Bile-spewing Biles, cancel culture and conservative hypocrisy
If we truly believe in a culture of free speech, we should also defend speech that we find offensive.
Conservatives have been speaking for many years about a culture of free speech, where people do not have their lives and careers ruined if they express an opinion that goes against The Narrative - especially if that opinion is shared by a majority of the population. Conservatives have correctly argued that even saying truly loathsome things should be met with a proportionate response, not the total destruction of someone's life. But when tribalism takes over, principles go out the window when an "enemy" can be destroyed.
When Simone Biles taunted Riley Gaines and said she was as large as a full grown man, Biles beclowned herself. Gaines is 5′ 5″ and 136 lbs, significantly shorter and lighter than most men. She is also more than 30 pounds lighter than the average adult woman in the United States. Biles was spewing bile, so her name is appropriate. The reasonable response to that is the justified mocking and scolding bile-spewing Biles got in the public square. Trying to destroy her livelihood is not reasonable or proportionate.
The Federalist openly admitted to calling up Biles' sponsors and "asking" if they are going to drop her. This is directly attacking her livelihood. They were not "asking" any "questions." This was meant to pressure the companies paying Biles for her endorsement to drop her.
Folks, this needs to stop. Conservatives should not engage in the same "cancel culture" shenanigans as the "woke" Left. Conservatives who do this lose credibility and demonstrate that their commitment to a culture of free speech only applies to people in the conservative tribe. Why should we take these arguments seriously when they are made in such an obviously disingenuous manner? If we truly believe in a culture of free speech, we should also defend speech that we find offensive. This does more than give us the moral high ground: It strengthens our arguments and improves our public image. Hypocrisy may get us a few short-term "wins," but we will lose the war overall. Principle must be more important than tribalism.