Former U.S. Vice President Mike Pence is promoting his new book, What Conservatives Believe: Rediscovering the American Conscience. Unlike many works tied to the nation's 250th birthday, Pence's book targets the Republican Party specifically. His Wall Street Journal op-ed is headlined "A Republican Time for Choosing," echoing Ronald Reagan's famous 1964 speech.
Pence's Warning Against Populism
Pence asks: "Will we remain a party of conservative beliefs, or will we follow the siren song of populism?" He calls populism "progressivism in disguise," arguing that populists use government activism within the Republican Party just as liberals do within the Democratic Party. He criticizes federal ownership in private companies, tariffs, protectionism, and price controls on drugs and credit cards.
Traditional Values and Global Leadership
Pence also worries about weakened support for traditional family values and abortion restrictions, and a tendency among populists to retreat from global leadership in promoting freedom and limited government.
Several weeks ago, Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas gave a speech at the University of Texas at Austin echoing similar themes: individual freedom, limited government, free markets, and the Declaration's principles of equality and God-given rights. Thomas framed these as American, not just conservative, principles.
The Progressive Rejection of Founding Principles
Thomas argued that progressives rejected these principles for European-style government activism, resulting in entitlements consuming 40% of the federal budget. He also addressed race, countering the progressive narrative that the nation was founded in bigotry. He noted that slaveholders and segregationists used government power to deny rights, but the principles themselves are sound.
Regarding global leadership, Thomas said the Declaration's universal rights imply universal responsibilities. We cannot ignore what happens beyond our borders.
Pence's book is important and courageous. Its message is for all Americans, not just Republicans, especially as 45% of the country identifies as independents.
