From my #1 daughter comes this.
Pull quote: “
For too many political reporters, the way someone makes the argument – how nice they look, how erudite they sound, how polite they seem – has long taken precedent over the actual argument itself.
Their rule of thumb seems to be that, as long as the tone is cheerful, there’s no need to examine the ugliness of the words. As long as the speaker is smiling, there’s no need to hear what they say.
But a true reckoning with the life and legacy of any political activist – no matter where they stood on the spectrum – has to address the substance of their words and deeds, and not just their style. Focus on exactly what they said, not how nicely they said it.”