>

The 'fairness doctrine" that doesn't even exist anymore only said to offer equal time. If they chicken out of the debate, the media should give their opponents the air time.
What would be glorious is if whoever does debate practice with the Democratic candidate comes on stage, too, wearing a cheap paper mask of the Republican's face, and spouts the Republican lines for the candidate to respond to.
"We know there is a high likelihood that our candidate will be a fucking moron, so we don't want a Democrat making them look bad". >

Im thinking at this point the choices are Trump, Desantis, Gina Carano, Kyle Rittenhouse, or a sentient MyPillow powered by Hunter Bidens laptop >

Kyle Rittenhouse isn't old enough to run, so he's out. Not sure about Gina, but last I heard she was being criticized for starring in a woke action movie with a female protagonist, so it wouldn't matter anyway. >


Kyle Rittenhouse isn't old enough to run, so he's out.

The age limit for running for President is in the Constitution, so it's not important to them. >


Age limits ~~for running for President is in the Constitution, so it's~~ are not important to them.

Fixed that one for you. >

Matt Gaetz has entered the chat. >

Apparently Gaetz got busted fucking his MALE press secretary. >

Matt Gaytz entered the chat >

Fine, go ahead and hold the debate with the democratic candidate and an empty podium. Mention once at the beginning of the broadcast that the republican candidate refused to participate then proceed. Keep the same questions and allow the democratic candidate to answer them in full. Basically a town hall. But keep that empty podium on the stage to remind viewers of who showed up.
Edit: In fact, put the LWV back in charge of it like they used to be. >

Even better, invite the libertarian party candidate to show up. If republicans want to step out, that’s fine, let a third party siphon their votes. There are no real grounds to complain from anyone. The third largest party got to debate, and the GOP was given the opportunity that they declined. >

That’s the better idea. The RNC will most likely hold an alternate Town Hall with just the Republican candidate, thereby splitting viewership. Having an actual debate with a libertarian is a GREAT idea. >

It'd require the Libertarians to have a decent candidate. If they're completely off their rocker the network is just going to look dumb but if they have a good candidate and a couple of networks do it, it could be really interesting. >

If you know anything about Libertarianism you'd know a real debate isn't possible. Libertarianism is three questions away from Feudalism. >

Still have more principles to debate about than GOP does. >

Unfortunately, one of those principles tends to be about lowering the age of consent. >

…Say what now?? >

Libertarians are wacky. >

That’s putting it mildly. Lol >

The Republican Party is in a death spiral, but it’s probably going to take decades and take a lot of people with it. >

I genuinely fear what the GOP is willing to do once it becomes abundantly clear that they cannot win through normal means. It's no secret that their voters, and even some of their politicians, are already willing to resort to violence. >


I genuinely fear what the GOP is willing to do once it becomes abundantly clear that they cannot win through normal means

I mean, we already have, haven't we? It'll just get amplified from here on out. >

My civics teacher told us this would happen, 23 years ago. Republican unpopularity and their overreliance on gerrymandering and disinformation were already on the front page. Their disrespect for democracy was already obvious to anyone paying attention, even back then. >

Roger Stone that little weasel >

Hey! Weasels can be cute, whereas Roger Stone is a disgusting creep who represents the worst humans have to offer and belongs behind bars. >

He would be behind bars if not for Trump. >

Can’t debate when your platform is nothing but culture wars and grievances about M&M, trans folk and AP African studies. >

Don’t you leave Hunter Biden’s dick off that list now. >

Hunter's Hog is the new Harambe. >

Who would have thought that the party of homophobes would end up being a bunch of dudes obsessed with another man's dong >

Kitara Ravache thought that! >

"If conservatives become convinced that they cannot win democratically, they will not abandon conservatism. They will reject democracy.”
—David Frum >

I mean they also rejected conservatism. What position of theirs is still small government. >

Conservatism is the defense of the ruling class and existing power structures from changes that occur in society. The idea of a small government was just a slogan to kill off social policies.
Frum was just pointing out something that has already been seen countless times before; that fascism is capitalism in decay. It is the illiberalism deployed to keep capitalism intact so long as the blood flows to the blood god. >

They're doing this because they know their actual positions are repugnant to the average voter and won't stand the scrutiny of a debate. >

Heaven forbid they address the public they're running to serve. How do you expect your leader to show courage in the face of major obstacles when they're too much of a coward to face the public? >

Lying until their pants are aflame >

Their problem is that Trump is basically incoherent and DeSantis is an asshole. So, they can't put either on public display. >

DeSantis’ voice is not very commanding. He doesn’t sound good at all. Even 80yo Biden sounds more ‘manly’ than DeSantis. >

Everytime I see DeSantis or hear him speak I immediatly think of a jar of expired mayonnaise. >

One of the absolute minimum requirements for running for office should be standing up for the beliefs you are running on and defending them in a debate. 
Demonstrate you can hold your own and who you are. If you run on lies and never follow through on why people are voting for you, it should be on record and you should be held accountable. 
We need more quality checks not less. Don't let this be acceptable. It's not. >

It goes beyond beliefs.  Demonstrate the results of your campaign.  All politicians get away with murder and can say whatever they want because there is zero accountability.  In corporate America you at least have an annual review that goes over your performance.  Every politician should publish a report card that is graded by a bi partisan panel.  The problem is people just believe what the politician said is happening with no evidence. >

People don’t believe the lists of accomplishments anyways. >

Actually developing a plan that sounds coherent and helps people is not their strong suit. Of course they won’t debate. It’s easier to keep their supporters if they don’t reveal anything except why the other side is bad, therefore vote for them. >

It's gotten to the point where they've shown their true colors and their supporters are ALL for it. One of the main things MTG did that angered me is the fact that she claimed that democrats are violent and attacking Republicans on the streets, yet shows no proof, then tells her followers to start attacking democrats. I believe that she's the reason why Pelosis' husband was brutally beaten in his own home. >

I thought the RNC already announced they will no longer be sending a nominee to any presidential debate back in 2020? >

Yes because trump couldn't make it through basic questions without going of on rambling incoherent rants and had his mic shut down multiple times because he kept trying to talk over biden. >

Never forget >

Duh.
The fascist forced birthers know their wacko beliefs aren't popular. >

Of course they are. The Presidential Debates are for people who use facts, and every statement is thoroughly analyzed and fact-checked for accuracy. It also allows for critical examination of people's stances, and Republicans of late don't want to show their voters just how deficient they are at defending their hypocrisy. >

They know they'll be fact checked faster than the fly on Pence's hair. >

Let's not let them brand this as a boycott. They and their candidate are fucking terrified of actual debate. They are ideologically bankrupt, morally reprehensible, and intellectually impaired. They have no platform, no plan, and no desire to govern. The GOP is a criminal organization intent on ending American democracy and enriching its ruling class while enslaving the people. >

When the democrats inevitably win the 2024 election, they're just gonna blame us in some stupid way which'll be Jan. 6th, electric boogaloo. >


We don't want whomever it is to be exposed as being embarrassingly dumb. Like last time. And the time before. >

Way to put your failures on blast, RNC >

If their nominee could read they would probably be pissed about this. >

Pussies. >

Pussies can take a pounding and push out a baby. They're more like balls that will bring a man to their knees with a simple touch. >

I believe in this context it is used as a shortened form of "pusillanimous," meaning "showing a lack of courage or determination; timid". >

Or pussy cat. Either way, has nothing to do with female anatomy. >

Calling Biden senile yet being afraid to debate him 🧐 >

Awesome. Let Biden answer questions unopposed and then show an empty podium when it's the Republican's turn. >

They've lost every argument, so they don't want to  debate anymore. 
They just want a fascist dear leader to lie his way to power and then impose his will on the American people. >

Awesome. Then there should be an empty podium on stage >

fucking cowards. what more is there to say? >

If their candidate is too chickenshit to debate, why should they be elected? >

They won't debate if they can't win. And with their extreme positions they can't win. Do you support ending Social Security? Yes or no? >

What a bunch of limp dicked cowards
Give us a show fuckers. You're the party of Reagan, act like it >

With no policies, plans, or programs to talk about, it would be like debating with an empty podium. 
I see your ploy now. >

All their planks are warped outrage over M&Ms and Dr. Seuss and a rainbow and personal issues of others that have nothing to do with them. At all. 
But - here we are some more. >

Lol, cowards. >

Of course not, they have no policies to speak of. They haven't come up with a new idea since Newt had them sign that 'pact'...
 Every debate they have is rinse and repeat. 'Tax breaks for the wealthiest, make America a theocracy, cut Social Security/Medicare/Medicaid/Social services and make sure that the mentally unstable have access to firearms.' >

Well then we know they're still a treasonous, unserious party hell-bent on crime. >

don't threaten me with a good time. >

"We have no desire to defend our untenable positions!" >

So many hills to die on...please continue. >

The nominee will almost certainly be mini man DeSantis.
The new norm will be that the GOP will avoid any presidential debates and will shun all but the most far right "news" organizations from their rallies.
I would put a 99% chance on this being the way forward for the GOP.
They have a MASSIVE victim complex in which nothing is ever "fair".
They won't try to appeal to new voters, but instead continue to work so that the voter base they do have is able to go further (redistricting, voter restriction laws, etc.), which is why this approach will work in the short-term. >

I suppose they could still hold a debate and have an empty podium for the no-show, then. Let the other candidate have the WHOLE time to themselves on TV, and pan periodically to the empty podium for rebuttal. >

I remember a time when conservatives at least relished in the debate and exchange of ideas, and weren’t just brainless rubber stamps for whoever their anointed leader was. >

That's what happens when you have a religious voting base.  Cults know how to cult... and little else. >

As if this is a big deal. Republicans don’t have any policies. trump just lied and attacked. The GQP in a nutshell is all lies and grievance. >

That would be either a strategic error, or a terrifying reality that the RNC no longer needs to participate in critical democratic traditions in order to maintain viability. >

They don't.  They have the support of the Southern Baptist Church and that alone is enough to win elections. >

Well, how many ways can you say, "our platform is the same as it was in 2016 and 2020...own the libs"? >

Fielding candidates like Herschel Texas Ranger why would they even try? >

I've said many times when this sort of thing came up - have the Democratic nominee go anyway with a cardboard cutout of the GQP nominee. Stand that cutout in front of the mic. After answering a question, say "but I would like to hear what my opponent has to say," then wait a few seconds before saying "well as we can see, my opponent clearly does not believe that we, the American people, deserve to know their policy positions." >

Is it because they are too stupid to debate? Lol >

Hold the debates anyways. They don’t have to show up >

Republicans have no policies other than obstructing the Democrats. Nothing to debate. >


Indeed, Republicans are currently reaching out to networks on their own to propose their own GOP-approved version of debates. One issue that they take particular issue with is the presence of debate moderators

Ahh, there it is. They want to "debate", but they don't want to be called out on their bullshit, or for breaking the decorum of the debate. That's "unfair" to the crybabies. Ultimate cowardice on display, as usual. >

The party of no. Refuse to accept or concede elections. Claim things are rigged. Remove common sense restrictions on journalism to support the impression the media is not trustworthy. Withdraw from world organizations. Promote nationalism. Suppress the vote. Deny science. Refuse to participate in debate unless it is on your own special terms. Inflate military budgets, send hand me downs to local law enforcement. Remove every possible tax for the wealthy and corporations. Dismantle minimum wage. Destroy Social Security and Medicare/Medicaid. Ensure the rights of religious institutions trump those of regular human rights. Remove Reproductive Rights. Encourage gerrymandering. Stack the Supreme Court with a minority elected consensus. Ensure Federalists get their way to allow state constitutions to be amended to suppress and invalidate voted results via ISL doctrine. Support limitless gun rights. Cite democracy as overrated... >

Republicans are wimpy little cowards and snowflakes. >

Go ahead and have it without whoever it is. "Republican Lectern, you have two minutes for your response." Wait two minutes.  "Mr. Biden,  you have one minute for a rebuttal."
Biden: "My opponent has just summarized the Republican plans for health care,  for infrastructure, and for immigration reform. I yield the remainder of my time."
This could be both educational and fun. >

I’d just pull the libertarian candidate or other 3rd that would be likely to take a slice of the Republican vote.   Why not help them split that vote? >

Pretty hard to win a debate when your party does not have a platform. >

"If conservatives become convinced that they cannot win democratically, they will not abandon conservatism. They will reject democracy.”—David Frum >

Because they're beliefs can't be defended. >

If it's Trump they will stick to their boycott. But if it's DeSantis or another halfway coherent candidate? They will trip over themselves wanting to face Biden on stage. I support Joe, but he wasn't in top form in 2020 in the debates. 4 years later and against someone other than Trump he's likely going to fair much worse. >

They won't stick to any boycott, regardless of who the nominee is. There will be a 2024 Presidential Debate, and there will be a Democratic nominee there. 
If they want to give 2 hours of uninterrupted primetime air to the Democratic candidate I won't argue too much with them. >

As much as I enjoy watching debates towns halls are starting to grow more on me. >

Well it can be a Democrat town hall then... >

I hope they do debates anyway and just leave the Republican side empty. Fucking cowards. >

Translation: "we don't want our candidates being held held accountable for the stupid shit they say." >

Sweet. Hour long democrat town hall. >

Lol. Just invite the Libertarians then. Stop doing business with the Republican Party completely. >

R candidates can't survive outside their own media bubble.  Exposure to facts causes them to melt. >

The Real Presidential Debates, with your host, \^&*er Carlson, only on Fox ! >

We have a weekly TV panel show in the U.K., “Have I Got News For You”, where a mix of comedians, politicians and other celebrities answer questions about the weeks news, preferably in a humorous manner.
The Labour Member of Parliament, Roy Hattersley, didn’t show up for a recording, cancelling at the last minute for - I believe- the 3rd time- so they replaced him with a tub of lard, which occupied his seat throughout the filming. >

Went down in history as one of. Funniest episodes ever, also the tub of lard proved to be much more insightful, intelligent and interesting than Hattersley could ever be >

The fact that DeSantis would do horribly in a real debate, pretty much means he must be kept carefully presented with in the right-wing media bubble.
Debates were out of the question as soon as he began to look like their guy. >

Ha ha that's because their nominee will be an IDIOT AND A LIAR!  THEY CAN'T WIN A BATTLE OF WITS SO THEY FOLD! >

No plans, no goals and all thin-skinned 
No wonder. >

Have him debate the Libertarian candidate then.    They get a national platform and suck off votes from the Republicans >

Hold it anyway.  You’ll get about as much sense out of the empty podium as you’d get out of the nominee. >

They won’t have a policy platform either. >

If the networks had any balls they would just say "Cool then your opponent gets all the screen time for himself" >

There's no point having debates with people who don't deal in facts. >

Our ideas are so good we don’t want to discuss them or let you hear them!  - GOP, probably >

They don’t want to talk about the 1/6 violent attempted coup, voting against Vets, their support of putin, anti-voting rights, insane 100% ban on abortion, 30% sales tax benefitting the rich, elimination of medicare and social security, refusal to support proper background checks for gun purchases, etc., ad nauseam. >

Wants to run the free world but can't handle a debate. Pathetic. >

They don’t really want to run anything. They wouldn’t know how. >

You can’t lose a game you don’t play is a strategy, I suppose. >

They should go one step further and boycott the election. >

Why debate issues when you can run on platform of 'performative theatre'. >

They don’t have any policies to debate. 🤷‍♂️ >

Debate is part of the election process. If you choose not to debate, then you are willfully not participating in the process of the election. In doing so, you also forfeit your credibilty of any complaint about your opponents or any credibility when you tout your positions outside of the debate platform.
The same holds true fopr those who are able to vote but choose to not vote. Their non-participation in the actual voting process forfeits the credibility of any opinions they voice about who did or did not get elected. >

Hilarious! It's Jan 2023 and they are already afraid for the voters to hear how ridiculous their nominee will sound next to an actual grown up public servant. >

Asking a Republican what their stance is on a topic has a liberal bias. >

Okay, then allow the Democrat to use that time as a town hall, where they answer questions from the audience. >

Democrat candidates should debate an empty podium with the GOP logo on it. >

Biden could spend the entire debate time talking to Republicans and explaining as much truth as time will allow like they were all 5 years old.  "See this is the Trump foundation.  They have 17 felonies.  Their CEO is going to prison"  😃 >

If you can't beat em', hide from em'. >

Okay, give the Democratic candidate free reign to speak their part with no push back or rebuttals whatsoever.  Sounds like a winning strategy.
I don't know how they're able to spin this as anything other than cowardice.  They can't win a debate on the merits of their arguments so they just hide under their beds instead. >

I think this year needs to see a majority of states adopt the law that if you don't participate,  your candidacy is void in the state and Electors will be given to the Democratic candidate.   That will solve the issue of having them continue to tear down the Presidency and the importance of our government. >

Fine, just give up now, losers. >

Maybe wait to figure out who the nominee is first so you can ask him/her.
Just a thought. >

Look how far we’ve come >

My platform is whatever trump’s gut says it is. >

thats a pretty big platform lol >

filled with cake and hamberders >

Ideas so weak they can't even be talked about without falling apart. That's how I read this. >

Somebody should tell Kanye' >

The Republican party that promotes strength, independence, and freedom will only support a kowtowing nominee. >

They claim presidential debates are rigged against them when they always seem to make a point to not ask about climate change so as not to give democrats an unfair advantage. >

Oh darn … I was looking forward to more Drag Queen (Made Up) Story Hour from Santos! >

Because that turned out so well for Purdue back when he was running against Jon Ossoff, right? >

Just let the Dem nominee do town halls then. We aren’t missing out in much. Debates are not helpful when the candidates aren’t serious and the current likely Republican candidates are all not serious individuals. This is actually a win >

"We're scared" is so Alpha Male /s >

Why bother. It’s political theater anyway… >

Fuckin do it.  Show that you are afraid of legit debate and that you are afraid of  being destroyed for the cowards you are. >

No ideas , its hard to debate with just hateful rhetoric that journalist will call out. >

The RNC is warning that they won't send anyone.
But, there WILL be a time where some ego-centered candidate, like say, Trump, will do whatever the hell they want and show up just to "own the libs." >

Republicans don’t want to win elections any longer… they only want to seize power now… they’ve given up, know they’re unpopular with voters and don’t give a 💩. >

Why would they deny a debate? One if the best things for Trump’s 2016 run was all the stupid sound bites his base ate up from the debates, no? It’s another platform for the. To lie and tantrum on. I’ll be surprised if there are no debates. I think it’s just something they say to build the drama to guarantee more viewership. >

"This year, instead or showing up and spewing idiotic bullshit over more qualified candidates, we declare victory.  Like our heros before, kari lake and the tre45on man himself, God-Emperor Trump." >

Wouldn't want the voters to know much about the candidate the GOP is actually, you know, running. George Santos is just a prototype. >

I mean they have literally nothing to debate, they just froth at the mouth and their voters love it. >

They are not interested in governing. They want to burn it all to the ground and just have things the way they want…
They are traitorous unAmerican trash. >

They have to. How will they defend defunding SS and Medicare And shifting all of the tax burden to the middle classes? >

I already predict that it is because they know they would lose, regardless of who they nominate. None of them are too bright. Most of them are actively ignorant on top of that. >

It’s that or plead the 5th on their policy positions and really every question posed by the moderator I suppose. >

Nothing says serious political party/ideology designed to help people like refusing to show up to a debate before ANY of the terms have been discussed. It’s really fascinating that republicans keep losing debates and their conclusion is that debates are biased and need to be skipped. Say what you want, the jets still show up to games even though they know they probably won’t win. >

In their defense, it’s extremely difficult for republican candidates to look good when they’re being confronted with the fact that they’re completely disconnected from reality >

This RNC strategy is fucking hilarious. 
Yea we just wont show up to debates and well ban the media from covering our rally's and speeches.  
Lol. 
How'd  that gambit work out for Doug Mastriano in Pennsylvania. Oooof Factor 10. >

They have nothing to say. Just plans to be punitive. >

GOP is already admitting their candidate will be stupid and inept. >

Welp my fellow Americans; it’s been nice. This country was a great experiment on the power of voting for the people. We unfortunately seem to have about a year and a half left until we cease to exist. I hope that people plan accordingly and hopefully we can all keep in touch once we implode on ourselves. It would have been nice to keep us unified but it’s looking like that isn’t a possibility. >

I really liked that time when they interviewed Donald Trump and Biden separately. I think something like that should be done. >

They don't call that boycotting. That's just not stepping up to the plate. >

Then the debate committee is obligated to let the DNC's nominee have the full time to dunk on the RNC nominee like Jon Ossoff did when Perdue refuse to show for their debate. >

Small to no loss. The debates haven't exactly been priceless affairs the last few times. >

This doesn’t surprise me. They’ve been a cult now since Trump. The debate is irrelevant to them. >

Well, they don't have anything to say anyway. One less idiot to listen to. >

I’m so shocked!  wussies >

Refusing a debate should automatically disqualify you from holding office. Same goes with refusing to make your tax returns public. >

Says a lot about the candidates they’re expecting. >

They have been saying this for quite a while now. >

After the GOP controlled House trashes the US economy, they expect they don’t need to run on a platform or answer questions. >

So, cowards >

Bawk bawk bawk bawk bawk. >

Well I guess that means they aren’t planning to roll trump out again because you know he wouldn’t give up prime time airtime. >

It’ll probably be someone like Herschel Walker who will be too busy drooling on the podium to debate. >

What would a candidate have to hide in order to avoid a debate? >

It really doesn't matter. There are no on the fence GOP voters, no swing votes wondering if they'll go Dem or Rep. The swing votes are people deciding to go Independent or Dem. Anyone who still votes for the GOP has already made up their mind. Also the GOP doesn't need the normal processes to win, they've shown that you can gerrymander to win and if you did lose, deny that you ever did. >

They might regret this decision if they nominate Desantis and Biden is the democratic nominee. The optics of such a young candidate against Biden would probably work in their favor. >

Agreed.
DeSantis is going to look good in many ways next to Biden. 
I think DeSantis is shit.  But he is young and fun and decisive. These are attractive qualities to many voters. >

Hold the debate with the gold Trump statue as a stand in for the GOP candidate.
That will be a fair representation of the current state of affairs with the GOP. >

It's amazing that the nominee is presumed to be so subservient to the party that they aren't even really given the choice to debate. >

Clint Eastwood —-> Empty Chair
Joe Biden —-> Empty Podium
It’s coming full circle. >

Well then they can just lose that opportunity and have none of their message get out >

Cowards! They won't have anything to run on other than owning the libs, and you can't make a debate out of that. Fucking Republicans. >

Awesome no one wants to hear conspiracies anyway >

They cannot lie, if they don’t talk. >

The MSM will bungle it. They will clutch their pearls and cry how offended they were about being snubbed rather than framing it as an insult to the people. Hell, even right wing voters want to see their guy go out and “own” the democrat. Republicans have gone past even pretending to care about policy. Owning libs is all the matters. >

This is because they know both Trump and DeSantis both are TERRIBLE Debaters. DeSantis, especially. he's AWFUL. he gets rattled very VERY easily. He falls for debate traps constantly. he comes across as incredibly smug and self-absorbed.. literally all any opponent needs to do is just stay calm and collected and it will be a slaughter. >

Call their bluff. Give the other candidates, even a third party one, all the free air time >

Come on, I’m sure they can train the monkey by then. Now they’re just lazy. >

“Debates are biased against republicans” yeah because they always reveal that all republican candidates are morons with no real platform. >

F-them.  Hold the debates, let the Dems and other candidates have a good time answering questions and setting their policy out for all to see.  Not like it will matter to the GOP who has no policy and is not wooing new people into the fold. >

Just like what my father does when he knows he can’t win the argument or doesn’t want to get called out on something stupid, runs away or says go away I don’t want to talk >

I was wondering when this was going to happen >

The RNC is already saying that the 2024 election was rigged. /s >

Republicans obviously have disdain for our democracy and our country. It's disgusting >

Sounds like theyre following the playbook in the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. Ignored any invites to any presidential debates and relied on throwing money at social media and troll farms (and buying local political clans too). Won by 15 million. 
His rivals attended the debate and just attacked an empty podium. >

Of course he will. The GOP can’t defend their bullshit under scrutiny. >

The days of even trying to just even appear to care about the middle is over. 
Conservatism is on its way out, and they will sooner destroy democracy than lose. >

Of course they will. They can't win a debate with all the deeply sus candidates they'll be parading out. They'll want to minimize exposure, as almost all candidates will have a huge amount of dirt on them. >

Not surprising considering how awfully they've performed in debates the past 30 years or so.
Here's the secret. Republicans have no desire to govern, so they have no actual policies. They want no government at all outside the military industrial complex that makes their donors happy and generous. So if you put them in a debate, they're going to look like idiots.
Politically, they're far better off spending that time at rallies mugging for the cameras, telling lies about their opponents where they won't be challenged on it, making outrageously offensive statements to "own the libs", and ginning up phony moral panic nonsense to crank up the "loving Christians" hate machine.