Look, I am as willing as the next conservative pundit to throw back a tumbler or two of whiskey and whine about our plight this election season. But in the last week the Republican/conservative depression has become pathological. From the pages of the Wall Street Journal to Human Events to the Republican Conference in the House of Representatives, RC comments are sliding from the sensible observation that this may be a tough election cycle, to unjustified self-loathing. Don’t loath conservatism (or the GOP): Loath liberalism.
Conservatism will persist and more often than not prevail precisely because it realistically describes the human condition. It recognizes the fallen condition of man, and thus rejects utopian principles of human perfection— or as conservatives like to say, we refuse to make futile efforts try to Immanentize the eschelon (bring heaven on earth). Thus, inter alia, we understand that , with all its crassness and winners and losers, the power of self-interest drives free markets and free men to maximum — and best-distributed human productivity and fulfillment. But, also believing in the redemptive power of our faiths, we encourage the potential of nobility, charity and self-sacrifice which is also planted in our souls.
Thus we reject the rump materialism, cynicism and duty-free citizenship that is the sour and hollow end product of modern secular liberalism and socialism. After a dose of the latter, the American people invariably return to the abiding truth of conservatism. I am not convinced the public is certain to reject our principles this November.
Our challenge this political season, as every season, is to bring alive to public understanding the utility of our principles when applied to programs for the general welfare. Conversely, we must vividly explain the contradiction inherent in each liberal program that claims to redistribute wealth and rights to the many — but inevitably merely expands economic misfortune and reduces freedom for all.
Moreover, the Democratic Party has not yet even advanced its programs to a plausible level of credibility. Their argument is almost completely a negative one: “Kick the Republican bums out.” Thus, their central theme is the credulity-strained slogan that a vote for Mr. McCain is a third vote for Mr Bush. What ever Mr. McCain is, even the Democrats know he has almost been the anti-Bush (and anti-Republican) these last many years. Not too many elections are won on an obvious lie. And only rarely are they won mostly on the negative.
In 1980, Ronald Reagan ran against Carter’s manifold failures — but he also had a full positive — and credible program of tax cuts, spending cuts, getting tough with the Soviets and respect for traditional values. In 1994, Newt Gingrich’s Republicans ran against Democratic corruption and policy wrong-headedness. But we also ran powerfully on the positive program of our Contract With America. This season, the Democrats’ message is about 80 percent negative. Maybe that will be enough, but even this season, they are not offering the public much to vote for.
Moreover, their presumed standard bearer — Senator Barack Obama, despite his admirable manner, wit and first draw educational credentials, is surprisingly weak when he tries to discuss policy, history and current events at even a short step beyond the superficial. His recently manifested ignorance regarding the languages spoken in Afghanistan was a revelation — especially as he has made Iraq and Afghanistan the centerpiece of his critique of Bush. The more the campaign forces him to speak without benefit of a teleprompter, the less confidence voters are likely to hold for the sureness of his knowledge and judgment.
I’m certainly not predicting that John McCain and the Republicans are likely to win. Obviously the public is ready for change. But if RC candidates from President on down cheerfully and relentlessly make honest, principled arguments 12 hours a day for the next five and half months — we may well be surprised with the results. Let each candidate make his or her own argument to local voters. If Republicans do well this season, it will be one district or state at a time. A nationalized election works against us. The local logic of each candidacy and his or her convictions is our strongest play.
Certainly, if our candidates wander around their constituencies crying into their beer, while national conservative pundits inventively conjure up new modalities of public alienation from us, we can make defeat more likely.
We have one great abiding advantage. Mr. Obama, like most liberals these days (and unlike FDR and JFK), believes he sees a coming age of limits-less energy, less trade, less prosperity, less rugged personal independence. Despite his high rhetoric, at its heart, his is a pessimistic message of hunkering down together to share whatever may perhaps be “sustainable” for us.
We conservatives believe in an exceptional America of ever greater prosperity and happiness — if we have but the spirit and courage to fight for it. For over two centuries the American people have almost always believed in and voted for that American Dream. And for over two centuries they have been right.
Sour peddlers of some over-intellectualized American nightmare usually lose. No reason they shouldn’t lose again this November.
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