Turning Point Debate on Conservatism Missing Conservatives
Turning Point Debate on Conservatism Missing Conservatives
The Towson Chapter of Turning Point is hosting a debate on the future of conservatism with a self-professed Minarchist Libertarian and a self-professed homophobic neo-Nazi. Where's the conservatives?
The Towson University Chapter of Turning Point USA, the group associated with grifter Charlie Kirk and in the news last October when bigoted messages were leaked, is having a debate on “The Right Way Forward.” The debate is ostensibly to discuss “the right path forward for the American right.”
The only problem is, they forgot to invite any conservatives to participate.
The first debate participant is Austin Petersen. Petersen was a Libertarian Candidate for President in 2016, finishing in second place at the Libertarian National Convention in 2016. He was described once as “an eager libertarian dudebro on the make.” He most famously said in his 2016 campaign that "I dream of a world where gay married couples can protect their marijuana plants with automatic weapons."
Petersen reinvented himself as a pro-Trump Republican running for the U.S. Senate in 2018, where he got 8% of the vote. He received around 8% of the vote.
Austin Petersen has self-described himself as a “minarchist libertarian”. Austin Petersen is many things but is not a conservative
His opponent in this debate is Shekinah Hollingsworth, somebody longtime readers of The Duckpin are familiar with. Hollingsworth is also a failed candidate for office, though she insisted her election was stolen. Her campaign was hobbled by her bizarre social media presence, pro-Russia stance, and calling herself as homophobic, bigoted, and a neo-Nazi.
She is also close with white supremacist and holocaust denier Nick Fuentes.
Shekinah Hollingsworth is many things, but she is not a conservative.
So what is the point of this? Attention? Shock value? A lack of understanding of conservative principles? Or does it merely show the intellectual bankruptcy that is at the foundation of Turning Point USA and what Charlie Kirk is selling?
Realistically, it’s all of the above.
Turning Point at Towson can feel free to have a debate on whatever they want with whomever they want. But they should explain how they expect to have a meaningful debate on the future of conservatism without any conservatives on the dais.