He’s Czech, so it’s no surprise he “gets it”. I have many Eastern European friends (and some Western European “refugees”) who make the argument for conservatism very well. Once you’ve seen the other side of the political spectrum up close, when you’ve seen neighbors starving, when you’ve waited in 8 hour lines for healthcare, when all sense of cultural identity is wiped out in the name of some “multi-cultural utopia” nonsense, you become a card-carrying conservative for life. In fact, every time the two Latvians at my place of work see Obanjo on T.V., they give an entertaining, mock Soviet allegiance pledge to “Black Lenin”, or “Comrade Zero”. Drives the libs nuts ;)
Don't be fooled by labels. Conservativism in Europe is still far different than in the US. The role of government in one's life is viewed far differently. Health care is one big example. They are very few European conservatives who would support dismantling their national health care systems.