“Focus on the real issues,” he said. “Don’t focus on what kids say in group chats.” He then suggested that whoever leaked the racist messages is a “scumbag.”

“Kids do stupid things,” he continued. “Especially young boys. They tell edgy, offensive jokes. That’s what kids do.”

I knew it! Did he quote those harmless jokes? Yeah, I didn’t think so.

It also bears noting that while “Young Republicans” may sound like a group composed of baby-fresh, underdeveloped prefrontal cortexes, the national organization accepts members of the Republican Party between the ages of 18 and 40.

But this is much worse imo:

Vance (…) downplayed the texts by comparing them to a leaked message from Jay Jones, the Democratic nominee for Virginia attorney general. Jones has come under fire this month after 2022 text messages in which he expressed a desire to shoot the former Virginia House speaker were made public.

“This is far worse than anything said in a college group chat, and the guy who said it could become the AG of Virginia. I refuse to join the pearl clutching when powerful people call for political violence,” Vance wrote Tuesday on social media. Jones has, in fact, been condemned by members of his own party. Jones is also one man, making condemnable statements, not a large group of politically minded individuals producing, sharing, and celebrating the very hate they claim to revile.

Exactly. Demeaning and violent slurs against big parts of the population, even calling for their extermination, is on a whole different level to one person saying they want one other person dead. It’s no comparison, but it’s clever propaganda.