Letter to the editor: Vance's defense of Young Republican messages twisted

It is appalling that Vice President JD Vance is defending the leaked Young Republicans’ racist, antisemitic and misogynistic messages. It is reprehensible that he offers what is basically a “boys will be boys” defense and says “kids” make mistakes in reference to men (and women) in their 20s and 30s, one of whom is a senator.

One of the leaked tweets called rape “epic.” We have witnessed time and time again in the courts the “boys will be boys” defense of accused rapists. Women are blamed for ruining an athlete’s or other prominent person’s life for coming forward when they have been raped. Absolving rapists because “boys will be boys” has destroyed women’s lives.

Vance said that he cautions his children to be careful about what they post on the internet because some “scumbag” might try to use it to harm them. In his twisted belief system, the real bad guy in this situation is the “scumbag” who leaked the tweets, not the Young Republicans who wrote them. This strategy epitomizes this administration. Do and say anything you want, just don’t get caught. If you do get caught, deflect, defend and blame the victim.

Marjorie Mills

McCandless