Much has been written about “tribal politics” since the November 8 election. Simply put, loyalty to the tribe is put above all else. In a piece for the Washington Post, Michael Gerson uses the acceptance of criminal Julian Assange
by leading conservative figures
to maximum effect in explaining tribal politics.
Not that long ago, president-elect Donald Trump, Sarah Palin and Sean Hannity all recognized Assange was a threat, an undesirable and a criminal. Now all three pander to him; Palin actually apologizing for things she said in the past and Hannity giving him rock star treatment on his radio and television shows.
Gerson boils it down to this simple equation: Trump is good. Assange helped Trump. Therefore, Assange is good. Sadly, that's the dangerous calculus many conservatives are accepting these days. If Assange is good for the tribe, he's just plain good. I've argued previously that many conservative tribalists accept even Vladimir Putin in this same way.
Gerson rightly points out that both “tribes,” left and right do this. The Left loved Assange when they saw him as one that brought the U.S. to its knees. And the Right hated him when they thought he compromised our national security interests. Assange, as Gerson notes, hasn't changed. Political interest of both sides have, so, the script flips 180 degrees.
Can America come back from tribal politics? Can conservatives re-learn that it's principles and not personalities that count? Only time will tell.
