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Order Michael Finch’s new book, A Time to Stand: HERE. Prof. Jason Hill calls it “an aesthetic and political tour de force.”
Years of bickering over the meaning of American conservatism and the identity of the American Right, which had already escalated in the conspiracy-filled aftermath of coalition lynchpin Charlie Kirk’s horrific assassination, reached a fever pitch at Turning Point USA’s recent AmericaFest conference in Phoenix. The question conservative leaders now confront is straightforward enough: Where do we go from here?
It is imperative — indeed, indispensable — that leaders answer this question correctly and act accordingly.
The conference began, following introductory remarks from Kirk’s widow, Erika, with a tour de force speech from Ben Shapiro. The longtime podcaster, columnist and author condemned the Right’s “frauds and grifters,” those “charlatans who claim to speak in the name of principle but actually traffic in conspiracism and dishonesty,” and those useful idiots who have refused to take any stand whatsoever amid the explosion of conspiracism because of rank “cowardice.” A number of subsequent speakers, from charlatans like Tucker Carlson to cowards like Megyn Kelly, attempted — in defensive, ham-fisted fashion — to respond to Shapiro’s tone-setting invocation.
The basic case against Shapiro’s appeal — a position I share — was best articulated by Vice President JD Vance in the conference’s closing keynote speech. The veep noted that he “didn’t bring a list of conservatives to denounce or to deplatform” because “Charlie invited all of us here” and “believed that each of us, all of us, had something worth saying.” Therefore, we should not be engaged in “canceling each other.”
True enough. But that’s something of a red herring. No one in the movement, to my knowledge, has called for “deplatforming” or “canceling” Carlson or the antisemitism-peddling podcaster Candace Owens — or even neo-Nazi Nick Fuentes, for that matter. Between YouTube, Rumble, Instagram and TikTok, video content creators have ample platforms at their disposal. Substack and Elon Musk’s social media free speech haven, X, provide similar myriad opportunities for the dissemination of written content. Given the sordid state of much of the elite institutional press, that is good and as it should be.
So, what, then, is being debated here?
Many on the Right seem to have unfortunately misinterpreted and overlearned the relevant lessons of the Big Tech-driven cancelation and deplatforming battles of the late 2010s and early 2020s, which saw many conservatives wrongly “shadow-banned” or deplatformed for challenging prevailing orthodoxies on issues such as COVID-19 vaccines and Hunter Biden’s infamous laptop. I have long been an active participant in those debates — I have written about those issues at great length and debated them at many universities. But those debates were about how we ought to think about free speech in an age when the town commons of yesteryear has moved online.
Those conversations had nothing to do with what viewpoints are or are not rightly viewed as being within the conservative fold. That is an entirely separate question, of both principle and prudence, as to which philosophies, viewpoints and individuals ought to be viewed as part of the American Right’s noble efforts to protect and preserve the republic from hostile forces, both foreign and domestic. Blithe, lowest-common-denominator appeals against “cancel culture” might garner some plaudits, but in this context, they fundamentally miss the mark.
What is called for at this perilous moment for the Right’s leaders is not to casually hand-wave away all disagreement as part of the proverbial marketplace of ideas, but to show basic decency and judgment in discerning what is and is not part of the Right as it steels itself for the many battles ahead. In many other contexts, this inquiry is simple. Take “post-birth abortion” — i.e., infanticide. That’s obviously not part of team civilizational sanity. Should tax dollars go toward genital mutilation “surgeries” for minors? Beyond the pale. In no context can these views, and the individuals who espouse them, be considered part of the Right’s effort to preserve the United States — and, by extension, the broader West.
Honest leaders must apply the same logic toward viewpoints and individuals that, for their past work or for any other reason, are viewed as “right”-coded. Does Owens has supported medieval-style blood libel about Jews and accused Erika Kirk of complicity in her husband’s assassination? In no sense is such psychotic bigotry and induced brain rot part of the Right’s mission. Carlson offering apologia for sharia law and criticizing famed World War II martyr Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a personal hero of Charlie Kirk’s, as a lousy Christian? That is insane — and directly opposed to the solemn task of Western civilization preservation.
It ought to be axiomatic that if one seeks to conserve everything, then he will actually conserve nothing at all. Leaders of any movement dedicated to cultural conservation must therefore be willing and able to exercise judgment in determining what is good and must be conserved, and what is bad and must be discarded. In a Heritage Foundation speech delivered the day before his fusillade in Phoenix, Shapiro referred to this as “ideological border control.” We might also just call it common sense.
Thank you, Josh Hammer, for being one of the far-too-few-in-number voice in the wilderness. What does the right stand for? At this moment in time, it’s not at all clear. What is concerning is that the clamouring voices who embrace the Tucker Carlson’s of the world seem to be large in number and growing quickly. In addition, they have some big name players on their team including the VP. I shutter to think what Vance would be like if unleashed from being in the No 2 position in the Trump administration. Not only do I think he will be dangerous, but I think he has a very nasty streak.
Vance aside, the fact that conservatives have allowed this much time to pass without forcefully and unequivocally denouncing the likes of Tucker, Candace and their fellow travellers is vital time we lost. It’s already very late in the game and there appears to be no motivation to course correct. Instead, the new norm is the big tent embraces Jew haters and anti-American, pro-Sharia lunatics.
If we win in 2026 and/or 2028 because we coddled these people, shame on us. If we lose because the left rightfully slams us for embracing these goons, then we will deserve it.
I agree with much of what you said, but I have an honest question: What makes you think the following?:
“Not only do I think he will be dangerous, but I think he has a very nasty streak. “
Good question. Here is another: What do we really know about Vance? Not much really.
He doesn’t even use his real name. I am sick of chameleons who say one thing and do another. He owes his political existence entirely to the globalist billionaire class whose part in creation of the treasonous uniparty cannot be underestimated.
So, Rubio in 2028?
How about Rubio with Hegseth?
I thought that the ‘America First’ movement, aka MAGA, was something different than I am seeing from the actions and policy coming from the White House. I thought we were strongly against any further involvement in foreign wars not absolutely essential. I thought we wanted to keep American jobs for American citizens, and stop betraying American workers. I thought we were against an increasingly powerful federal government, and having Big Tech oligarchs. I thought we were against handing special privileges to select groups(no tax on tips and OT). I thought we were strongly pro-life, although Trump made many comments prior to be elected which indicated otherwise. I thought we were intent on decoupling from China, not just making better trade deals. There is more, but the point is made.
I don’t know what the Republicans in DC stand for, except mainly keeping the status quo. Yes, we agree on immigration, although the Rs in Congress are doing as little as they can get away with; we agree on partial birth abortion; we agree on mutilating children. That ain’t enough; it ain’t even close.
One glaring omission which I forgot; I thought that the ‘right’ stood for fiscal responsibility. The Republican controlled Congress, and President Trump are continuing the profligate, reckless, budget deficits that Biden saddled us with during his regime.
One thing that is obvious these nearly 12 months after DJT took the Oath a second time, too many who call themselves Republicans too often side with the Democrats. These same officer holders clearly do not leftism cleaned up in DC or throughout our society. Supported by mostly nonthinkers, it appears less likely that America’s decline will be turned around.
Josh and/or FPM editors: The second sentence in the next to the last paragraph is messed up, likely a vestage from the editing process. fyi
Go read “Atlas Shrugged” by Ayn Rand.
In fact, go read the whole of her works.
That’s what the right in America ought to stand for.
Do not expect the “right” to provide a rational or even a basically coherent answer.
Whatever remains of American culture is today rotten and defenseless.
This is by design, by the logical consequences of decades upon decades of cultural decay due to countless and permanent attacks from collectivists.
Out of high school our youth can’t think straight, can’t read, can’t write and can’t do basic mathematics.
This is by design.
Who’s in charge of education? Woketard feminazi leftoxenomorphs. And it shows.
Our corruptocrat “betters” want us brutish and incapable to function as normal human beings.
So we’ll be easy to herd like cattle.
If we call the “right” all those with not a woketard bone in them we’ll still have a mess of an answer.
Some will say “religion”
Some will propose Jew-hatred, normally referred to as anti-Semitism.
Some will propose some “KKK” BS.
Some will propose generalities that go nowhere.
We have a problem. We have many problems.
I don’t think we are going to solve them.
It may be too late.
Every time, that is, every single time i see our political representatives referred to as our “leaders”, i cringe. Another willfully ignorant dude or duddette.
The United States was built upon human freedom, dignity of conscience and ability to have unimpeded commerce that are enshrined in the Judeo-Christian foundations as realized in the Holy Scriptures. Any attempt to build with other secular themes or even other false religions that leave out the God of the Bible from the center of the equation will result in having our house being moved onto a foundation of sand. We must return to this and this alone as our foundation.
Speaking of Judeo-Christian foundations, Vance repeatedly said that America is a Christian nation founded on Christian values. Not one mention of Judeo…and when he took questions at a recent event, a student asked in a confrontational manner about Pres. Trump’s loyalty to Israel and he said that Israel had better take good care of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre OR ELSE. As if Israel doesn’t respect all religions and take care of all holy sites.
Cutting t0o the chase, Carlson and Owens are trash and not worth my time. What troubles me is Vance. He is showing signs of Jew hatred and demagoguery. Maybe he should not be our next president. Rubio seems more aware .I’m beginning to lean toward him Christie Noem is also worth consideration
Tulsi is worthy of consideration too.
What has Vance said to give that impression? That is a sincere question. I haven’t heard all his statements. It would surprise me if he said such a thing, but Candace and Tucker have surprised me, too.
I would never vote for JD Vance if he runs for President in 2028. Too many times has he fielded questions from young far right neo-Nazis and not pushed back one single inch. Makes me think that maybe he agrees with their dangerous ideology.
Isn’t it dangerous to jump to such conclusions so quickly? He may have other reasons for not pressing them in the moment. Maybe he believed their idiocy is transparent and didn’t require his commentary. Vance is married to an Indian woman. I don’t believe he is a bigot. He could surprise me. People have surprised me before, but I do have some fundamental faith in his sanity. Candace seems to have lost her mind completely and Tucker has gone off the rails. I’m not sure what happened to them. Some think they are working as agents of disinformation. Candace is now, by marriage, very close to the British ruling class. Many believe Tucker has been bought by Qatar. I no longer trust their sincerity. I have no reason to believe the same of Vance.
They are good friends, and Tucker’s son works for Vance.
Republicans stand for conservatism, unless they have sold out. Since 2020, MOST Republicans in D.C. are RINOs and have ‘got a check’. It’s the Love Of Money !
every past nation that has practiced infanticide will go the way of the dodo . its not a matter of if but when . with a million every year since roe v wade hence the reason the democrats and rinos approve of illegal immigrants to replace the citizens they have murdered . its just easier than to keep them in check and have them apply legally . it is now beyond the realms of MAGA and human endeavour to reverse the decline of the u.s. with all the resistance the left are fomenting the task is beyond the don . pain comes before gain , it just depends how much pain americans can stand before there is gain . its either democrat pain or republican gain via pain . choose your pain .
Despite Ben Shapiro’s “tone-setting” and “tour de force” speech at the conference, his views are squarely within the post-war liberal consensus and must be rejected. He is not Americans or America first. He belongs in the proposition nation category.
We are a socio-politically divided people, culture and nation which has incrementally transitioned from a constitutional republic into a lunatic emotional halfway house democracy, which promotes the worst individuals, societal behaviors, reckless and irresponsible social policies and governance as standard bearers and role models. Imagine just one big crummy play where all the worst talent gets the best parts.
We aren’t going to get along or peacefully coexist because ideologically and politically we hate each others guts. When the republic transitioned into a democracy, the letter and spirit of Its constitutional prerogatives and mandates under Natural Law, which championed independence, inclusion and mutual coexistence through free speech and open debate were compromised beyond redemption. We have learned nothing from destructive historical absolutes, therefore, we have condemned ourselves to repeat them.
The best Man for 28 is B. Donalds . Soldier,banker, non-naive Congressman. Articulation- critically lacking in current Prez. the bane and death wish of Republicans. Don’t think so? How are young Amers and 60’s types still left-sympathetic. Can anybody in Congress buy time on Sunday night national T.V. and explicate simple historical, economic , cultural facts about the world and the U.S. Just Facts Daily-out of Texas_ writ Large!
Squeaky Shapiro is not a half bad grifter himself.
Would not trust him further than I could throw him.
I could probably throw him a foot or so.
Never understood the appeal. So8unds like the too clever by half defense attorney that bamboozles the goofballs on juries across the nation.