OPINION:
Despite the narrative being spread by the corporate media, conservatives are united. We are united against the threat to our liberty presented by the radical agenda of President Biden and his allies.
Reporter after reporter who attended the National Conservative Student Conference hosted by Young America’s Foundation last week in Washington asked me about an alleged “split in the conservative movement.” Not true, was my response.
Conservatives are as united as I have seen in a very long time. We see the impact of trillions of dollars of massive government spending on inflation. High gas, food and housing prices are a tax on the hard-working people of America. Conservatives want to rein in excessive spending, while radicals want more of it.
Conservatives understand that excessive government regulations hurt job creators and entrepreneurs. They are like a wet blanket on innovation. Conservatives want to unleash an economy that works for the masses by getting obsessive government out of the way.
Conservatives believe that true freedom and prosperity do not come from the clumsy hand of the government. They come from the dignity of hard work.
Conservatives stand with parents who want to drive the education of their children. We believe that funding should follow the students and not systems. We support objective American history and oppose state-sanctioned racism like critical race theory.
Conservatives believe in protecting the rights of law-abiding citizens to possess firearms to protect themselves, their families and their property. We support the good and decent men and women of law enforcement and oppose low cash bail, early release of criminals and liberal prosecutors. We support the restoration of public safety in our state.
Conservatives believe in the sanctity of innocent life. We oppose late-term abortion and believe in protecting unborn babies.
Conservatives believe in peace through strength. We believe that a strong national defense is a deterrent to those who oppose the United States.
Conservatives stand for freedom. We oppose communist regimes like China and socialist regimes like Russia. We believe that everyone is created equal and that our rights come from God, not the government.
Conservatives believe in our founding principles. We understand that these patriots established the greatest nation in the history of the world. We continue to defend her and work to pursue a more perfect union.
During the Young America’s Foundation conference for conservative college students last week, they heard from a broad spectrum of leaders. South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem made a clear case for freedom. Dr. Ben Carson talked about commonsense conservative ideas. Sen. Ted Cruz lambasted Mr. Biden and congressional Democrats for their obsessive spending.
Rep. Mike Gallagher warned of the aggressive actions of the Chinese Communist Party. Betsy DeVos shared her ideas for empowering parents again in the education of their children. Rep. Jim Jordan enlightened students about fighting for free speech on campus. And former Vice President Mike Pence laid out his freedom agenda. It was a full spectrum conservative message. He and the others spoke about ideas that were consistent with those of former President Donald Trump and other leaders in the movement. The only differences, in most cases, were style and tone. On substance, conservatives are united.
Radicals on the left and many in corporate media are trying to sell a false narrative of division within the conservative movement. It is a lame attempt to distract from the failed policies of the left. They are doomed to lose control of the House — and maybe even the Senate. Unless President Biden changes his tone, it will likely lead to his defeat in 2024.
Thirty years earlier, President Bill Clinton moved to the center after Republicans took control of the House and Senate in a major red wave. Democrats today are driven by social media activists like Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Sen. Bernie Sanders. That is why candidate Biden outsourced his agenda to the radical left in 2020, and put then-Sen. Kamala Harris — whose voter record was to the left of Mr. Sanders — on the ticket. They can’t move to the middle or risk losing their liberal base.
All of this goes back to my original point: Conservatives are united. What is at stake is far greater than how many blue or red states there are on the map. As much as I can remember, the things that are taking place today will impact whether we have a republic or not for generations to come.
Conservatives love America. Unlike so many on the radical left who want to divide us, we want freedom and opportunity — as well as liberty and justice for all.
• Scott Walker is the president of Young America’s Foundation and served as the 45th governor of Wisconsin from 2011 to 2019.
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