Cal Thomas: Time for the Right to clean house
The conservative movement in America, particularly the traditional values championed by figures like Ronald Reagan, faces a significant challenge from the alt-right—a faction increasingly known for its extremist views, including antisemitism and racism. This infiltration is reminiscent of past attempts, such as the 1960s encroachment by the John Birch Society, which prompted notable conservative William F. Buckley Jr. to publicly denounce its more radical elements. Buckley’s stand against the society’s founder, Robert Welch, who infamously claimed that President Dwight D. Eisenhower was a communist agent, is a historical parallel to the current struggle within conservatism. Today, figures like Tucker Carlson are engaging with alt-right personalities like Nick Fuentes, a self-identified white supremacist, who openly criticizes mainstream conservatives for their support of Israel and promotes harmful stereotypes about Jewish people.
This contemporary alt-right movement, which has gained traction particularly among younger conservatives, espouses dangerous ideologies, including the belief in a so-called “white genocide,” framing white people as a threatened demographic. The rhetoric surrounding these beliefs has become increasingly bold, with public figures like J.D. Vance failing to confront the antisemitic undertones in discussions about U.S. foreign policy and immigration. Instead of denouncing these ideologies, Vance deflected questions during a recent event, which many interpreted as an unwillingness to challenge the alt-right’s narrative. This passive acceptance of extremist views poses a risk not only to the integrity of the conservative movement but also to the moral and ethical foundations of its evangelical base, which has historically advocated for values rooted in love and acceptance.
As the alt-right continues to blur the lines of conservatism, it is imperative for traditional conservatives and evangelicals to recognize the dangers of aligning with or remaining silent about these extremist ideologies. Figures like Richard Spencer, who advocates for a white ethno-state, exemplify the ideological extremism that threatens to tarnish the reputation of conservatism. The call for a unified white identity and the rejection of diversity echo the sentiments of the past that conservatives like Buckley worked to eradicate. In this critical moment, conservatives must take a stand against hate and division, echoing the wisdom of Proverbs: “People may cover their hatred with pleasant words, but they’re deceiving you.” It is a time for introspection and decisive action to preserve the core values of conservatism against the encroaching tide of extremism.
Conservatives –
true
conservatives, as in the Ronald Reagan brand – have a problem. The movement has been invaded by the “alt-right” (or alternative right), a brand that is not conservative, but rather slogs through the mud of antisemitism and racism, staining all who support or refuse to denounce it.
This attempt to hijack conservatism by a radical fringe is not new. In the 1960s,
Robert Welch
and his John Birch Society (JBS) infiltrated the movement. It took the founder of the conservative publication National Review, William F. Buckley Jr., to denounce some of Welch’s extreme views. When Welch claimed Dwight D. Eisenhower was a “dedicated, conscious agent of the communist conspiracy”, it was the breaking point for Buckley, who had been reluctant to criticize Welch, largely because many JBS members contributed financially to his magazine.
Now comes a similar challenge for traditional conservatives and especially the evangelical wing of the Republican Party. On a recent podcast, former Fox News Channel host
Tucker Carlson
interviewed Nick Fuentes, a white supremacist and antisemite. The two joined in condemnation of conservatives who support Israel. Carlson specifically mentioned Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX), former president George W. Bush, and the U.S. ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee. He called them “Christian Zionists” who have been “seized by this brain virus.”
Kevin Roberts
, president of the Heritage Foundation, which guided many of the policies of Ronald Reagan and has been influential with the Trump administration, defended Carlson, saying he “remains … and always will be a close friend of the Heritage Foundation.”
Fuentes – who used to be ostracized by the mainstream right for his views, including support of Hitler and claims that Jews run the country – said on the podcast that “organized Jewry” holds “outsize influence.” He also said he is a “fan of Joseph Stalin,” one of the world’s most notorious butchers.
Alt-right proponents are not shy about voicing their beliefs, including antisemitism and in some cases a denial of the Holocaust and racism. Members of this small but growing movement, especially among the young, often blame Jewish people for allegedly promoting what they claim are anti-white policies like immigration (illegal and legal) and diversity. Last week, Vice President
J.D. Vance
had an opportunity to denounce these beliefs. During a question- and-answer session following his speech at the University of Mississippi, sponsored by Turning Point USA, Vance was asked about U.S. support of Israel and the theological differences between Jews and Christians. Instead of denouncing what appeared to be a “dog whistle” and the barely disguised political premise of the question, Vance punted and said America has traditionally made alliances with nations whose policies and beliefs don’t necessarily agree with ours.
It’s critical, especially for the evangelical wing of the Republican Party, that they know the central tenet of the
alt-right
: white people are an endangered race facing “white genocide” and that they should advocate for their collective interests.
Richard Spencer,
48, is a prominent white supremacist who is credited for coining the term “alt-right” and a leading figure in the movement. He supports the creation of a white “ethno-state.” Shades of white supremacists in the old South.
Spencer also supports the transformation of the European Union into a white racial empire, replacing the many European ethnic identities with one homogeneous “white identity,” according to media stories and several books about Spencer and his movement.
Conservatives take note as Bill Buckley eventually did when conservatism faced similar challenges six decades ago. As for the evangelicals among the alt-right, consider one of many verses about hate: “People may cover their hatred with pleasant words, but they’re deceiving you. They pretend to be kind, but don’t believe them. Their hearts are full of many evils.” (
Proverbs 26:24-25
).
Readers may email Cal Thomas at
tcaeditors@tribpub.com
. Look for Cal Thomas’ latest book “A Watchman in the Night: What I’ve Seen Over 50 Years Reporting on America” (HumanixBooks).
