Cal Thomas: Time for the Right to clean house
The conservative movement, particularly the traditional brand exemplified by Ronald Reagan, faces a significant challenge from the alt-right—a faction increasingly associated with antisemitism and racism. This infiltration is not a new phenomenon; it echoes the past when figures like Robert Welch and his John Birch Society attempted to co-opt conservatism in the 1960s. William F. Buckley Jr., the founder of National Review, famously denounced Welch’s extreme claims, notably that President Dwight D. Eisenhower was a “dedicated, conscious agent of the communist conspiracy.” Buckley’s decisive action was crucial in preserving the integrity of conservatism, highlighting the need for current leaders to similarly confront the alt-right’s toxic ideologies.
In a recent podcast, former Fox News host Tucker Carlson engaged with Nick Fuentes, a known white supremacist, discussing their shared disdain for mainstream conservatives who support Israel. Carlson’s remarks targeted prominent figures such as Senator Ted Cruz and former President George W. Bush, labeling them “Christian Zionists” afflicted by a “brain virus.” This rhetoric aligns with the alt-right’s narrative, which often blames Jewish people for perceived societal ills, including immigration and diversity initiatives. The Heritage Foundation’s president, Kevin Roberts, defended Carlson, illustrating the troubling normalization of such extremist views within parts of the conservative establishment. Moreover, when confronted with a question about U.S. support for Israel, Senator J.D. Vance sidestepped a clear denunciation of the alt-right’s beliefs, revealing a broader hesitance among conservatives to openly reject these extremist ideologies.
The alt-right’s core tenets, particularly the idea of “white genocide,” pose a direct challenge to the evangelical wing of the Republican Party, which must grapple with the implications of aligning with or ignoring these views. Figures like Richard Spencer, who coined the term “alt-right,” advocate for a white ethno-state and seek to reshape societal identities based on race. As conservatism faces this modern-day crisis, it is vital for its leaders to take a stand against hate and division. The wisdom of Proverbs 26:24-25 serves as a reminder that those who cloak their hatred in pleasant words are ultimately deceivers. It is imperative for true conservatives to unite against the alt-right’s influence, ensuring that the movement remains rooted in its foundational principles of liberty, equality, and respect for all individuals.
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).
