It’s downright icky
Some parents of Boy Scouts are furious.
One parent wrote: “Done with scouts after you felt the need to have my kid listen to a liar stroke his ego.”
…
Responding to the criticism of the speech, the Boy Scouts of America insisted it was “wholly non-partisan and does not promote any one position, product, service, political candidate or philosophy”.
It said the invitation to Mr Trump was a “long-standing tradition and is in no way an endorsement of any political party or specific policies”.
Except that the way it played out, it was.
Many parents, lobbyists and politicians took to social media to cite the 107-year-old organisation’s values, and to suggest Mr Trump had failed them.
Lobbyist for women’s and LGBT rights Amy Siskind tweeted: “If the Boy Scouts organization has any decency, they’ll come out with a statement tonight denouncing Trump, and giving instructions for all troop leaders to speak to these boys about what they just heard and why it was wrong.”
https://twitter.com/Leila_A_Rice/status/889676297852604417
https://twitter.com/seagal_lori/status/889629183571361792
My son is a Boy Scout, too. I am glad he is at camp in CA and not at Jamboree. That was horrifying.
— Pythia (@untermstern6) July 25, 2017
https://twitter.com/ChrisMurphyCT/status/889651708225351680
A “long-standing tradition” is one in some part because there’s been good reason to suppose it’s been a good idea. When it isn’t a good idea – when it means inviting a narcissistic sexual predator to speak to lots of young, impressionable men and fake being wise, caring, or patriotic – you give the tradition a break. It’s not hard to figure out. What did they THINK they’d get out of this bozo?
Well, for decades the BSA has taken as it’s due the token appearance of the president. And, up till now, the presidency was a guarantee of some minimal level of civility and coherence.
So, if the Scouts were stuck with Donnie, I might sympathize, if the whole quasi-official status of the organization wasn’t a Big Damn’ Problem to begin with. I didn’t watch the tape. But from reports, the most frightening and disgusting aspect is that Donnie’s spewings were well received, the boys cheered and ranted on demand, no matter how horrible the man leading the session is.
John the Drunkard, from my experience as a Girl Scout, the Boy Scouts are immersed in a culture of misogyny and male entitlement. This would make Donnie fit right in.