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Among the True Believers
Haraz N. Ghanbari, File / AP Photo
On the first day of the CPAC conference, conservatives were a feisty bunch without a leader. But they had a remedy for the Republican woes: be more conservative. Avlon is the author of Wingnuts: How the Lunatic Fringe Is Hijacking America.
As I pulled up to the Omni-Shoreham in Washington, D.C., there they were on the surrounding street-corners, as conspicuous as Mormon missionaries in the Caribbean—packs of coat and tied youth, pasty white and looking for lunch. They were recent émigrés from the CPAC conference, a temporary encampment of conservatives in the wilderness of Obama’s Washington.
Conservatives here see themselves as defenders of freedom and original principles—patriotism’s defense against a fate like the fall of Rome.
Inside, the lobby and hallways were packed with true believers—it’s half convention and half-group therapy session. This is a party in warlord mode, competing camps without a clear leader. On their college campuses and in the larger electorate they may feel misunderstood, but here they hope to find safety in numbers.
“Lenin and Stalin would have loved this stuff,” says Mike Huckabee, referring to the big-government bailout bonanzas that begun under Bush. “The Party of Reagan became the Party of Chicken Little,” he says to thunderous applause. “They pulled the TARP over our eyes.”
For all the sarcasm and accusations of socialism directed at President Obama, their immediate anger is focused on party purging before rebuilding. “Why is ‘the architect’ [Karl Rove] giving free advice, even as people like us crawl from the rubble of the collapsed structure built from his blueprints?” asks National Review contributing editor Deroy Murdock. “Imagine clicking on the TV and catching a show called Cooking with Typhoid Mary.”
Their diagnosis of what went wrong with the Bush years is basically over-spending. “They stopped being conservative” is the line you hear over and over. The remedy then is simple and self-reinforcing: “The Key to Victory: Listen to Conservatives,” as one panel put it. What’s being punted is the thornier question of what conservative means.
Libertarians form sort of a fifth column here, with Ron Paul supporters passing out fliers and a magazine picturing Paul and Obama rolling up their sleeves, getting ready for a fight. Inside articles question fret about James Madison’s “dark-side” and characterize Alexander Hamilton as an “arch-centralist.” But beyond the dusty arguments about the gold standard, there are emerging signs of defiance on social issues. Author Andrew Klavan drew a reassuring amount of applause with this dose of common sense: “We can’t just say ‘we hate gay people—vote Republican.’”
Sarah Palin isn’t speaking this year, but you can get her gear all over the place, bags and buttons that say, “Don’t blame me, I voted for Sarah” When I asked one Sarah-fan from Fargo, North Dakota, about her view of social issues she described abortion as “a personal decision” and when asked about gay marriage she said that she was in favor of civil unions, but not marriage.
Conservatives here see themselves as defenders of freedom and original principles—patriotism’s defense against a fate like the fall of Rome. But there is a danger that comes from the love of being misunderstood by the larger culture—an impulse to define what you are against with greater fervor than what you are for. The selection of Cong. Michelle Bachmann—who disgracefully questioned whether then-candidate Obama had “anti-American views” during the campaign—as the “Presidential Banquet” Master of Ceremonies speaks to the defiant pridefulness of the what she kept referring to as “the ground zero of the conservative movement.” The mounds of free copies of “The Case Against Barack Obama” given out as an exit present only clarified the opposition identity—they see themselves as the resistance.
With the cavalcade of speakers still coming up—including Mitt Romney, Newt Gingrich, Ron Paul, Anne Coulter and Rush Limbaugh—expect more fuel to be poured on that fire, producing lots of heat. We’ll see how much light.
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John P. Avlon is the author of Independent Nation: How Centrists Can Change American Politics. Avlon also served as Director of Speechwriting and Deputy Director of Policy for Rudy Giuliani's Presidential Campaign. Previously, he was a columnist for the New York Sun and served as Chief Speechwriter and Deputy Communications Director for Mayor Rudolph Giuliani. He worked on Bill Clinton's 1996 presidential campaign.
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Paul Schrodt is a writer living in New York City. He has contributed to New York magazine, Radar, and Esquire.com.
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John Avlon’s new book Wingnuts: How the Lunatic Fringe is Hijacking America is available now by Beast Books both on the web and in paperback. Advance orders can be placed here. He is also the author of Independent Nation: How Centrists Can Change American Politics. Previously, he served as chief speechwriter for New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani and was a columnist and associate editor for The New York Sun.
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John Avlon’s new book Wingnuts: How the Lunatic Fringe is Hijacking America is available now by Beast Books both on the web and in paperback. Advance orders can be placed here. He is also the author of Independent Nation: How Centrists Can Change American Politics. Previously, he served as chief speechwriter for New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani and was a columnist and associate editor for The New York Sun.
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John Avlon’s new book Wingnuts: How the Lunatic Fringe is Hijacking America is available now by Beast Books both on the web and in paperback. Advance orders can be placed here. He is also the author of Independent Nation: How Centrists Can Change American Politics. Previously, he served as chief speechwriter for New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani and was a columnist and associate editor for The New York Sun.
bquick
Oh my god. I'm at a loss.
Michelle Bachmann? Anne Coulter? Don't blame me I voted for Sarah?
Um.............
In the wilderness for a generation, maybe two.
fk4711
I think media should pay more attention to important issues such as unemployment, economy and the budget and not on this laughable conservative circus. It's entertaining but not news. Let them lick their wounds and vent their anger quietly and out of our sight.
VenusMuse
Finally, some practical sense for the media to cover. Ya gotta wonder, why the mainstream media is spoon feeding us their "spin" that the Trillion Dollar Bill that Obama has passed, is a good thing. Now socialization of CitiBank.. the stock this morning? In the gutter.
Barbara416
It is a subset of radical fringe groups that grow from the right I find dangerous.
genoftheheart
Come on, Avlon, face it. "Conservatives" are schizophrenic. They believe in fiscal conservatism unless its spending on military hardware or bank bailouts. They believe in individual freedom until it involves sex. It truly is more clearly defined by what you are against than what you stand for.
Before everyone jumps on here and calls me a flaming liberal, let me just say, liberals are even more schizophrenic.
The two party system is dead, American democracy is in deep shit because it can't establish majority rule in a multiparty environment. What to do?
"A little rebellion now and then is a good thing, and as necessary in the political world as storms are in the physical."
TJ
Is 200 years long enough to qualify as "now and then"? Come on people, wake up!
getkicksonrte66
CPAC is a Republican Comedy Convention. Honestly I'm surprised Coulter can break away from purging in the ladies room long enough to spew her hate. Skinny is one thing -- Coulter looks emmaciated.
dm10003
i want full tv coverage with laugh tracks.
xbainx
I...love...these...guys. It's all over. Ann Coulter's hero is Joe McCarthy. Michelle Bachmann IS Joe McCarthy. Rush Limabugh can't find his penis and Joe the Plumber is considering a run for office. I was really worried Obama wouldn't get in and we'd have 5 years of McCain and then 3 years of Palin after he died. But this has worked out like some Democratic fantasy.
In the least mean way possible, I want to point this out: Ann Coulter, Rush Limbaugh, Michell Malkin and various others, they are not running for office. They are commentators. It's the equivalent of Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert being keynote speakers at the Democratic convention. Get you head in the game boys. This is like Tyson boxing kittens.
bigwurzz
I agree that the whole 2 party system needs to be trashed. This whole liberal conservative fight is just a distraction. Anyone who thinks their side is pure and the other is evil is just another to rube.
apostleis
Thom Hartmann is broadcasting from there this week. Tune in at air america. This ought to be good.
MarineLtCol
Simple solution (dramatized for effect): Divide the country in two. Right side goes to the Republicans, left side to the Democrats.
Let the Republicans have very low taxes, eliminate all non-essential social spending, enterprise free from government intervention, the right to bear arms, a strong defense, and social conservatism.
Let the Democratic side have high taxes, massive social spending, no right to self-defense, a weak and symbolic military, government oversight of the economy, and whatever whacky individual liberties they desire.
Then, sit back and enjoy as the Democratic side implodes upon itself as they follow the path of every other socialist experiment in history. Collapsed economy due to over-taxation and social programs, massive crime, people unable to defend themselves, not to mention continued racial strife (since they have convinced all the minorities that they are the only choice).
After the riots and general anarchy subsides, all that is required is a simple "told you so", then we can finally move on to being capitalists in a true democracy.
apostleis
Bernie Sanders is on Thom Hartmann's show at air america. He's broadcasting at the PAC.
Chernynkaya
As a liberal, I couldn't wish for better faces of the Republican party than those you've highlighted at CPAC. I hope they continue to showcase Bachmann, Colter, Malkin, Huckabee and Palin- far right fiscal and social conservatives. I'm even good with Cantor, Jindal, McConnel et al. These folks embarrass 60% to 80% of the country. What I really fear is a true Republican centrist with actual ideas. Seems like I don't have a thing to worry about on that score.
Munodi
Hey Marine, that's hysterical. The country is divided and the right wing nuts ONLY control the southern swamps. You guys are nothing but an all white good ole boy party. Your total support in the United States of America stands at about 20%.
MarineLtCol
Munodi - the experiment would work if you divided it either way. Or north to south. Wouldn't matter. And, isn't NYC the center of the liberal universe anyways?
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