I'm glad that one of your takeaways is my feeling of uncertainty on this issue. I think it's important to keep these discussions open and not write as if I believe I have the definitive opinion (I don't).

I'll look into that Sartre essay you mention, that sounds fascinating.

Would you say that it's only conservatives that do an extreme about face on individuals they despised? I think a lot of their hysteria is fabricated just to get attention. It's pretty interesting to have another example.