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https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/16/us/politics/moms-for-liberty-sex-scandal.html
Reeling from a string of school board election losses and a nationally publicized sex scandal, the "conservative powerhouse'' that is Moms for Liberty is suddenly finding itself looking at irrelevancy not long after it was founded.
According to a report from New York Times, the revelation that Moms for Liberty co-founder Bridget Ziegler and her husband, Florida GOP head Christian Ziegler have been caught up in a threesome sex scandalwith accusations of rape has shaken the group to its core and greatly diminished its reputation.
The Times' Lisa Lerer and Patricia Mazzei report, "the group’s power seems to be fading," taking with it conservative talking points about educational and parental issues.
As the report notes, "Nearly 60 percent of the 198 school board candidates endorsed by Moms for Liberty in contested races across 10 states were defeated in 2023," and that even Donald Trump — who has never seen a red meat issue he couldn't build upon -- has also seemed to turn his back on the focus of Moms for Liberty's policies.
"Donald J. Trump, the dominant front-runner for the party’s nomination, makes only passing reference in his stump speeches to preserving 'parental rights' — the catchphrase of the group’s cause," the report states before adding that John Fredericks, a Trump ally in Virginia, suggested they need to change their message that started with Covid restrictions before moving to banning books and curriculums if they want to survive.
“You closed schools, and people were upset about that. Schools are open now,” he suggested. “The Moms for Liberty really have to aim their fire on math and science and reading, versus focusing on critical race theory and drag queen story hours. It’s nonsense, all of it.”
Reeling from a string of school board election losses and a nationally publicized sex scandal, the "conservative powerhouse'' that is Moms for Liberty is suddenly finding itself looking at irrelevancy not long after it was founded.
According to a report from New York Times, the revelation that Moms for Liberty co-founder Bridget Ziegler and her husband, Florida GOP head Christian Ziegler have been caught up in a threesome sex scandalwith accusations of rape has shaken the group to its core and greatly diminished its reputation.
The Times' Lisa Lerer and Patricia Mazzei report, "the group’s power seems to be fading," taking with it conservative talking points about educational and parental issues.
As the report notes, "Nearly 60 percent of the 198 school board candidates endorsed by Moms for Liberty in contested races across 10 states were defeated in 2023," and that even Donald Trump — who has never seen a red meat issue he couldn't build upon -- has also seemed to turn his back on the focus of Moms for Liberty's policies.
"Donald J. Trump, the dominant front-runner for the party’s nomination, makes only passing reference in his stump speeches to preserving 'parental rights' — the catchphrase of the group’s cause," the report states before adding that John Fredericks, a Trump ally in Virginia, suggested they need to change their message that started with Covid restrictions before moving to banning books and curriculums if they want to survive.
“You closed schools, and people were upset about that. Schools are open now,” he suggested. “The Moms for Liberty really have to aim their fire on math and science and reading, versus focusing on critical race theory and drag queen story hours. It’s nonsense, all of it.”
