One of the candidates is running a campaign focused on representing a minority, leading through fear and spreading lies and hate. The other is focused on sharing who they are, supporting all Americans, and creating impactful policy. In an attempt to compare the candidates, the only clear thing is that each runs a very different campaign with different priorities. Regardless, many are still so focused on which team they support and use two separate standards to assess what a qualified candidate is. What happened to the true conservative?
Almost anyone can rattle off “traditional conservative” attributes: limited government, respect for institutions, and the importance of moral values. However, if there is respect for history and institutions, how have the Rockefeller conservatives lost their way? The Rockefeller conservative was known as a pro-business fiscal conservative. Many Rockefeller conservatives believed in stewardship of the environment. The social moderation of the Rockefeller conservative was oriented around less regulation and supported civil rights, healthcare, and education policy toward building an equitable society.
Conservatives have believed in driving the public good. Theodore Roosevelt’s Republicans advocated for policies that protected the “common man.” Roosevelt’s Republicans also focused heavily on ethical leadership and civic duty. This type of conservative was results-oriented and worked across political party lines to bring policies that benefitted all of society. True to their traditionalist ways, Roosevelt Republicans believed in conserving our natural resources, seeing it as their patriotic duty.
The current GOP nominee, former President Donald Trump, is no conservative. To start, Trump last left the Democratic party in 2011. Recently, he has been focused on ordering the U.S. military to go after his rivals. Project 2025, derived from the Heritage Foundation’s Mandate for Leadership, mentions “Trumpism” as a goal. It calls for inserting extreme-right judges nationwide. These efforts are not those of a conservative looking to limit government control. What might be the point list for landing in the sights of a President looking to get revenge?
Ethical leadership is driven by setting an example and calling people out when they are wrong. Leadership courage is about standing up, even when it means standing alone. This type of leadership requires a leader to set the vision and work with a team to achieve it. Former President Donald Trump is known for belittling people, especially for their differences. The GOP candidate is set on creating divisiveness and only representing faithful followers. The former President has been found liable for his violation of women and has been convicted of felonies; more court cases pending.
There is no keeping score when it comes to voting. No one has a history beyond their vote. A vote is personal. A vote should be given to a candidate who aligns with a community’s values and moral fabric. Conservative voters should look for candidates with true conservative values. A conservative U.S. President not only cares about the results but how they get them and the people they affect. Voting for Kamala Harris is a vote for a candidate who will represent all Americans and has the attributes of a balanced conservative.
Dan Barker, Master of Human Resources Management, is a local professional and management consultant. He is the chair of the Bonneville County Democratic Central Committee.