Republican ≠ Conservative

That word, “conservative”… it doesn’t mean with Kathleen Parker and Meghan McCain think it means.

McCain, just 24, is one smart cookie. In a matter of weeks, she has created a brand, presenting herself as a fresh face of her daddy’s party and a voice for young conservatives.

Of course Parker thinks young Megan is just peachy-keen. The difference between them is one of degree, not kind. Megan is a “progressive Republican.”  Madonna, meet Britney.  Kathleen Parker and Meghan McCain have the same mission – to drag the GOP even further left. Which is fine. They want to remake the GOP as Democrat-Lite. President Bush did his part to further that goal, as well as a fair-sized group in Congress. So be it.  I just wish Parker would STOP conflating “conservative” with “Republican.”

I don’t have a problem with Meghan’s youth or even her “coed’s tweet” voice.  I have a problem with Parker misrepresenting herself, and Meghan McCain, as conservatives.  Exactly what is this new “progressive” media darling interested in “conserving” other than GOP political power?

But wait – Meghan is more honest than Parker on her position on the political spectrum:

Many say I am not “conservative enough,” which is something that I am proud of.  It is no secret that I disagree with many of the old-school Republican ways of thinking.

Both she and Parker – either foolishly or disingenuously – criticize Coulter for desiring that Jews be “perfected” by conversion to Christianity.  I don’t have a problem with anyone who wants to criticize Coulter for failing to represent Christianity well.  (Frankly, I don’t represent it all that well either – hence the blog title “pursuing” rather than “has achieved” holiness.)  But it’s high time we reject this infuriating, stupid postmodern convention that we must pretend not to believe what we believe in order to be “tolerant.”

Of course Coulter wishes that Jews would convert, and believes it would be in their best interest to believe in the New Testament as wholeheartedly as they do the Old.  What kind of Christian – or devout believer in ANY faith – doesn’t wish that all other people would join us?  Do you think you’re correct, or not?!  If you are, you naturally want other people to smarten up like you have.  If you don’t think you’re correct, then you’re not a believer in whatever faith you publicly espouse either.  That doesn’t just apply to religion, it applies to any truly-held belief, including political conservativism.

If the GOP had any truly-held beliefs, achieving political power would be less of a problem.  As Susan Estrich put it, “Imagine how different things might be right now if there were a Republican Party.”  And President Obama was spot-on when he said, ““The Republican Party right now hasn’t sort of figured out what it’s for.”  We’re so busy betraying what few principles we have left that it’s small wonder we can’t get elected.  (And I use “we” loosely here because I’m registered independent, though I generally associate myself with the GOP as the lesser of two evils.)  We’re not trusted or liked, and we earned our reputation.

Do I honestly believe that Obama’s policies are bad for the country?  Yes, I do.  Worse even than Bush’s policies.  So why would anyone entertain the idea that I’d pray for or hope for his success?  That’s just stupid.  But that’s postmodern tolerance.

Why not oppose Coulter on her political views instead of just whining that she’s a “confusing” inflammatory radical?  Because – postmodern fashion – it’s far easier to dismiss her because of how she makes people feel.  Anyone with the temerity to disagree with Al Gore’s (highly profitable) global warming ideas is expected to address them on the merits, instead of just calling him out as a useless, jetsetting hypocrite who demands everyone obey what he says instead of emulate what he does.  But Coulter’s – and other conservatives’ – ideas evidently can’t be addressed until we express them in a feel-good, “tolerant” fashion.  We’re just mean old extremists!

Parker admits that “McCain is interesting because of who she is, not because of what she has accomplished. Liberals found young Ron Reagan equally riveting for the same reason.”  No kidding.  “Cookie” is the right word to describe Megan McCain – she’s appealing, sweet, and as laden with baseless, postmodern opinions as a cookie is with empty calories. Words mean things. And the policies and views that Parker and McCain (either one!) espouse aren’t conservative.

Now, while we’re “in the wilderness” is the time to duke this stuff out.  We need to stop worrying about getting back in power and instead, to decide what the words we use to describe ourselves mean.  We need to figure out who we are and what we stand for.  After we’ve done that, then we can vote and govern accordingly.