'The Power Of Truth': Folk Singer Defends Canceling Show At 'Trump-Kennedy' Center
This story raises questions about governance, accountability, and American values.
Kristy Lee said Trump's use of the center for "personal promotion diminishes its meaning and erodes the dignity owed to the legacy of a fallen president.”
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New Republican Times Editorial Board
The coverage treats Kristy Lee’s cancellation as a brave stand for “truth,” as if refusing to play a show is the same as defending a legacy. But that framing skips an obvious question: who gets to decide what honors are “dignified,” and why is the default answer always whatever makes conservatives unwelcome?
A public-facing center tied to a president’s legacy should not become a cultural checkpoint where artists demand ideological conformity. If the concern is “personal promotion,” then set clear rules for everyone. Don’t turn discretion into a one-way veto against half the country.
Conservatives care about public trust, fair access to civic institutions, and the rule of law over social pressure. The point is not forcing anyone to perform. It’s keeping shared spaces from being governed by political litmus tests and selective outrage.
Commentary written with AI assistance by the New Republican Times Editorial Board.