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Jonathan Krohn, who gained national attention when he addressed CPAC in 2009, tells Alan why he changed his political views.
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Kevin Brown was the thirteen years old when he gained attention national attention.
From conservatives.
-- things that he then believed lived in Georgia.
We've got up -- -- pack in game.
Speech which was applauded.
By the right -- appeared in a lot of conservative shows -- -- recent vintage.
At the age of seventeen -- come forward and talked about how he has lost some of those very conservative beliefs and and some corners Jonathan you've been vilified by the very people who embraced you just four years ago.
That's correct -- itself.
It's been it's been a rough journey you know -- I hope I hope millions this well I I know in the end it'll be worth it you know.
Trying to get out there and show I've become a lot more open minded as opposed.
I bet I think I met you briefly at the Fox News Channel about four years yeah.
And you're with your folks I think -- the unit in the you know an art and -- -- -- on the fourteenth floor.
-- we -- the Internet show I think -- And and here is you cringe when you hear this but here's what you said in 2009 deceit that.
The American people to understand.
Conservatism.
Is not.
In ideology.
Of feelings romanticism as some people like to say.
It isn't ideology.
Of protecting the people in the people's rights.
None of the night I think your voice change.
You know my voice is a lot less annoying.
We didn't grow up when you grow up your voice becomes less -- no -- I I don't know -- maybe that maybe that's part of the rationality kicking it.
What tell our personal how you wind up speaking it seed packet the tender age of thirteen and I don't.
Really weird story in -- people still don't believe it but it's the truth I.
I went to I IE had written it self published book right now he's -- the money from.
When nine ways I used to write for -- -- -- of the -- to be acting.
Yeah and IE it's it's really weird I actually aren't I applied for to be the head writer for the show we lost the writer.
Haven't had to -- the traditional and they hired me nine.
And -- I -- that anyway because indicate channel.
And so I think that the money and I -- money in the bank account and when the public health published books are published.
And my got web -- setup and everything and I called C -- -- and a half a year and got to talk to the assistant director and ask them if they'd give me -- speaking slot.
And the bulls.
Absolutely and they had -- the first time and then they came back to a few.
I came back a few hours later emailed -- -- -- actually have a spot for you so today.
Day I hate white people think that my parents and -- -- -- light literally called them an have to fight to do it.
And I mean stop understand kinda proud of my ability to just have called them they did this kind of in the that really isn't mean regardless of how will that -- what I was saying its still pretty.
Improbable that would happen but it did.
What -- -- the ideology whether it's left wing -- right wing the fact is if you had a vision of what you wanted to do work may be.
That what you wanted to be in some kind of weird vague way and that you were proactive and -- pursue your dream.
Stripping all the ideology so off of that.
Absolutely and immunity I mean I mean without thinking about the the worker education of talking points that was going on there -- really it really I'm I'm so proud of my.
My.
Let you know trying to now we are parents are conservative right for the most part.
I'm now I'm -- mainly political but it they they're they're they're more conservative I guess some liberal they don't they don't really talk can pockets.
Much about where they pushing you and all the with a influencing you -- They they didn't care they were they were they worse they were supportive of whatever I did.
This thing you know they're still very respectful and loving and mean they still they they they used to let me didn't agree with me in the not overjoyed about.
That.
-- about all this but.
-- your mother lose a friend or two over your new and -- yeah.
Yes -- -- to mail her like the day after the Politico article came out saying.
Covenant -- And we can't be friends and -- him -- and.
It's a nation and I have friends and I've known for years and even though with their politics -- I can't I can't imagine the French of -- based on.
It is not based on it had nothing and it initial my mother was surprised and I was surprised that she didn't have anything to do -- -- change in politics.
Yet.
-- you heard this friend -- -- act like she should have something to do it.
Which I think is I think to the problematic idea and prop problematic way of looking at the world -- -- You got -- -- the times if your mother were coaching you when you were doing some interviews but I'm not sure that actually took place.
-- that never took place I have my mother was just being too if you if you give anybody who saw me with my mother that point first ball and the minor.
And I ways.
Still in middle school at the time so I still kinda had to have a parent or legal guardian -- -- the time.
So that was part -- -- about if anybody saw me before going on interviewed some with my mom.
It was she was -- they're just saying you know do your best -- kind of think -- that she can never coached me IE can never told me what to say I.
I've never written a speech so I most certainly never had anybody -- once.
For what you did see pat was -- speak -- that -- that -- -- my no kidding -- yeah.
What led to your recent spate of press in the political story -- that star had of that happen.
-- -- really that's another weird story actually I've been doing a lot of political humor and satire writing and -- it happened was.
And I talk about this part before you know how -- have a lot I took a lot of time off go read philosophy -- not focus on politics at all and do other things -- pilot -- for the three years between you know the second -- them.
Now Andrew Morton analogous but anyhow so.
IE -- -- -- -- -- that time and then I wanted to do more writing and and so I was tortured depictions of Africa and started doing.
Just some factor political humor because I don't think that's a -- lot of fun and really enjoyed patent something I can do it.
I think to Patrick Politico -- interviewed you before and you mean he's always been nice to meet.
And I asked you know is there any place you know where I could get this published listened to stop that from people and he said.
No I don't know if we do that but but I'd love to interview about how -- changed so so and so forth and I says.
Okay that's that's.
-- you're really looking for that but it kinda just.
That's -- what happened I was not I was not trying did an interview me.
I had no idea it was going to be this big I had I -- I seriously didn't -- it was gonna blow up the way it.
You're kind of a phenomena in four years ago so I guess what ever happened to becomes a story right.
I suppose I suppose and it's and it really help but my hope after all that is is it really people see.
Media as being somebody -- Besides that kids who did something for years ago you know I'm tired of being part of the reason I was going to be in every you know because I am tired of people.
Like refer patent consultant.
On television -- years ago going through that kid that did that pretty.
And you want to be defined led by that there -- to your life right.
Way I wanna be absolutely going to be I wanna be myself but I want to do the things I wanna do with my life I wanna move on to bigger and better things so.
Really this has given people the opportunity to TV -- -- as an open minded individuals who.
Obviously doesn't know -- all if we don't know anonymous know -- almost certainly need less than anybody.
We you know it's interesting that you say that because I I actually -- Lawrence O'Donnell and I -- -- a really good point.
When you said why don't want I'm not get reiterated clears up a -- you don't want to be defined at this point.
You might have some play wanna be -- -- to me.
Being a liberal is about not.
Being caught in an ideology.
Or stuck in an idea that you can't escape from.
I mean that's a liberal like that's a liberal notion the.
Lot of people a lot of people actually on on Twitter and other mediums have said that.
And I think that that's why a lot of people in the and more center left and center right obviously.
-- have been very nice to me about that have been very supportive of this because you know.
It's something that a lot of open minded people who at my -- you know it seems from the people -- interacted with seemed to congregate more to center left than anywhere else.
A lot of government of people I've spoken with have been very supportive of this and they that you didn't think -- -- income that you just made.
And I don't want to idea I don't want to identify myself because they feel that the wave of we we we trapped ourselves into these.
Little bubbles and clubs and the support that it just makes politics so polarized and this and it's fine.
That's not fun when I was reading the daily caller when they took some shots.
And Tucker Carlson -- and I thought to myself who's really the thirteen year old now.
Oh my god you're -- -- -- pieces on me into -- -- all of which used the word.
That our -- dipping so to me personally.
-- an -- -- people like.
Jonathan -- -- rational arguments against Jonathan Karl.
Heard they were at home and attacks gives -- my favorites with -- one which they tried to say that would fit the needs.
But they actually and I quote.
Some criticism because she wears.
Thick rimmed glasses and meeting drops what -- victims dynamite.
And yet.
Or a -- glasses -- -- horrible thing and should be shouldn't that we should in Kabul because they're bad for America I don't support the idea of Craig gore is -- better.
About philosophers is that.
-- the combination must mean that every philosopher who wears thick rimmed glasses don't ever slots for court and the -- colored lights but big time according to the on the office said not only did.
Does that person -- criticism but that's according to them and -- in the article and I talked to this kind Twitter he insisted this.
Makes you hipster.
Still a great philosopher in the world where that green glasses.
Early in the -- so where.
Don't I don't get where this comes.
I think it's good -- you have an inability to laugh but it never pretty thick skin about this stuff because you know when you get out you step out there in the public arena.
That happens but you've handled it pretty well you're able to handle it when you were thirteen Sosa you can handle it probably even a lot better now -- -- -- also there that -- Well yeah I think that the people though is that thing -- think about now that there's been more positive comments to me the negative comments to me though which really gives me hope because.
I feel that like there -- a lot of people that are willing to listen to people who who opened up their minds civilian and we're we're we're a nation of people who who who like that.
You know you people who like OpenId people and that's a good -- I thought it was interesting also that he started.
You're evolution on social issues and even moved on to some other areas but that actually started in the social arena.
In terms of your.
Reevaluating your -- -- Yeah I think -- -- is probably the most -- this -- area politics you know it's so.
Heavy and I think the reason for that is because.
In the home is something that we all have regardless that's where.
You know being an -- in a close family relationship -- the -- and we environment or not.
You know we all have our personal values how we live our lives at home and private.
And people -- us as a people have very strong emotions about that I think.
And on the right it's a dominated a lot by four by fundamentalists and in the evangelicals.
Evangelical Christians and.
And and -- people that went to some people take that cannot discount on the right it but but that -- spent a lot of those are the people that dominate the conversation on the right.
And it was just -- this rigid fundamentalists in this rigid dogma that the -- happens social issues that really drove me away from indignant over the state.
But other than you know one of the examples I -- referenced before was the reception of and GO crowd that's the pact that we just bothered me when I was there that was that was the second seed packet -- -- I hadn't.
And it really really bothered me -- People on the right just couldn't accept that there were people with a different sexual orientation have been -- similar ideas and other issues.
