Georges Perros wryly observed that the truly horrible thing is that everything is permitted even if God does exist. Likewise here: the horrible thing is that no one had to believe it; they only had to say it, and many were eager to do so. People don’t like to think; they prefer to respond to incentives and follow the path of least resistance. Any intelligent adult capable of reflection should already know that motives are almost never singular and straightforward. Actions are what ultimately matter. The result was the same, whether prompted by conviction, cowardice, careerism, or a hybrid of all three. Modern creeds don’t seek faith — only compliance. And this kind of Scholastic hair-splitting does nothing to challenge it.
In politics and culture wars, the clever pose as mind-readers: “They don’t really believe this; they’re just grifting/pandering.” Maybe. But the world doesn’t run on sincerity. It runs on choices made loudly enough, often enough, by people in powerful positions. So stop rewarding the gnostic game of “real motives.” Stop trying to enhance your own status by posing as the seer who penetrates the disguises that fool the rubes. If I wanted to speculate on the deepest motives lurking in Reilly’s heart of hearts, I might accuse him of prostituting his own intelligence by making intentionally glib statements to generate social media engagement. I don’t need to, though. It’s enough to take it at face value and call it stupid and counterproductive. Judge by revealed commitments — votes cast, laws written, money moved, reputations risked. If words and deeds diverge over time, then ask why. Until then, take public speech as an instrument, not a diary.