Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

choie

(4,102 posts)
Sun Apr 28, 2013, 12:21 PM Apr 2013

People can change!! (Jonathan Krohn, FORMER conservative whiz kid)


By SUSAN CHUMSKY
Published: April 26, 2013

It’s almost a job requirement for a 13-year-old to do things that will make him cringe as an 18-year-old. Some regret a death-metal phase, others a Bieber haircut. Jonathan Krohn says that his big embarrassment is his stint as a conservative pundit.

In his early teens, Mr. Krohn wrote a book titled “Define Conservatism” and made a speech at the 2009 Conservative Political Action Conference that caught fire. He was courted by Fox News, mentored by William Bennett and anointed “the future of conservatism.” A frequent cable-news guest and Tea Party speaker appearing in sweater vests or suits and ties, he was called Alex P. Keaton, Lil’ Limbaugh, the Little Mr. Conservative (in a headline with a 2009 article in these pages), Urkel, a Muppet and Doogie Howser, G.O.P.

But Mr. Krohn, it turned out, was a work in progress, and by this spring his transformation seemed nearly total: from a buttoned-up kid to a shaggy young adult with facial scruff and untucked shirts; from a golfer to a lover of art films; from a home-schooled Christian living in Duluth, Ga., to a secular New York University freshman in the East Village. Most jarring of all, he renounced his earlier political beliefs.

The turnabout made him something of a pariah among conservatives (Mr. Bennett now declines to discuss him) and ruptured his family.

More at:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/28/fashion/the-growing-pains-of-jonathan-krohn.html?hp
2 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
People can change!! (Jonathan Krohn, FORMER conservative whiz kid) (Original Post) choie Apr 2013 OP
Well lookie here, the GOP's little prodigy is all grown up! Blue Owl Apr 2013 #1
Well, one can change dramatically from what one was at 13 frazzled Apr 2013 #2

frazzled

(18,402 posts)
2. Well, one can change dramatically from what one was at 13
Sun Apr 28, 2013, 01:51 PM
Apr 2013

If you're around thirty and still have maintained consistent beliefs since adolescence, the change from then on is usually not so dramatic.

That is why it's important that younger people (and Hispanic people, and Asian people) voted strongly Democratic these past two presidential election cycles. I remember Howard Dean saying that once you get people to vote for your party two times as young adults, they are highly likely to stick with that party for life.

Of course, there are always exceptions. Life-changing epiphanies, marrying someone with different beliefs that are influential, etc.

Latest Discussions»Issue Forums»Editorials & Other Articles»People can change!! (Jona...