Last night, on Night 2 of the Republican convention, there was an epic lineup of guests and events. But one of the most significant was Nick Sandmann. Sandmann, if you recall, was part of a youth group from Covington (KY) Catholic High School that was in Washington, DC, for the 2019 March for Life. While there, he was harassed by a Stolen Valor fraud who moonlights as some kind of drifting pagan shaman when he’s not bilking credulous and guilt-ridden leftists out of their trust-fund money. The media, including some here at RedState and some prominent conservatives, immediately accused Sandmann and his classmates of demeaning the fake Vietnam veteran.

Since that time, Sandmann has undertaken a campaign to clear his name. Attorneys acting on his behalf have forced settlements from the Washington Post and CNN for the false and abusive coverage they provided of the event and the way they singled a solitary young man out for bullying masquerading as news and commentary.

Nick Sandmann, high school graduate and owner of CNN.

— jon gabriel (@exjon) August 26, 2020

While I’m not privy to the strategy behind the selection of speakers, the primary purpose of Sandmann seemed to be a) to slam the whole social media “cancel culture” used by the left to try to enforce speech- and thought-codes upon the rest of the country and b) to encourage Trump supporters to stand up and be counted (skip to the end for the message).

Sandmann’s presence infuriated the left. One of the most ridiculous claims, made naturally by the Huffington Post was that Sandmann was a creation of right media.

Nothing quite says poetic justice as much as CNN having to pay a $250 million defamation settlement to Nick Sandmann then having to air his speech on their network as he destroys them on national television. #RNC2020 pic.twitter.com/5ZemuODJDC

— Derek Watson (@derekdwatson) August 26, 2020

Nicholas Sandmann and many of the speakers at the #RNC2020 are purely creations of the right-wing media ecosystem, whose viral moments or relevance would have faded if it wasn’t for their utility to conservative media and their white grievance politics. https://t.co/9BKX2lxDip

— HuffPost (@HuffPost) August 26, 2020

This is just balderdash. The only reason Nick Sandmann became a national feature is because alleged journalists arrived at a tacit agreement that maligning a high school kid in a MAGA hat would hurt Trump and help push the narrative that Trump’s supporters are all the crudest form of bigots. We know about Sandmann because of the failure of journalism and not because of any effort to raise his profile on the right.

CNN, though, showed just how deeply Sandmann taking their lunch money has hurt their feelings. This is the fat, bloated “political analyst” Joe Lockhart.

I'm watching tonight because it's important. But i don't have to watch this snot nose entitled kid from Kentucky.

— Joe Lockhart (@joelockhart) August 26, 2020

One of the most bizarre attacks on Sandmann, though, came from some pathetic little fellow named Jeff Yang, who bills himself as an opinion writer for CNN. I must confess to having been pleasantly unaware of his existence until last night.

In prior comments, you’ve said that you and your classmates were reacting to a handful of Black Israelites who were trying to disrupt the Native drum dance taking place at the monument, and the incident with Nathan Phillips was an incidental outcome of that other interaction.

— Jeff Yang (@originalspin) August 26, 2020

You could have reiterated those things and extended a branch of peace to Mr. Phillips, a Marine veteran as you have noted, in the course of affirming that you meant no harm then or now and that you hope the lesson people take is not to judge books by their cover.

— Jeff Yang (@originalspin) August 26, 2020

You said you didn’t see the incident as something beneficial—rather, that it was destructive and horrific. But your speech tonight was a clear embrace of a role as a political symbol and conservative icon; a career move. It was your choice. I hope you end up satisfied with it.

— Jeff Yang (@originalspin) August 26, 2020

Just a quick review here for the benefit of Yang, who seems to have a twisted view of how civilized people behave. Phillips, the Stolen Valor fraud, was the aggressor. The video shows he deliberately targets the Covington Catholic High School group. The footage was used by what can only be called the “radical left” and the NeverTrump right to demonize Sandmann and his classmates. The only person owed an apology or deserving of being extended a “branch of peace” is Sandmann. To date, Phillips has avoided admitting his central role in this shameful and contrived affair.

The DNC fluffers at CNN were popping their butt plugs all over the Internet tonight watching the guy they made a millionaire impale their weary asses one more time. https://t.co/RDInj0pU2S

— James Woods (@RealJamesWoods) August 26, 2020

Two things were made abundantly clear by this episode. First, CNN is smarting over having to shell out a significant amount of money to Sandmann because of the shabby and vicious brand of journalism practiced there. Second, Nick Sandmann is a much bigger man (morally, not in terms of tonnage) than Joe Lockhart, and most CNN staff will ever be.