America has recently seen the rise of a new type of contradiction: the radical conservative.
This new spin on a familiar tale takes the form of ”Taxed Enough Already” parties, David Letterman protests and bouts of yelling during Sotomayor's nomination hearings.
Never mind that the Princeton dictionary defines conservatism as a political orientation advocating “the preservation of the best in society and opposing radical change.”
Believe it or not, conservatives haven’t always been like this. Before the hate-filled diatribes of Ann Coulter and before the advent of the ”birthers” (the creative folks who think that Barack Obama was born in Africa and thus should be invalidated as president), there was William F. Buckley.
Buckley was the finest example of the last of a forgotten breed: the New England conservatives. Buckley enjoyed sailing, playing the harpsichord and above all discussing his conservative ideology in a thoughtful manner. His long running show on PBS, “Firing Line,” was characterized by polite debate during which guests were given the chance to answer questions in length (attention, Bill O'Reilly). It comes as no surprise that when Buckley died recently even prominent liberals voiced their admiration.
But you don't have to limit yourself to television talk shows to see the decline in civility among conservatives in the last few decades. Just go back a few presidents.
Ronald Reagan won two general election landslides not by demonizing the opposing side or by calling liberals unpatriotic, but by appealing to America's greatness. His campaign slogan was, ”It's morning again in America.”
Times change don’t they? Less than a year ago, some Republicans criticized Obama's campaign message of ”hope” as mere naiveté. These same people attacked Obama for wanting to meet with the foreign leaders of third-rate theocracies even though their hero brought the cold war to an end, partly because of a personal friendship with Mikhail Gorbachev.
A further 16 years back in history yields another prominent example of the archetypal statesman. Most politically-savvy people know who Barry Goldwater is, but few know just how decent the man behind the glasses actually was. Goldwater was good friends with President Kennedy, and would routinely have long conversations in the oval office with the famous Democrat. During one of these occurrences, the two men agreed to travel around the country together while campaigning for the 1964 election should Goldwater win the Republican primary. Can you imagine John McCain and Barack Obama sharing a plane during the 2008 presidential campaign? I can’t either.
Such was the state of politics before the rise of the radical right.
It’s hard to pinpoint the beginning of this minority faction, but it is easy to pinpoint the end: Sarah Palin.
Whereas Reagan was a unifier, Palin is a divider. Whereas William F. Buckley was an astute thinker, Palin can’t name a magazine or newspaper she reads regularly. Whereas Barry Goldwater retired from the Senate universally respected by his Democrat and Republican colleagues, Palin is derided both by the Left and by a good chunk of the Right.
Fortunately, the radical conservative minority in America is losing power fast and the most obvious proof is the election of one Barack Hussein Obama. Against all possible odds, including the color of his skin, the Muslim heritage of his father, the atheism of his mother, his middle name and his membership of a Black Nationalist church, Obama won the presidency of the United States of America. He didn’t become the 44th president because his liberal views mesh with the majority of America, he won because of his demeanor. Obama’s cool-headedness and composure are the stuff of legend, not seen since, at least, the presidency of Ronald Reagan.
As the conservative columnist David Brooks writes in a recent article for the New York Times, ”we can all agree that [President Obama] exemplifies reticence, dispassion and the other traits associated with dignity.”
I voted for McCain not because I wanted him to be president, but rather to help prevent a rout. If my vote had been the deciding factor in the election, I would have voted for Obama. The idea of putting an embarrassment like Sarah Palin within elk-hunting distance of the Oval Office is a terrifying prospect indeed.
-Elijah Lavicky is a finance senior.
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kpo33 2 years, 10 months ago
i'm curious, where is he "bashing other people's beliefs" in this article?
bruenig 2 years, 10 months ago
No more radical conservatism, just the corporate conservatism pushed by both parties. Glory days have come!
tejas 2 years, 10 months ago
Exactly...
Please don’t preach to me about what a conservative was in the past if you were wearing diapers two administrations ago. The present bitterness and division as it is today in this country began after Clinton shamefully left office and his predecessor was beat in the following election. Since then this country has been divided like it hasn’t been in years.
But even taking into consideration your age and inexperience, liberally influenced public school education, and media guided opinions, let me ask you a few questions. Explain to me how it is “radical” to oppose the killing of over 1.3 million unborn babies per year out of convenience? How is it “radical” to support the rights of citizens to own guns? How is it “radical” to oppose socialized ‘healthcare’? How is it radical to oppose the ever growing government’s hand out of millions of dollars and the bailout of incompetent and corrupt industry? How is it “radical” to refer to this country as a Christian Nation when it is over 70% Christian?
Turn off the TV, step back and look at things objectively and form your own opinions. You don’t have to listen to Ann Coulter or Rush or anyone else. The present GOP is splintered just like the Democratic party was after the Clinton mess. And Sarah Palin may not be Presidential material for whatever reasons, and I don’t think she’ll even run, but if it came down to her and four more years of Obama’s “change”, I’ll be in line first to vote for her.
anti 2 years, 10 months ago
[QUOTE]
And, one day, you will be in the minority, and will be asking for the same respect you are not giving today!
[/QUOTE]
You mean like 2001-2008?
Clifton 2 years, 10 months ago
I find it funny when reading OpEd pieces in The Oklahoma Daily. Here are 20-somethings, who haven't lived but 5-6 years as adults, and have "all the answers". They speak of history, as if they've lived it, but not realizing that they only recite it based on biased reviews. The "radical right" was always here, and never didn't just appear. The look of the "right" has been America for the past few hundred years, but with the onset of liberalism, it appears brighter because of the stark contrast. You speak of Reagan as if he didn't believe in conservatives, but he didn't have to defend traditional marriage, or Christianity in the public view. If you had his back to the corner, he would have done the same as Sarah Palin and Rush Limbaugh. So, back to my point of young editors. I remember when I was your age and felt the same way. But, as we get older, and experience "life", I promise, you will have a different tone. So, instead of bashing other people's beliefs, why don't you resepect them and be tolerant (as you often claim we should be) towards others of opposing views. Because, I promise you, the pendulum will swing back the other way soon. And, one day, you will be in the minority, and will be asking for the same respect you are not giving today!
Shimmra 2 years, 10 months ago
If I'm wrong, please correct me... Are you insinuating that those of us that go to TEA parties are part of a minority faction? Each time TEA parties are held they grow by the thousands. Despite the media writing us of as conspiracy nuts, fear mongers, and racists our numbers are growing. But somehow we're just a minority faction. If we're such a minority then how can Glenn Beck's book be the best selling book in America 5 weeks running. Yes, that's the same Glenn Beck that is a member of far-right. Even though those on the true far-right hate him too.
Bubba 2 years, 10 months ago
Is your argument that it is better to hear from selfish, self-centered, jaded oldies? The baby-boomers and warmongerers have devastated us financially. The younger generation work more, harder, and have seen many institutions in America tumble like a stack of cards. High and Mighty conservatism just plain sucks, and the new generation gets it.
-Bubba
king3808 2 years, 10 months ago
Obama was criticized for his message of hope because he can't back it up. He was criticized because if you looked close enough at his message you could see through it. He promised the world, and he won't even be able to produce his beloved health care plan, even with control of both houses. And not to burst your bubble here, but he also ran on the demonization of George W. Bush.
You talk about radical conservatism and you site "Taxed Enough Already" parties, David Letterman protests, and yelling? Those are weak examples. Couldn't you at least throw in abortion clinic bombers? It would at least help you make your point.
Letterman was protested because he made a joke about a FOURTEEN year old girl getting "knocked up" by a professional baseball player. Newsflash, the daughter at the game with Palin wasn't the one who got pregnant.
Again, you subsidize your argument with the facts that conservatives yell? The Supreme Court is one of the more powerful entities in the United States, and a far left-wing individual is about to be appointed to it. I would hope there would be some yelling by a few conservatives.
JJanowiak 2 years, 10 months ago
Clifton's right. To take this beyond politics, though, this column's problem is one a lot of writers commit - throwing a reasoned take on a legitimate question out the door in favor of some eye-catching hyperbole. Radical conservatism is as old as modern politics itself and it isn't going anywhere. Unfortunately Elijah Lavicky has a tendency to run good editorial ideas straight into the ground.
veritas 2 years, 10 months ago
People, he's not a liberal!
COLUMN: Obama domestic policy ineffective by Elijah Lavicky
COLUMN: Teacher’s unions bad for American schools by Elijah Lavicky
In fact he seems pretty far right after reading those two "gems." I think his (poorly communicated) point is that he despises all things unrefined, whether they be on the right or on the left.
If that IS his point, then I can't say that I disagree.
mustafa 2 years, 9 months ago
Obama and the Dem. Congress have been planning since inaugration on ramming through a radical policy that they know the country does not want. Included in that plan is the recognition that the they will become highly unpopular by the off year election in '10.
REPEAT: They recognize that their plan will result in massive losses at the next ballot box plus, most likely, will wreck any future credibility for liberal "change." Still they are willing to go there. In political jargon this is call "commiting political suicide."
They have recently admitted that this sacrifice will be necessary. Their going it alone regardless of the cost to the party.
Only a mind-numbed idiot would ignore this blatant reality and claim that it is actually conservatism which is about to self-destruct.
Bubba types are a good example of what chifon is talking about. Yes the economy, society, and our culture have been on a downward spiral for the past fifty years. But not because of too much conservatism, but because the ascendency of liberalism. If you don't like the fact that many generations enjoyed the best of the American Dream then wrecked it just in time for your generation to get the excremental-end of the stick, then blame liberalism.
As far Reagan winning by questioning the patriotism of liberals.... (nevermind that liberal beliefs and behavior has cause significant "Red Scares" in every decade since 1900 A.D.) consider this:
In the presidential election of 1984 Dem. candidate Walter Mondale advocated scrapping entirely the Pledge of Allegiance in public schools. (Clinton would do the same 12 years later.)This illustrates a pertinent point.
Conservatives have never been able to hurt liberals by playing the patriotism-card without the liberals making it credible by acting on their dubious beliefs.