MSNBC contributor Charlie Sykes, who became notable in the past year for his critiques of fellow conservatives in the media for basically creating a climate wherein Donald Trump could thrive, is now speaking out about “anti-anti-Trump” sentiments overriding principle, especially in the wake of this big news week.

Sykes’ New York Times op-ed yesterday focused on how elements of the conservative media seem more interested in covering the media’s overreaction to the James Comey firing rather than, well, the actual James Comey firing:

Here is how it works: Rather than defend President Trump’s specific actions, his conservative champions change the subject to (1) the biased “fake news” media, (2) over-the-top liberals, (3) hypocrites on the left, (4) anyone else victimizing Mr. Trump or his supporters and (5) whataboutism, as in “What about Obama?” “What about Clinton?” For the anti-anti-Trump pundit, whatever the allegation against Mr. Trump, whatever his blunders or foibles, the other side is always worse.

He cites examples like Rush Limbaugh, and Tucker Carlson, the latter of whom said this week the media has been “hyperventilating” too much over the Comey firing.

Sykes said on MSNBC today that this comes at a detriment to actual conservative principle:

“Conservatism as I have understood it has been eclipsed by this anti-anti-Trumpism, by this cult of personality, by this tribal politics, where it’s more important we score a win… and that we make liberals’ heads explode, whatever that involves, than it is to stand up for a principle.”

Watch above, via MSNBC.

[image via screengrab]

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Follow Josh Feldman on Twitter: @feldmaniac

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