NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
In an age of rage, it is often difficult to stand out from the mob, as so many pander to the perpetually irate. However, New York Times columnist Jamelle Bouie has found a way to win the race to the bottom. In a post on Bluesky, Bouie mocked the addiction of the mother of Vice President J.D. Vance, saying that she should have sold her son for drugs.
Bouie used Bluesky — a digital safe zone for viewpoint intolerance on the left — to post one of the most reprehensible attacks on Vance. Bouie wrote that "this is a wicked man who knows he is being wicked and does it anyway." That is hardly notable on today's rage scale. However, he then decided to use the painful addiction history of Vance’s mother, Beverly Aikins, against her son: "No wonder his mom tried to sell him for Percocets. I can’t imagine a parent who wouldn’t sell little JD for Percocet if they knew he would turn out like this."
Vance wrote a celebrated bestselling memoir, "Hillbilly Elegy," about his difficult childhood with a mother who became addicted to pain medication and eventually found herself stealing drugs from her patients. It was a tragic account of how addiction tore their family apart, but also a tale of redemption: "I knew that a mother could love her son despite the grip of addiction. I knew that my family loved me, even when they struggled to take care of themselves."
JD VANCE SHOULD HAVE BEEN SOLD BY HIS MOTHER FOR DRUGS, NYT COLUMNIST SAYS
In April of last year, Vance celebrated his mother's decade of sobriety.
Vice President JD Vance celebrates his mother Beverly Aikins' decade of sobriety on Friday, April 4, 2025, at the White House. (White House press office)
As I discuss in my new book, "Rage and the Republic," a common element of past radical movements is the dehumanization of political opponents. In calling others "Gestapo," "fascists" or "Nazis," you gain a certain license to say and do things that you would ordinarily never say or do. By stripping them of their humanity and any right to empathy, you are free to discard the limitations of decency and civility.
Rage is itself a type of drug. It is addictive — and, while they never admit it, many relish it.
JD VANCE TELLS DEMS OUTRAGED OVER YOUNG REPUBLICANS' LEAKED GROUP CHAT TO 'GROW UP'
Bouie displays a striking lack of self-awareness in his hateful posts, objecting that "this is a wicked man who knows he is being wicked and does it anyway." It is the ultimate example of transference; a self-description projected onto those he hates.
Rage is itself a type of drug. It is addictive — and, while they never admit it, many relish it.
On his New York Times biography page, Bouie insists that "I come from a left-leaning, social democratic perspective, but I strive for honesty, fairness and good faith in my writing." He adds that "I abide by the same rigorous ethical standards as all Times journalists."
A THERAPIST'S WARNING: TRUMP DIDN'T BREAK AMERICA — PERMANENT OUTRAGE DID
If using Vance's tragic childhood and his mother's addiction is an example of the "fairness and good faith" of the New York Times, it is a chilling prospect.
As I discuss in my new book, "Rage and the Republic," a common element of past radical movements is the dehumanization of political opponents. In calling others "Gestapo," "fascists" or "Nazis," you gain a certain license to say and do things that you would ordinarily never say or do. (FNC)
In his book, Vance observes that the children of broken and impoverished homes often give up hope, as he did: "Psychologists call it ‘learned helplessness’ when a person believes, as I did during my youth, that the choices I made had no effect on the outcomes in my life."
CLICK HERE FOR MORE FOX NEWS OPINION
He found that choices do matter in shaping your life. We all make such choices, as did Bouie in becoming another voice of rage — and as did the New York Times in choosing to amplify him.
Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh (R) administers the vice presidential oath of office to JD Vance (2-L) as Vance’s mother, Beverly Aikins (3-R) and US President Joe Biden (2-R) look on during an inauguration ceremony in the rotunda of the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C., on January 20, 2025. (Shawn Thew/Reuters)
It is the same choice that the Times makes in barring a U.S. senator and firing editors for exposing readers to alternative viewpoints while publishing those who advocate repression or rationalize political violence. To the apparent satisfaction of its readers, the paper now peddles outrage to feed a national addiction.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
In the end, Vance and his mother have overcome far greater challenges than this vicious columnist or the hatefest of Bluesky. From adversity, they found strength and a bond that has inspired many who are struggling with such addictions and poverty.
It is clear who is "wicked" in these postings. Perhaps it is even unintentionally edifying — and self-condemning. As Victor Hugo observed, "The wicked envy and hate; it is their way of admiring."
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM JONATHAN TURLEY
Jonathan Turley is a Fox News Media contributor and the Shapiro Professor of Public Interest Law at George Washington University.
He is the author of the new book "Rage and the Republic: The Unfinished Story of the American Revolution" (Simon & Schuster, Feb 3, 2026), on the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution.on the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution.
He is a nationally recognized legal scholar who has written extensively in areas ranging from constitutional law to legal history to the Supreme Court. He has written over three dozen academic articles that have appeared in a variety of leading law journals.
Professor Turley also served as counsel in some of the most notable cases in the last two decades including the representation of whistleblowers, military personnel, former cabinet members, judges, members of Congress, and a wide range of other clients.
Professor Turley testified more than 50 times before the House and Senate on constitutional and statutory issues, including the Senate confirmation hearings of cabinet members and jurists such as Justice Neil Gorsuch. He also appeared as an expert witness in both the impeachment hearings of President Bill Clinton and Donald Trump.
Professor Turley received his B.A. at the University of Chicago and his J.D. at Northwestern. In 2008, he was given an honorary Doctorate of Law from John Marshall Law School for his contributions to civil liberties and the public interest.
