Kulturkampf

[Rendle]

I think the implication is that it's not something that conservatives are inflicting upon others, but something they do to themselves

It's like if I said "conservatives weaponized James Gunn's past tweets" or "when we argue my wife always weaponizes my relationship with my family" or "intelligence agencies use blackmail in order to weaponize a target's sexuality". Just because something is weaponized against you doesn't mean you deserve it (or in Claudina's case, doesn't mean she didn't). Perhaps the word 'weapon' wouldn't be as suitable if this information came to light in a neutral probe into plagiarism, but it's hard to imagine that the people who found and exposed this information were moved to do so by their deep passion for academic integrity. For them it is about the sinner and not the sin.