Arnold Schwarzenegger is a Social Conservative

Intellectual Conservative ^ | September 12, 2003 | Bruce Walker

[EllaMinnow]

Social conservatism means a serious fidelity to those beliefs and traditions which keep us civilized and decent.

Arnold Schwarzenegger is a social conservative, despite much rhetoric to the contrary. Social conservatism means a serious fidelity to those beliefs and traditions which keep us civilized and decent without resort to laws, regulations and bureaucrats.

Social conservatism is a respect for tradition and for values which have withstood the test of time. Chinese family members who respect and support one another, even at the cost of personal wishes, are social conservatives whatever their metaphysical beliefs.

This definition of social conservatism as a matter of example rather than profession does not mean we agree on every detail of moral behavior. It means instead that we root ourselves in something permanent, dignified and civic. Even eccentricity can be socially conservative. British and American peoples are famous for producing men who, for want of a better term, are cranks. That is very much a part of the culture of these two nations.

At the heart of social conservatism is fidelity. Often men who are social conservatives are ideologically left of center. Jimmy Carter is a good example. By all appearances, Carter took his marital vows seriously and his religious faith seriously. He stopped serving hard liquor at White House dinners.

That did not prevent Carter from being a petty, spiteful and almost insufferable boor. And it certainly did not prevent Carter from being wrong on almost every issue. But it does mean that Jimmy Carter was a social conservative.

Joe Lieberman is also a social conservative, even if he supports terrible policies. Every indication is that Lieberman is a religiously serious Orthodox Jew. It is impossible to imagine Joe munching a bacon cheeseburger on Kol Nidre. Bill Bradley is another social conservative who loves his wife, gained his wealth and fame through guts and hard work, and sincerely believes in all the bad ideas he proposes.

The beauty of America, of course, is that social conservatism does not require being correct as much as being sincere. It does not require conformity to a particular catechism so much as it means conformity to some catechism. The bewildering variety of religions, sects, and societies in American life is a testament to Americans respecting in social life the same freedom to be wrong that we respect in our economic life. Indeed, social conservatism is another form of market choice which helps, through competition, to elevate cultures and traditions within America.

Arnold Schwarzenegger is made of the "right stuff.” There is no odor of phoniness about him. He loves his wife and family. He worked his way to the top with sweat and diligence. He resembles a number of other social conservative Republicans around President Bush who are not generally recognized as social conservatives.

Who? How about Colin Powell? He turned down the Presidency itself in 1996 out of respect for his wife and family. Does anyone question that what Powell believes, he believes sincerely? How about Tom Ridge, who was too liberal to be the running mate in 2000, but who putters around his home for recreation and grew up in the Marine Corps.

Tony Blair and Rudy Giuliani are social conservatives who we seldom see as social conservatives. Both these heroic figures do what they do publicly and because they believe it is right. Thank goodness both are on our side now--social conservatives dig their heels in very deeply!--but even when Giuliani supports abortion or Powell supports affirmative action, they can do so looking you straight in the eye with a polygraph examiner unable to detect a hint of spin in their answers.

This type of social conservative--guys doing what they think is right because they think it is right--is precisely the sort of man that President Bush has shown incredible skill in using to make America better. Our Texan President, our proudly Cowboy President, does not demand that anyone agree with him on every issue. In fact, such silly boys can be skimmed off the corporate boards of a hundred big companies.

He wants people who are true to themselves. He wants, and we should want, real social conservatives. Rabbis who read Torah as if it were holy writ. Priests who take their vows seriously. Men who honor their parents and are faithful to their wives. Men like Arnold Schwarzenegger or Ronald Reagan or John Wayne, who will fight for what they think is right.

When Governor Schwarzenegger takes office, President Bush will find honor more valuable than agreement and grit more important than obedience. It will be a winning team, perhaps a team that can transform America.

[cyncooper]

Arnold does what his advisors tell him, not what he thinks is right.

His sudden opposition to partial birth abortion is a clear example of this fact.

I don't believe his opposition to partial birth abortion is "sudden". Just now widely known. Rohrabacher said Schwarzenegger was against it quite awhile ago.

[poet]

"In summation, policies don't matter and the only substative definition of a Social Conservative is staying married and claiming to love your wife."

Now THAT is funny!

[EllaMinnow]

Of course they are going to affect the future of our nation, and our party. That's why you in DC and I in Florida are interested.

What I'm seeing right now is a democratic party that is pushing themselves further and further to the left every day - leaving a large pool of moderates. Are we better off to push ourselves farther to the right or are we better off bringing in new voters?

Would it be so awful to have Schwarzenegger elected if it brings hundreds of thousands of Californians to see themselves as Republican? Might that not help elect a more conservative Republican later?

I don't think that bringing in moderates will be the death of true conservatism. What can be the death of true conservatism will be making the party so small that we have no numbers to get anyone ever elected to anything - and that won't help at all.

[EternalVigilance]

I have never ever claimed that every single thing about the possibility of As getting elected would be a negative. What I have pointed out unequivically is the huge downside.

But if he is elected, the clouds will not part and the world end (probably ;-).

We will fight on for freedom.

But we will have to then fight even harder, at greater expense of time, energy and finances--because we will have given ground to liberalism. Many will be the voices trumpeting how wonderful Arnold is, and how wonderful it is that liberalism works so wonderfully well, even when it doesn't.

I just happen to think it would be better to take the conservative course that is available to us. I also know the numbers in the electorate, and know that a united conservative movement could win this for the conservative candidate and the principles he holds.

Do I think we're going to attain that unity? At this point it looks very tough. But I believe in miracles--and California could use a few of those.

Respect and regards

[EternalVigilance]

The only thing that can kill conservative principles is for conservatives to quit fighting for them...

[Tamzee]

Thanks for the great article, ma'am... hope your injuries are healing well?

Looks like this was quite the brawl ;-)

[EllaMinnow]

Not even a singed finger!

[Tamzee]

Good to hear!

I read the article, saw 500 posts and went, "uh oh"... hope she made it ;-)

[EllaMinnow]

Just getting callouses so I'll be ready for the presidential battles next year.

I couldn't stand the bickering in 2000, but I think I'm a little thicker-skinned now.

[Tamzee]

Oh, help... just the thought of this being any worse makes me feel faint LOL

I'll stock up on smelling salts ;-)

[alwaysconservative]

Great post! You made an excellent point about supporting a Guiliani over a Bonier regardless of their differing stances on the abortion issue.

[alwaysconservative]

Thanks for the ping! That picture IS hilarious!

[EllaMinnow]

Thanks!

[NittanyLion]

A reasonable response. However those of similar inclinations, many of whom are present on this thread, are quickly alienating anyone who might be undecided in the matter.

[lainde]

Late bump!

[Kevin Curry]

In summation, policies don't matter and the only substative definition of a Social Conservative is staying married and claiming to love your wife.

That's right. According to the author's reasoning, Lenin was a social conservative. So was Geobbels and Mao Tse Tung. All social conservatives.

Arnold fits right in.

[Kevin Curry]

You're right. The Arnold supporters have wholly alienated the rest of us.

[PhilDragoo]

However, these exercises in futility, debating whether or not he is a conservative, do not in any way remove the fact that the recall-election is a two man race, either Bustamante or Arnold is going to to win this thing.

McClintock is not going to pull off a Tortoise and the Hare win here. Though some can wish it all they want, it just isn't statistically possible. The numbers don't add up for a McClintock win. McClintock is either a spoiler for Arnold and a blessing for Bustamante'. I hope he will graciously step-aside, knowing that he may have impacted the race in a positive way by drawing Arnold to the right.

But that's the gist of this thing.

This thread is nothing more than tires spinning in mud.

Tow strap is slack because all the prospective towers were purposely insulted by the stuckee.

[CyberCowboy777]

I got busted for defending my comments.

[CyberCowboy777]

Okay

I guess everyone is right! Yeah!!! we all can give our opinion and be right!

Does not matter if the individual in question disagrees, who cares! We all can be right!