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Moral Flexibility in MAGA World: What Happens When Power Trumps Principles
There was a time—not so long ago—when conservatives claimed the moral high ground.
There was a time—not so long ago—when conservatives claimed the moral high ground.
They were the party of “family values,” of fiscal responsibility, of law and order. They spoke reverently about character in leadership and the importance of integrity in public life.
And then came Trump.
From Principles to Power at Any Cost
In the Trump era, Republican politics have undergone a radical transformation. Morality has become negotiable. Hypocrisy isn’t a liability—it’s a loyalty test.
As conservative columnist Peter Wehner wrote in The Atlantic,
“What was once a movement built on moral convictions has become one centered on grievance, conspiracy, and raw political power.”
— Peter Wehner, “The Moral Collapse of the Republican Party,” The Atlantic, Jan. 2021
Today, the same voices that once decried Bill Clinton’s lack of moral character now overlook or excuse a former president who has been found liable for sexual abuse, indicted on dozens of federal charges, and accused of attempting to…
