Gerson, a onetime Jimmy Carter supporter (he left the Democratic Party largely over abortion), was immediately attracted to Bush’s supposed “compassionate conservatism.”
Gerson angered libertarian conservatives with Heroic Conservatism, his October 2007 book, in which he argues that “America needs a conservatism that is heroic in its aspirations—this includes ‘compassionate conservative’ social strategies such as continued international AIDS funding, anti-poverty initiatives, and a government leadership rooted in moral values” (Blurb on “Heroic Conservatism,” Council on Foreign Relations). These views represent a formidable break with the libertarian portion of the Republican Party. According to Gerson, the moral urgency of poverty and health, both in this country and abroad, makes libertarianism appear out of touch with American values. In December 2006, Gerson advised Republican candidates for the 2008 presidential election: “Campaigning on the size of government in 2008, while opponents talk about health care, education, and poverty, will seem, and be, procedural, small-minded, cold, and uninspired. The moral stakes are even higher. What does anti-government conservatism offer to inner-city neighborhoods where violence is common and families are rare? Nothing. What achievement would it contribute to racial healing and the unity of our country? No achievement at all. Anti-government conservatism turns out to be a strange kind of idealism—an idealism that strangles mercy” (Newsweek, December 25, 2006).
He might have been able to say that forty years ago, but the war on poverty has been going on for nearly fifty years. How have trillions of dollars already spent aided inner city neighborhoods? No, the results have been to drive what business there was out of the cities and the welfare rules to get that money have only promoted single motherhood. Has the left done anything to promote racial healing? No, their actions generally seem to promote more racial animosity. Does the left promote unity of our country? Nope, they have been splitting the country as much as they can.
The big government social programs have two generations of failure, so we need more of them.