Back in the days of Barry Goldwater, “conservatism” was too small a movement to parse between “libertarians” and “conservatives.”
Identifiable new-comers piling on to the Goldwater bandwagon were groups like YAF who later came to be known as “social conservatives.” Goldwater held his nose and welcomed them.
Today these social conservatives point a finger at disillusioned “liberals” turned “conservative” and deride them for “neocons.” The social conservatives proudly style themselves “paleocons.”
Everyone knows that neocon is a euphemism for Jew that brings both “liberals” and “paleocons” to foaming at the mouth. Less openly acknowledged is that “paleocon” is a euphemism for Roman Catholic.
Underlying subtleties of distinction include the facts that that “neocon” are, in the main, non-practicing Jews while “paleocons” are, in the main, active soldiers of the Church.
Today “social conservatism” has come to include Christian Evangelicals. The Protestants were brought aboard through a vigorous, well funded anti-abortion campaign by mass-marketing savvy Catholics. Abortion is the single issue that unifies social conservatives.
To a “conservative” Jew like me the issue of abortion doesn’t resonate. I have three daughters and I don’t expect any of them to ever need an abortion. If any of them they did I’d expect her to follow her conscience.
“Pro life” is not how this Jew views a celibate priesthood who traffic in relics and stood deafeningly silent and complicit while millions were gassed burned. Christian Evangelicals, who practicing Jews view with affection and no small amazement, may choose to bed down with such. This “conservative” Jew does not.
My father was a European-trained rabbi who lived under communism. He called socialism godless Christianity and warned me off it as a boy.
So, thanks-but-no-thanks for the offer of shelter under your big tent, Rick. There’s an old YAF guy in there named Pat Buchanan and I find his stench offputting.
Call me misanthropic but I’ve got a tent of my own.
