The Wall Street Journal editorial board sharply criticized Vice President JD Vance for his reflexive defense of Young Republicans operatives who were caught sharing racist and openly pro-Nazi messages in group chats.

“The reality is that kids do stupid things, especially young boys,” Vance said, seemingly ignoring that the operatives involved ranged in age from 18 to 40. He also attacked the media for reporting on the leaked messages, calling on everyone to move on and focus on real issues.

The editorial board called Vance’s defense “deeply misguided.” They argued that by treating these actual adults as if they were teenagers and handling the matter with kid gloves, Vance contributed to a broader cultural problem of infantilization. The board wrote, “Mr. Vance in particular has blown an opportunity to set a good example for Republicans young and old. Excusing such behavior will only get us more of it. That’s how people actually ruin their lives.”

The board also rejected the notion that these messages could be dismissed as mere “jokes,” stating, “You can learn a lot about people by what they think is funny.”

Despite Vance’s attempts to downplay the issue, many within the Republican Party are condemning the leaked texts. Even Senator Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma, a staunch MAGA supporter, repudiated Vance’s remarks: “I didn’t hear the vice president’s remarks, but I would never let my kids joke like that. That’s a solid no.”

In the wake of the scandal, several operatives have lost their jobs, and the Kansas Young Republicans group, which was heavily involved, was shut down entirely by the state GOP.

The editorial board warned, “To excuse this behavior is to outsource the right’s self-definition to the most vile and discrediting. The prospects for conservatives and Republicans would sour as a result.” They emphasized that “internal hygiene is good politics.”

As a positive example, the board highlighted Winsome Earle-Sears, the GOP candidate for governor of Virginia. Earle-Sears called for everyone involved to “step down from their positions.”

“You don’t need a Telegram account to see that this is a winning approach,” the editorial board concluded.
https://www.rawstory.com/jd-vance-2674206931/