In the battle for hearts and minds, Democrats and conservatives have very different ideas about how to win over men, especially young men. Believe it or not, one side argues in favor of using porn as bait to win back male support, while the other is pushing for something different: church, purpose, and self-respect.

A recent article in The Nation titled “Democrats Should Become the pro-Porn Party” takes a rather eyebrow-raising stance. It suggests that pornography might be a surprisingly effective way for the Left to keep men engaged — and voting blue. Arguing the use of porn as a way to “win back young men who have abandoned the party of fascism,” writer Elie Mystal suggests that “Democrats should embrace pornography and other examples of sexiness and smut under the umbrella of free speech.” (Note: Mystal smears the GOP as the “party of fascism,” but that shows a typical lack of understanding of what fascism even means.)

Let the bigger point sink in: The Left is seriously considering weaponizing porn to sway male voters.

Mystal doesn’t shy away from mental gymnastics to make the case, arguing that twisting language to use someone’s preferred pronouns is not an issue of free speech, but rather one of “human decency.” However, he says that unrestricted access to derogatory images and other graphic portrayals of women falls under the protections of the First Amendment. As such, this material should not only be freely accessible, but its potential for influence should be unleashed, as it could be used for a greater purpose — as a legitimate tool to win votes for Democrat candidates.

Contrast that with the conservative take. Where the Left sees men as little more than walking dopamine-seekers, many on the Right recognize both the damage porn is doing to men and are offering better alternatives that provide long-term and substantive fulfillment. You don’t have to look far to find proof that porn is hurting men, women, marriages, and families. In fact, conservatives have been sounding the alarm for years.

Gen Z men are beginning to notice these effects and are walking away from porn. The Daily Wire reports that there’s a growing movement of young men rejecting the sexual chaos of their generation: “According to the survey, 64% of men under the age of 25 support making online pornography more difficult to access.” It’s a hopeful sign, but also a response to years of not recognizing the long-term consequences of growing up in households where adult magazines were casually left around, and parents not worrying about what the boys they were raising were exposed to.

The Washington Stand digs even deeper, noting how church involvement is giving young men the strength to fight back. The article, “Gen Z Men, the Fight Against Porn, and the Church’s Response,” shares data gathered by the Survey Center on American Life: “In 2013, young men were divided — about half (51 percent) favored making it more difficult to access pornography online, while just about as many (40 percent) opposed this policy,” the survey found. “Today, six in 10 young men say they believe we should make accessing pornography online more difficult.”

Despite what some progressives claim, the data on porn’s harmful effects is overwhelming. A Marriage.com report found that pornography use is associated with lower relationship satisfaction, decreased sexual intimacy in marriages, and increased risk of infidelity. The findings also outline an extensive review of its far-reaching effects, showing that porn damages not only romantic relationships but also a person’s mental health and sense of identity.

In short, the data is definitive: Porn doesn’t empower people; it enslaves them. And for men in particular, it robs them of drive, clarity, and self-worth. Is that really the group the Left wants to build its base around? I think we know the answer to that.

What conservatives understand — better than most — is that men don’t just need entertainment or escape. They need purpose, they need to be challenged, and they need community. That’s why so many on the Right are pointing young men toward something porn can never fulfill: meaning.

At the end of the day, this isn’t just a culture war issue but a vision war. The Left’s vision for men is dangerously shallow: feed them porn, and maybe they’ll vote for you. The Right’s vision is far more uplifting: call men to virtue, and they’ll rise to the occasion. One side sees men as consumers. The other sees them as creators, protectors, and spiritual leaders.

It’s no wonder that more and more young men are rejecting porn, turning toward faith, and searching for something deeper. In a culture that treats women like objects and men like idiots, the conservative message is consistent and based on ideas that have stood the test of time. Men are not the enemy. They are leaders in the making.