Senator John Hawley
(Picture: POOL/AFP via Getty Images)US Senator Josh Hawley of Missouri delivered a bizarre speech about masculinity during a conference in Orlando, Florida over the weekend.
The Republican Senator’s remarks addressed "the Left" for apparently attempting to forge a "world beyond men" in an effort to "deconstruct America."
In his speech, Hawley argued that “the Left” controls “the commanding heights of American society” and said that left-wing voices “predominate” in the news, Hollywood, sports, and universities.
“But what I want you to notice, what I want to call out tonight, is this fact: that the deconstruction of America begins with and depends on the deconstruction of American men,” Hawley said according to his prepared remarks.
He continued, “the Left want to define traditional masculinity as toxic. They want to define the traditional masculine virtues—things like courage, and independence, and assertiveness—as a danger to society.”
Hawley also said that while he believed womanhood was also on attack, the threat on men was “far advanced .”
@HawleyMO at the National Conservatism Conference on woke view Toxic Masculinity:
— NatConTalk (@NatConTalk) November 1, 2021
"Our boys are treated as an illness in need of a cure... Manhood it seems, is a disease to be defeated."
#NatCon pic.twitter.com/jXzlW7hp5U
While Hawley insisted he was not arguing men were victims, he went on to further victimize men by saying their involvement’s in video games and pornography was a result of their masculinity being viewed as “toxic.”
“Can we be surprised that after years of being told they are the problem, that their manhood is the problem, more and more men are withdrawing into the enclave of idleness, and pornography, and video games,” Hawley said.
He later added, “To each man, I say: You can be a tremendous force for good. Your nation needs you. The world needs you.”
It’s no surprise that the National Conservatism conference was attended by a series of right-wingers. Also in attendance was Senators Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz and tech billionaire Peter Thiel.
Many criticized the Missouri Senator’s speech online.
“Josh Hawley's insistence that porn and video games are linked to men's masculinity being criticized sounds like his alibi for when his wife busted him playing a porn video game,” read one tweet from @mmpadellan.
Josh Hawley's insistence that porn and video games are linked to men's masculinity being criticized sounds like his alibi for when his wife busted him playing a porn video game.
— BrooklynDad_Defiant! (@mmpadellan) November 1, 2021
Another tweet referenced the U.S Capitol riots that occurred on January 6.
Josh Hawley saw this and thought: "We need more toxic masculinity." pic.twitter.com/MW7oxtP5sq
— Oliver Willis (@owillis) November 1, 2021
“Josh Hawley saw this and thought: ‘We need more toxic masculinity.’” read @owillis’ tweet.
Others used the moment to rersurface a viral image of what appeared to be Hawley showing solidarity with the U.S Capitol mobs.
Here is Josh Hawley showing solidarity with those who attacked our Capitol, Capitol Police and Constitution. pic.twitter.com/uLfGCxb0sK
— SM (@sensiblemiddle) November 1, 2021
HuffPost reporter Jennifer Bendery wrote, “Sen. Josh Hawley, who raised his fist in solidarity with white supremacists just before they attacked the U.S. Capitol to try to kill lawmakers to derail a presidential election, has some thoughts about American men being an ‘unrivaled force for good in the world.’”
Sen. Josh Hawley, who raised his fist in solidarity with white supremacists just before they attacked the U.S. Capitol to try to kill lawmakers to derail a presidential election, has some thoughts about American men being an "unrivaled force for good in the world." pic.twitter.com/RwshIOYNLd
— Jennifer Bendery (@jbendery) November 1, 2021
