Plenty of reasons to despise Spicer, without considering things he said when he was fourteen.
I donât think that anyone who has had first-hand experience with Catholic boysâ prep schoolsâas I did too many years agoâwould be surprised at the accusation leveled against Spicer. Although not a part of the academic curriculum, the social curriculum included middle and upper-middle-class boys learning the subtle ways of keeping âothersâ in their places, be it race, sex, or class. At 15, Spicer was probably a little crude in his ways of dealing with race, sex, and class. By the time he graduated, I am sure he was much more sophisticated in these areas, as his advancement through the Republican party all the way to the White House demonstrates.
Spicers a rich white guy that worked for the republican party. Iâm guessing he used and uses racist slurs all the fucking time. Also misogynist terms. Itâs the white male republican way.
Yes, but Spicer and his clan are the ones that say that racism doesnât exist anymore. So, you are right. I donât despise him because he was a vile piece of shit as a kid, I despise him because as an adult heâs a lying hypocrite, -and I donât blame Lombard for wanting to give Spicer some comeuppance about it.
The rot runs deep in our society, from racism to misogny to bigotry to abuse. The US has done an effective job of papering over this rot for many years with the argument that the good outweighs the bad. It was effective so long as we had somewhat responsible, law abiding and decent leaders. George W. Bush was probably at the very edge of what our society could handle. However, under Trump that house of cards has collapsed and everything is getting exposed.
A lot of the racial incidents that people are taping and sending viral were fairly commonplace in the 70s, 80s and into the mid 90s. A part of our society evolved past it. A part of it didnât. The un-evolved side got angry that their views were no longer seen as within the range of acceptability (for example, being against gay marriage or generally being gay phobic was not viewed as a slight on oneâs character back in the 90s but it is today in much of suburban America) and they revolted and adopted the âown the libsâ philosophy that is about the most succinct and visceral description of what the GOP actually stands for. I would be willing to forgive Spicer for being a dumb, privileged white kid spouting off words that others commonly used to be a dick and not quite grasping the level of inappropriateness, but only if he can show that he evolved. Supporting Trump means he didnât evolve, so Spicer gets what he gets.
I wouldnât get too giddy about this story ⌠itâs briefly of interest, then we move on.
But itâs probably the only highlight of Spicerâs book tour. A poorly written, sloppily edited, book by a man who has been a spokesperson for different people and groups needs that extra spice added to make some news that he is still looking for a job.
Seriously? Trump is like a âunicorn riding a unicorn over a rainbowâ? Sean, do you still wonder why your sycophantic ravings were never quite good enough for the stable genius?
Many of us who went to small, mostly-white private schools learned to regret some of the attitudes we picked up and expressed there. The others became reliable republicans.
If Spicer made changes in his life after he was fifteen (the victim as 14, Spicer was a year old) Iâd agree. But I donât believe that happened. If this accusation is true, we know he was a bigot as a child. Based on his involvement in the Trump administration, we know he is a bigot today. I donât believe we have any reason to believe he was anything else in the intervening time. So while I wouldnât not say that his high school bigotry should define him into adulthood, it is part of a consistent narrative of a man who has lived his entire life as a bigot. That story is worth telling.
Letâs also remember, to spicerâs discredit, that this was a bleeping 1980s. Really no excuse for not knowing better.
âIf this accusation is true, we know he was a bigot as a child.â
Probably, but possibly, he was angry (âwanted to fightâ) and lashed out in a childish manner because he was fifteen.
âBased on his involvement in the Trump administration, we know he is a bigot today.â
Do we, or are you making a guilt by association agument?
âI donât believe we have any reason to believe he was anything else in the intervening time.â
If you say so. Do you have reason to believe he has personally spoken or acted in a bigotted manner in the intervening time? Absence of evidence âŚ
âSo while I wouldnât not say that his high school bigotry should define him into adulthood, it is part of a consistent narrative of a man who has lived his entire life as a bigot.â
And yet you have said that. As far as I can tell, the consistent narrative consists of one incident at age fifteen, and accepting a job in the Trump White House, which must be taken alone as sufficient evidence of a lifetime of bigotry.
If Mr. Lombard wants to call out Spicerâs adolescent behavior, thatâs a point of personal privilege.