The Trump-hating group extraordinaire, comprising a cabal of self-professing moral superiors in the conservative movement, is now busy covering their rear ends. Often touted as real Republicans, the members of the Lincoln Project, used and abused by big-box media as pawns against President Donald Trump, seems to be disintegrating before our eyes. Oh, how the once mighty have fallen.
Move Over, Uncle Harvey
Co-founded by John Weaver, Steve Schmidt (key players in Senator John McCain’s two ill-fated presidential bids), “Republican strategist” Rick Wilson, and George Conway (dubbed moon-face by Trump), the Lincoln Project may have had a perv in the closet all along. Schmidt said the group’s leaders gleaned information about Weaver’s proclivities from social media posts but emphasized, “There was no awareness or insinuations of any type of inappropriate behavior when we became aware of the chatter at the time.” Weaver’s wife and children may disagree with that assessment.
In mid-January, 21 young men came forward to publicly express that Weaver had for years sent unsolicited and sexually fueled messages online to them, often suggesting a job in politics would be forthcoming. Statements reviewed by a prominent daily newspaper revealed Weaver sent these gems: he would “spoil you when we see each other” and “Help you other times. Give advice, counsel, help with bills. You help me … sensually.”
Eww.
The Sting of Irrelevancy
The public flogging of Weaver set forth an exodus of Lincoln Project folks. Yet another co-founder, Jennifer Horn, resigned a few days ago, issuing this statement: “John Weaver’s grotesque and inappropriate behavior, coupled with his longstanding deceptions concerning that behavior, is sickening.” The Lincoln Project fired back with a shaming missive of its own, claiming Horn had last December offered her services to the beleaguered Lincoln Logs under attack from President Trump. They declined her demands of a podcast, television show, immediate “signing bonus” of $250,000, followed by a $40,000-per-month consulting contract: And accepted her most recent resignation.
Conway has been relatively mum as his organization attempts to straighten the listing ship. “It’s terrible and awful and appalling. I didn’t know John very well.” Apparently, no one knew John very well, and even after working closely with him for all of those years. As all things scandalous in politics and with Trump’s election loss, the Lincoln Project has lost its sizzle. Well, at least according to big-box media.
After a poor showing on election night 2020, some called for dismissal of the Lincoln Project as it proved to have no real political influence – just hatred for Trump. As The Hill stated post-election:
“The Lincoln Project, the New York Jets of political action committees that attracts tons of broadcast and social media attention based almost solely on its ability to troll in the most self-righteous (and self-serving) ways. Overall, the group spent more than $67 million in an attempt to impact various 2020 races. Result: President Trump received more votes than any Republican in history.”
Birds of a Feather
Hatred of a duly elected president had spawned a loose organization that now spirals back to the unkind unknown. The co-founders were mostly out-to-pasture former strategists, sought after and utilized by the old Republican elite. Governor John Kasich, the John McCains of the political world, John Kerry (yep, he switched sides to advise the presidential campaign) – yes, Weaver has been involved in presidential politics since 1988. But not only has he taken down the organization that welcomed his assistance but also most likely has sent himself into Purgatory with his admission of trying to seduce young men.
For the good of the order, the Lincoln Project may well quietly slink off to die a humiliating death – and leave partisan battles to the Republicans and Democrats who all suit up for the same team. It’s that same team that bails out the loyalists. Weaver is standing alone, and his organization is peering into the black hole of obscurity.
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Read more from Sarah Cowgill.
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