largely by flocking to inaugural parties.
There are a couple of pieces: Taylor Lorenz attended and wrote about the “Power 30 Awards,” a TikTok-sponsored, pre-inaugural party, and so did a journalist for New York Magazine. Both profiled the attendee type in detail, and the latter, “The Cruel Kids’ Table,” is under fire for a false racial narrative. Its cover photo, as well as descriptions of the party, gives the impression that the TikTok party consisted only of white people. Any estimation concludes that the move was intentional. Observers have been swift to call out the magazine — including the party’s black co-host, conservative commentator CJ Pearson.
Beyond ever-present race-baiting, the message from profiles of young conservatives makes the political relationship more clear and more perplexing. That is, the Left has taken a sharp turn, who knows which direction, toward the classic clique mindset. “Pretty people” hate and “cool kids” put-downs replace the former leftist ethos of celebrated self-expression and looks-obsessed “slay” compliments.
The partygoing young conservative is described as such in New York Magazine: “imposingly well-connected, urban, and very online.” They are “crypto-nerds and influencer girlies,” they are mostly “hot,” and they are various shades of part-leftists who favor freedom from speech-policing over preoccupation with marginalization. Supposedly, one “could throw a pack of smokers outside Butterworth’s into a gigglefest” with a fringe enough joke.
Now actually in the minority — as opposed to the perpetual, imagined claim of being so — writers on the Left are leaning into their status and playing as ugly and unpopular, but at least with their heads screwed on straight.
But they created this now MAGA-coded persona — conservatism certainly did not. The self-centeredness crucial to liberalism determines society’s lifestyle and “vibe” preferences, what is cool and what is not. Social media, once and arguably still run by the Left, then funnels the feed into its youth population. For young conservatives to have picked up the mold and sauntered about as following-focused, unapologetic nightlifers was the next step (plus, college fraternities have existed for centuries).
When leftist journalists point out seeming contradictions in the lifestyle, then I have to agree: I am all for making conservatism more consistent. But they should not be so upset. In some small sense, probably private, the Left might feel inaugurated and have a short victory lap. Even if it feels betrayed by their own creation, tactical success is something to toast.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
Double standards are the name of the game on the Left, however, as its own peculiar inconsistency. The New York Magazine piece uses social liberalism’s most beloved habits against its young subjects: Drinking is a constant theme, gossip takes a frowned-upon tone, and sexual sins sound a lot like ammunition. And so there is no winning: If young right-wingers are influence-obsessed — never mind that the point of social media, ostensibly, is clone creation and internet addiction — they are cheap posers. If drunken, shameful and risky. If sexually explicit, should-be outcasts. If gossiping, they are again cheap, this time rudely so.
Yet the bounds of social liberalism are nonexistent, as the Left well knows. It is the very premise. So, when it slips into the Right, that may as well be a given to the people who espouse the cause. And young people, especially, are granted that proclivity. It is not the only characteristic of this subset of the young right-wingers by any means, but oddly enough, it is the one with which the Left is taking the greatest issue.