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Why Neo-Conservatives Are not Real Conservatives
self

Posted on 09/26/2002 2:36:29 PM PDT by jstone78

I have always tried to figure out how real conservatives differ from neo-conservatives. I have listed a few points, with which you should feel free to agree or disagree with, and if you like, you can mention other ways in which you feel real conservatives and neocons differ.

1. Real conservatives (whether Old Rightists or New Rightists) are motivated by high moral principles and deep conviction, that the role of government in people's lives should be minimized, and people should be allowed to run their own lives. But Neo-conservatives are actually liberals and Marxists who pretend to be conservatives, and are motivated by nothing more than opportunism and hypocrisy, and have no moral principles worthy of mention.

2. Heros of real conservatives include individuals such as Gen. Douglass McArthur, Gen. George S. Patton, former Sen. Robert Taft, Robert E. Lee, Barry Goldwater, Ronald Reagan, George W. Bush, and Alan Keyes. Heros of the neo-cons include Harry Truman, FDR, Woodrow Wilson, Leon Trotsky, Nelson Rockefeller, Henry "Scoop" Jackson, and Sen. John McCain.

3. Real conservatives always put the interests of America first, ahead of other nations. They also believe that institutions not elected by American voters, have no right to make decisions affecting the lives of Americans. But neo-conservatives support globalization, mass immigration, the WTO, the United Nations, and most other forms of globalism.

4. Real Conservatives often win elections on fundamental moral and constitutional issues like defending the lives of the unborn, the restoration of school prayer, the right of ordinary citizens in a democracy to defend themselves through protection of Second Ammendment rights, and the rebuilding of the Christian foundation that made America a great nation. Neo-cons win elections on materialistic issues like government entitlements, tax privileges for some, and whining about the dangers of the "religious right" and other "extremists" in an attempt to discredit real conservatives.

5. Real conservatives oppose New Deal policies which resulted in big government. Neo-Conservatives support the New Deal.

6. Real conservatives oppose political correctness and victimology. But neo-conservatives are the greatest promoters of victim politics in America, as a result of finger-pointing habits they developed when they were still marxists and liberals. Neo-cons are fond of slandering their enemies using liberal buzz words such as "sexist", "racist", "anti-semitic", "homophobe", "isolationist", "bigot", "nativist", "xenophobe", etc.

In 1981, neo-conservative attack dogs ganged up and destroyed a prominent Southern conservative, the late M. E. Bradford. Bradford, a highly distinguished scholar, had been nominated by Ronald Reagan to be chair of the NEH, and smears by vicious and hateful neo-conservatives forced Ronald Reagan to withdraw the nomination. Many other real conservative scholars and columnists have had their reputations destroyed by hateful and vindictive neo-conservatives. Ironically, one common smear used by neo-cons, the "anti-semitic" smear, disregards the fact that many defenders of the old right are Jewish. Men like the late Murray Rothbard, Howard Phillips, and Paul Gottfried are strong defenders of old fashioned conservatism.

7. Liberals and Marxists hate old fashioned conservatives, whether in America or Europe, because they see real conservatives as a huge obstacle to the imposition of their socialist one-world agenda. Have you all noticed how European conservatives who oppose the European Union and the EU's liberal immigration policy are treated by the media? On the other hand, Liberals, Socialists, and Marxists, love neo-conservatives, whom they see as allies. Maybe the "ex-liberal" and "ex-Marxist" labels that neo-conservatives are often given, are nothing more than a sham (i.e. the "ex" part).

8. There is broad intellectual diversity among real conservatives, and they express their disagreements without being disagreeable. Some are Old Rightists, while others are New Rightists. Some are paleo-libertarians who are very anti-statist, while others are less hostile to the state. Some support Israel, while others do not. Some support free trade, while others are protectionist. Some want the IRS abolished entirely, while others favor reform of the IRS. But almost all oppose New Deal policies, and are strict constructionists in the various ways they interpret the US Constitution. Neo-cons on the other hand, do not tolerate dissent in their ranks, and all match in lockstep. The dictatorial nature of neo-conservatism can be traced to the authoritarian style of one old neo-con hero, Leon Trotsky.


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; Your Opinion/Questions
KEYWORDS: conservatives; goppeeingcontest; neoconservatives
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I think neo-conservatives should more appropriately be referred to as pseudo-conservatives.
1 posted on 09/26/2002 2:36:29 PM PDT by jstone78
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To: jstone78
I think the "NEO" label has been done to death and is pointless.
2 posted on 09/26/2002 2:38:31 PM PDT by finnman69
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To: jstone78
"Religious right" conservatives, who try to impose their religious beliefs on people who don't share them, by means of government force, are hard-core pseudo-conservative.
3 posted on 09/26/2002 2:39:50 PM PDT by GovernmentShrinker
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To: jstone78
Neither 41 nor 43 are conservatives.
4 posted on 09/26/2002 2:41:18 PM PDT by GalvestonBeachcomber
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To: jstone78
Hyphens suck.
5 posted on 09/26/2002 2:41:35 PM PDT by Oldeconomybuyer
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To: jstone78
The only thing I disagree with is the "restoration of school prayer." Anyone, at any time, can pray in school. And it need not be a big production.
6 posted on 09/26/2002 2:42:10 PM PDT by GSWarrior
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To: jstone78
There are no liberals in your world. Just conservatives and neo-conservatives.
7 posted on 09/26/2002 2:42:19 PM PDT by Dog Gone
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To: jstone78
I think we should define "neo-conservative." If memory serves, the first person labeled as a "neo-con" was William F. Buckley.

In the 2000 Presidential campaign, liberals in the press started calling McCain and William Kristol neo-cons.

Now, Chris Matthews calls everyone in the Bush administration (except Colin Powell) neo-cons, and means it as a horrible insult.

I've been called a neo-con both as a compliment and a slur, but what the heck does the term even mean?

8 posted on 09/26/2002 2:42:38 PM PDT by inkling
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To: jstone78
Paleo-conservatives are divisive, often hateful, and arrogant in the extreme.
9 posted on 09/26/2002 2:43:26 PM PDT by sinkspur
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Comment #10 Removed by Moderator

To: inkling
I've been called a neo-con both as a compliment and a slur, but what the heck does the term even mean?

Somebody doesn't think you're conservative enough.

11 posted on 09/26/2002 2:44:55 PM PDT by sinkspur
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To: jstone78
Neo-conservative litmus tests:

1. Do you agree with FDR's New Deal interpretation of the commerce clause, and all subsequent government powers/court rulings that have sprung from it?

2. There is a hypothetical election with no Democratic or third party candidates. The person who wins the Republican nomination wins the election. The candidates for nomination are Ron Paul and George Bush. Who do you vote for?

3. Would you approve of a law that forced Congress to cite a specifically enumerated constitutional power before it can pass a law? Also, apply this to every law already on the books.

Failing any one of these is a sure sign of a neo-con.

12 posted on 09/26/2002 2:45:06 PM PDT by freeeee
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To: freeeee
I think your litmus test determines whether or not you are a paleo-con, not a neo-con.
13 posted on 09/26/2002 2:46:42 PM PDT by inkling
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To: inkling
"Now, Chris Matthews calls everyone in the Bush administration (except Colin Powell) neo-cons, and means it as a horrible insult." That's cause Matthews is just a plain ol' con, period.
14 posted on 09/26/2002 2:46:53 PM PDT by colorado tanker
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To: VaBthang4
What does this "5" thing mean?
15 posted on 09/26/2002 2:47:05 PM PDT by freeeee
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To: sinkspur
When neo-con has been used as a slur, it was often from liberals who thought I was too conservative. Again, no one seems to agree on a definition of "neo-con," which is why I stick with "conservative."
16 posted on 09/26/2002 2:47:59 PM PDT by inkling
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To: jstone78
So Neo-cons= Republacrats?

Unfortunately there is no fine line. Bush can be found all over the map on this as could many other good Repubs. It’s called politics and it’s a sickos game to start off with.

17 posted on 09/26/2002 2:48:10 PM PDT by Democrap
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Comment #18 Removed by Moderator

To: sinkspur
Please, it was Buckley and the neo-Cons who began the process of excommunicating those who wished to increase individual freedom: the Birchers, the Randians, the American Firsters, the Libertarians, and more recently the Buchanan Brigades.


19 posted on 09/26/2002 2:50:17 PM PDT by JohnGalt
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To: jstone78
I always thought the difference between neocons and cons was, the former would be more likely to smoke a joint with ya...

What's your distinction between Old and New Rightists?

20 posted on 09/26/2002 2:52:00 PM PDT by maxwell
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