Now, it’s true that we need Republicans who are willing to fight and stand up for conservative principles.

One of the things that President Donald Trump’s presidency brought and instilled is that people are tired of Republicans who cave on principles for which they should be standing up.

Many have seen South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem as a bright light for a possible future presidential run for standing up for her state during the pandemic and for basic freedoms.

But many conservatives were teed off at Noem for her position on a bill that would bar transgender athletes from competing in women’s sports. She wanted to send it back for changes.

Noem went on Tucker Carlson’s show to make her point and Carlson was not gentle on her. He started off saying she had been for the bill and now wasn’t, suggesting that she was caving to big business, NCAA and Amazon.

Noem fired back, saying that wasn’t the case that after consulting with “legal scholars.” She tried to make the point that ultimately it’s more harmful to her state and girls’ sports if she proceeds with the bill as currently written since the bill is overbroad and invites unintended consequences as well as suits and actions against the state.

From Fox News:

“I’m sick and tried of the NCAA threatening states, challenging us, and bullying us and so we’re going to build a coalition of leaders, athletes, and people who want to protect women’s sports and want to make sure women keep Title IX funding, to protect their right to be competitive and be rewarded by participating in these team sports and make sure this coalition can fight the NCAA to make sure we’re protecting Title IX,” she explained to Fox News’ Tucker Carlson.

“But these standards far predate Title IX and I’m not sure why Title IX is relevant or even really worth defending,” Carlson said. “This is thousands of years of common sense and tradition. Girls play girls sports, boys play boy sports. Why not just say, ‘Bring it on, NCAA. I’m a national figure, go ahead and try and exclude us, I will fight you in the court of public opinion and defend principle.’ Why not just do that?”

Tucker continued to press, saying the people wanted this bill and that she had stopped it. He raises a legitimate question about why she was for it before she had concerns for it. But the public wanting it doesn’t necessarily mean it will survive a legal challenge if, in fact, it is overbroad.

“Listen,” Noem continued. “I’m not interested in a participation trophy. I’m not interested in picking a fight that we can’t win. I am a problem-solver … and I have been bullied for the last year by liberals, Tucker. I’m not going to let anybody from the NCAA, from any big business, I’m not even going to let conservatives on the right bully me. I’m going to solve the problem.

“I’m going to make sure that we are building strength in numbers and we are going after the NCAA and make sure that we are keeping only girls playing in girls’ sports.”

Here’s the thing. She’s more than earned a little capital for her stand for her state. She took a lot of flack and still stood up for her citizens. She’s not abandoning the point of the bill, she’s arguing she’s firming it up so it better withstands challenge. She said if the legislature doesn’t change the bill in the “Style and Form” revision process, she said she would ask them to submit a new bill. Fine, let’s hold her to that, she’s earned a little faith.

People are not happy. It’s understandable because we’re in a battle that we must win on so many issues with the left. But let’s not become them. Let’s evaluate all the facts. There are legitimately all kinds of legal problematic issues here. She’s not against the point of the bill, she’s arguing she’s trying to make it better. If she doesn’t come through with it, then hold her to account. We need everyone in the fight against all the evil that is going to be pushed at us by the Biden team, not fighting amongst ourselves.