I’ve just been reading this article in the New York Times about this precocious little darling:

Meet Jonathan Krohn, a 14-year old “news media darling and the conservative movement’s underage graybeard at last weekend’s Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington.” Check out his over-eager and corporatised performance at CPAC last week.

As I was reading this article, the most obvious thing to jump out was just how small Jonathan’s world is, even at 14 years of age. It appears his life is limited to a Christian-based viewpoint: home-schooling by his parents (his Jewish mother became a Baptist decades ago), attending a middle-school for five hours a week with only 10 other students where classes are taught from a Christian perspective, and an “acting career” performing in Christian Youth Theater plays and regional shows. He has also earned money from writing and performing on a syndicated radio Bible show for children. He and his family are active members of Peachtree Corners Baptist Church in Norcross, Georgia.

Apparently he is so “passionate” about conservatism that he has written and published an 86-page book, Define Conservatism which outlines what he reckons are the movement’s core values.  (Do check out his blog as well — it’s full of all the usual crazy blathering talking points you hear from Rush Limbough.) He contacted the organisers of CPAC for a spot to talk to like-minded people (and promote his book). Preaching to the converted, so to speak. There’s no suggestion anywhere — in this article, on his website — that he has ever mixed with non-conservatives or non-Christians. And yet he’s already denounced “liberalism” as if it’s a really terrible thing. President Obama is clearly a socialist because of his policies! Straight from the mouths of right-wing shock jocks.

He also appears to be developing quite a healthy ego:

Why just that morning, his mother, Marla Krohn, marveled, a staff member for a potential candidate for Georgia governor asked for a meeting with Jonathan. In her gentle drawl, Mrs. Krohn said cautiously, “I’m not sure I’m a supporter of his.”

“Neither am I,” Jonathan piped in.

“But I’m a voter,” Mrs. Krohn reminded him firmly.

Jonathan retorted, “Now that I’m a political pundit, I have the ability to influence people. I have to think about it!”

I just have to wonder — is his world always going to be so one-eyed and narrow-minded? It’s disturbing that at 14 years of age, he’s already so rigid and uncompromising. And that is incredibly sad, for kids should be learning and exploring with an open mind. (I’m now wondering how many conservatives are reading this and thinking the same thing about “liberals”.)

At any rate, this 14-year old unwittingly provides a good giggle:

He still has the zeal of a missionary. His voice rising to a wobbly squeak, he grabs any opening to press the cause. “Barack Obama is the most left-wing president in my lifetime,” he said.