CJ Pearson is, I guess, some sort of viral star because he used to say shitty things about Ahmed Mohamed and President Obama, and until very recently identified as a conservative at the age of 13. As recently as October, he announced that he was supporting Ted Cruz’s campaign for president, not that anyone should care since he is 13 years old, which guarantees that he 1) cannot vote in the U.S., and 2) will inevitably say stupid things. In fact, there’s a good possibility that he’ll only say stupid things. Children are the future in the future; in the present, their brains aren’t fully formed. CJ Pearson does not have a single opinion that couldn’t be better stated by someone older than him. A teenager with the ability to talk like an adult political pundit is a sideshow novelty, like a horse that “knows” arithmetic.

In all likelihood, he does not realize this, but the adults who have enabled him do. I wish that CJ Pearson knew better, but I don’t fault him. I do fault someone like Ted Cruz for participating in this farce by pretending that Pearson’s voice somehow matters. (Cruz officially named Pearson as the chairman of Teens for Ted, a post Pearson has since surrendered. Pearson’s successor as chairman of Teens for Ted is as yet unknown.)

Now, Pearson is endorsing Bernie Sanders for president, which is clever insofar as it keeps Pearson in the news with a new plot line. Is he sincere? Are 13-year-olds sincere about anything besides their self-investment?

CNN interviewed him about his supposed change of heart, which you can read about if you are so inclined. He speaks with the emptiness of a politician (“This election will make a pivotal difference in the future of our nation”). He is very good at acting like an adult, which is key to his novelty. He takes himself so seriously because people older than him have. “If it takes changing your mind to make the right choice as to who should lead our country, I am willing to do it. Screw the optics,” he says.

We live in a democracy, where everyone can say pretty much anything they want. We also possess reasoning that allows us to ignore the immense noise that amasses as a result of living in a democracy, where everyone can say pretty much anything they want. My advice in this situation is to not listen to a child about who the president should be, especially one who is being enabled by politicians...

...and particularly one who is enjoying the attention his grand proclamations (and ensuing repudiation of them) are garnering him.

Here, let me fix that for him: “I’m looking forward to going on TV.”

Let’s not pay CJ Pearson’s opinions on presidential politics any attention until they come from someone of voting age. And even then, chances are they won’t be worth listening to.