Nick Fuentes in 2022 (Creative Commons)
Conservative Princeton University professor Robert P. George is warning the Republican Party and the modern conservative movement to jettison its growing bigot wing quickly before they destroy the party.
“…[I]n a sense, conservatism is, and should be, a ‘big tent.’ Still, there are limits,” said George. “Those limits are reached when people claiming the mantle of conservatism promote white supremacy, antisemitism, eugenics, the subjugation of women, and other forms of ideological extremism and bigotry.”
“So-called ‘groypers,’ such as the Hitler (and Stalin) sympathizer Nick Fuentes, want to be inside the tent, and they make no secret of their aim to take control of and remake the conservative movement, George continued. “Even conservatives who are appalled by the grotesque ideologies of Fuentes and his allies sometimes seem uncertain about how to deal with the phenomenon. They note that illiberal ‘influencers’ have large online followings, especially among disaffected young men, and fear alienating them if they draw a bright line excluding racists and antisemites from membership in good standing in the conservative community.”
But drawing a bright line is exactly what conservatives need, and quickly, George warned.
“Extremism and bigotry have no place in the conservative movement. They are contrary to the central things conservatives should be dedicating themselves to conserving, namely, the biblical principle of the inherent dignity of every member of the human family, and the civic principle that human beings are ‘created equal’ and ‘endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights.’”
George said this is not “cancellation,” as some have called it in an effort to tut-tut the rejection.
“Individuals who hold extremist or bigoted views possess the same right to express their opinions as everyone else has,” George said “… What I am doing is reminding conservatives that we stand for certain things. Therefore, not everything is up for grabs or negotiable. Nor is everyone, irrespective of their beliefs, welcome in the conservative movement. Unless you share conservatism’s core values, then you are not with us in standing for what our movement exists to conserve.”
American conservatism, said George, is about belief in the rule of law, in accountable and limited government, marriage and the family, traditional moral values, market-based economy and personal responsibility, among other things. It is also about the constitutional principles of federalism and the separation of powers, and basic civil rights and liberties.
“The ‘groypers’ who are attempting to bring their toxic ideas into the conservative movement and remake conservatism in their image ought to be met with reasoned, principled responses,” said George. “Conservative leaders and institutions must not pander to them or play footsie with them. We must, in the name of our ancient faith, draw the bright line.”
Read the opinion column at this link.