Feedback from the Conservative Base

written by Steven Brodie Tucker June 4, 2017

Yesterday I wrote a piece that has generated a great deal of feedback from the conservative-wing of the Republican Party. There is a concern that there doesn’t appear to be any difference between unity and the unadulterated acquiescence of all our conservative principles to a nefarious establishment littered with closet liberals. There also seems to be some apprehension regarding the idea that we “reach out” to Millennials, as if reaching out was tantamount to giving in to the lessons taught to the rising generation in their university English classes, where socialist ideology is considered quality literature.

There have been accusations that my articles praising, what I believe are the good qualities of Ed Gillespie and Frank Wagner, are little more than my selling out to “the establishment” and my unspoken acceptance of liberal domination over the Republican Agenda. However, as many of you know, the candidate for Governor I chose to support was Denver Riggleman. Many of my friends are frustrated that, instead of supporting “the conservative”, Corey Stewart, in this race, I’ve written several antagonist articles attacking his character and his candidacy.

Others were offended by my support of Delegate Glenn Davis, because he is not “the most conservative candidate running for LG”. This has left many folks questioning why I, as a libertarian, constitutionalist, conservative, I would write nice things about candidates that aren’t “real conservatives” or why I would endorse a candidate for LG who could be considered the least conservative in the race. Some think that it’s the fact that I’m too busy working on my M.A. in Public Policy and that I’ve become distracted by some new-found love for government. Others believe it’s because I’m a secret establishment shill, meant to cause unrest. One person wrote me an email accusing me of supporting Eric Cantor.

We all have our priorities. Of course, I am bothered by how much political power and personal profit seems to motivate so many of the “activists” I came to love in my initiation into politics in the Commonwealth. Those of us who were fighting “the establishment” are now coming to grips with the fact that many of our friends in “the grassroots” have been angling for nothing more profound than becoming the establishment themselves.

There are few elected Representatives I trust more than Delegate Nick Freitas. I’ve had no better advisers into the events in Washington D.C. than Congressmen Dave Brat and Rob Wittman. In Caroline County, I am blessed with the fact, despite all our factional disagreements, our Chairman, Jeff Sili, has imparted more wisdom to me than the efforts he’s asked me to perform. I’ve gotten to know Hanover Chairman Russ Wright and Henrico Chairman Eddie Whitlock. I see what outreach and unity and rising above our factional divides can accomplish and inspire. I’ve gotten to know RPV Chairman John Whitbeck, and I’ve followed John Findlay on Twitter. These are quality bastions of Republican unity.

Delegate Nick Freitas is a staunch supporter of State Senator Bryce Reeves. I do not dispute the fact that Bryce Reeves is “the most conservative candidate”. State Senator Jill Vogel, in my experience, is one of the kindest and most intelligent representatives in the Commonwealth. I would have loved to endorse her, would her campaign (not her, mind you) have followed my advice of running a positive, issue oriented campaign. Senator Vogel’s speech at our State Convention last year, was one of the best speeches of any Republican in the Commonwealth I’ve heard; and I’m friends with Nick Freitas, who gives speeches that will make your blood boil and your mind adore.

So how is it possible that a “conservative” like myself could support Delegate Glenn Davis? How could I find it within myself to write positive articles about Frank Wagner and Ed Gillespie? Where is all this coming from?

Delegate Glenn Davis has run a positive, policy-driven campaign, aimed at improving life in Virginia. He isn’t running on ideology. Truly, tell me, has our ideology ever passed a bill through the General Assembly and been signed by a Democrat Governor? Has it?

Well, how dare I dare to dream that we move the needle slowly, purposefully, and intelligently in our direction. This is something Delegate Glenn Davis offers us in his bid for LG. John Adams is maybe the most liberty-orientated candidate we’ve had for a statewide office in a general election in my lifetime. Frank Wagner cares so much about the commonwealth that he would run a campaign predicated on tax increases, because he’s been in Richmond long enough to know that the only way we’re going to get from A to B is to pay for it. I don’t fault him for that. Ed Gillespie, more than any candidate in my history in Virginia (1997-2003 – 2013-2017) has appealed to every faction in the Commonwealth. These are good men and women.

I campaigned for candidates running against Congressman Rob Wittman and House Majority Leader Eric Cantor in 2014. Today, I believe that Congressman Rob Wittman is one of the most truly conservative Representatives in the nation. He votes against every CR and Omnibus bill there is. Am I all of a sudden establishment for loving a Congressmen that embraced us? Congressman Wittman offers legislation that would force Congress to follow the rules and pass legit appropriations bills through Congress. Am I establishment for backing that?

The Democrat Party has moved so far left that Lieutenant Governor Ralph Northam is too conservative for the Democrat Party of Virginia. The Democrats in Virginia are taking marching orders from Senator Elizabeth Warren and Senator Bernie Sanders and ignoring their own party establishment.

That’s what we’re up against.

All the moderates and centrists in America are Republicans now. The Republican base is no longer conservative. While we were kicking Congressman Cantor to the curb, the Democrats were kicking out social conservative Union Workers and small business moderates. We were so focused on our attempt to drag the Republican Party back to the Constitution and back to the Conservative Tradition, that we missed the fact that the Democrat Party was trying to drag their moderates back to early 20th century socialism….or worse.

Republican unity means nothing. Absolutely nothing. Unity for the sake of unity is bullshit.

I want unity because I believe that libertarians, conservatives, moderates, constitutionalists, independents, and progressives can share this party. Those who have called me out for excluding the populists and nationalists are correct. I exclude you. I argue that you have no place here. I call representatives and demand that they ignore you and your nationalist pleas. I do so only because I believe in a Conservative Tradition that pre-dates the Republican Party and pre-dates the United States of America. I support a Conservative Tradition predicated on the best wisdom derived from our most objective analysis of our generational experience. The nationalist, populist movements within the Republican Party dishonor all of that.

I want to force the Republican Party to become more conservative. I hope my conversations with representatives like Glenn Davis make him more conservative. But I want to build a Republican Party big enough for Mike Thomas, Dave Brat, Tom Garrett, Steven Brodie Tucker, Ron Hedlund, Mike Wade, Tom White, Waverly Woods, Rob Wittman, Bob Goodlatte, Glenn Davis, Bryce Reeves, Nick Freitas, and Joshua Huffman. I want a Republican Party that rejects the Democrat Party’s Mob Rule. I will not be ruled by the masses, by those who think that their numbers outrank my liberties.

I have not abandoned liberty. I’ve embraced it. Ignoring reality is not the measure of a man’s character. Embracing it with principle, that’s the measure of a man’s soul. Those who ignore reality, who ignore facts, are not our heroes. They stand in our way of results and in the way of our resistance.

Steven Brodie Tucker

Steven Brodie Tucker graduated with a degree in the art of Philosophy from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, later studying economics and political science at George Mason. Steven Brodie Tucker is a member of the Caroline County Republican Party and an activist for Constitutional and Republican principles.

Jeanine Martin

Excellent post.
- ameri…canwork
  
  It is but to say “real conservatives”, I don’t know about that?
  We have some “real conservatives” that are to illegal immigration and illegal commerce just the same as the Taliban is to Terrorist.
  Illegal commerce and illegal immigration are economic terrorism.
  - Mies Rohe
    
    When the illegal immigrant fights for our country, do you call that economic terrorism?
    - ameri…canwork
      
      The illegal immigrant in the Military has I believe made a deal.
      Now be cause your illegal migrant is in the Military is that immunity for all the other illegal immigrants not to abide by the law?
      My sons in the Military now do they or me not have to abide with the law?
      The dumping of illegal immigrants into Va.’s Construction Industry not abiding by the law is economic terrorism.
      So Mies Roe if you are in the corner defending illegal aliens why don’t you get off your high horse and do something about their exploitation (EO24) ?
      Or you would rather subsidize their illegal employers?
      It is sad that politicians have done nothing but exploit these people to get elected then do not represent policy to the issue.
      An Illegal alien is in the Military , why?
      Perhaps to defend the rule of law, if so maybe you should take note from that foreigner, the rule if law.
      How will eddy address EO24? The Va. Employment Compensation Act? 54.1-1100?
      Mies we are a Nation of law not men.
      Men die, law lives, civilized nations survive.
      - Mies Rohe
        
        See prior message. My intent is not to defend all illegal immigration, so I disagree with your mischaracterization of my views. My intent is to observe that every case is different. In a nation of laws, as you observe, the rule of law requires that we provide justice in each individual case, not blanket legal condemnations like those you mistakenly make here.
      - ameri…canwork
        
        I fully understand your point.
        I will not defend one illegal immigrant except to say as I have to the on site ;
        Boy that sucks as much as you traveled for a dream only to be exploited by a lazy white man.
        It would be irresponsible of me to lump them together and defend them as a whole, that is someone else’s battle.
        I show where they break the law and legal employers conspire to employ them , no excuse me exploit them for personal profit while us law abiding employers have to compete with them performing illegal commerce.
        Today’s Republican lack the fine qualities of yesteryears Honest Republican, Abe Lincoln.
    - ameri…canwork
      
      Let’s try this another way.
      Del. LaRock
      Senator DeSteph , both Republicans, both Contractors.
      The Commonwealth requires Contractors to give you a 1 year warranty on new Construction.
      Mies,
      When signing a contract don’t just require that the building ( your investment )
      be built to meet building code requirements
      ( minimum? ) but make the General Contractor list all Sub-contractors license number in the contract. If the Contractor uses quality and legitimate licensed Sub Contractors he will not mind bragging on them. This way you may hold all responsible for shoddy construction.
      Hey how come The “Honorable” Senator DeSteph brought forth SB483, this bill would have made interdepartmental notifications of unlicensed contracting/illegal employment illegal.
      Yes, there was even a line that stated you can’t notify any other state agency or court.
      Illegal immigration is economic terrorism and Corporate Welfare.
      - Mies Rohe
        
        Some illegal immigration is economic terrorism. Other illegal immigration is corporate welfare. Still other illegal immigration helps our armed forces win wars.
        
        My objection: Lumping it all into one basket. It takes wisdom to know the difference. Blanket declaration and condemnation doesn’t work. Each case is different.
Tanyacharding

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ameri…canwork

Just who is the conservative base?
1)Delegate Manoli Loupassi?
He had a bill that would allow unlicensed contractors (illegal bussiness,illegalaliens) to file mechanics lien on your home?WTF
2) Senator Bill DeSteph?
He had a bill that would make it against Va. Laws for the Dept.of Labor and Industry to notify The Department of professional and occupational regulation of the use of unlicensed contractors ( illegal commerce)?WTF
3) Now we see Delegate Minchews Bill
HB253 this “conservative” wants Building Contractor applicants to purchase Workers Compensation Insurance prior to the application is submitted ( watching out for insurance companies)? What drove him to submit this forced Commerce bill ? Looking out for employees? Why does this bill have shortcommings? Yes shortcommings, shouldn’t it also require the applicant obtain a Va . Employment Commission Account for those uninsured employees he is thinking about?
WTF?
So, who is the Conservative Republican?
Corey Stewart that is who.
He is the only Republican not complicit to illegal employment, the other appear to be shoving appear disguised guest worker program.
Maybe they should take a note from
EO24.
Do you want bussiness to be forced to buy insurance even when Va. does not require this with 2 or less employees and not have and VEC account?
Corey Stewart is the only Republican with the testicular fortitude to go after illegal employment,
the #2 is Northam
#3 is Perriello
You can’t hide from the truth.
Remember the chants Lying Ted, Lyin Ted?
We see who is screwing us and screwing this up.
Broaden the base , yea right , just Mum bo jumbo.
Only a Carpet Bagger would come to Va. and tell us what is good for is while looking down their nose.
Gillespie 2 ants to cut DPOR Regulations to create jobs, for illegal aliens?
Raymond Wood was brutally murdered in Santurary, Va.
http://watchdog.org/202012/subcontractors-shadow-economy
Jim Portugul

So, SBT writes another fairy tale. Republican and Democrats, liberals and conservatives, left and right. All BS.

This country hasn’t solved a single problem in over 30 year because of none of the above, but money in politics. You’re just trying to figure out a way to get somebody or something to throw some of that special interest or Wall St. /Israeli cash your way by writing your ever more frequent, kiss some politicians ass, fairy tales. You are trying to “write” your way into power.

London has a women who’s name just happens to be “Dick” as it’s chief of police, (commish) a Muslim as it’s mayor, and an unqualified “lunie” woman as Prime Minister. A woman armed with more BS rather than solutions. London police carry a stick and a walkie talkie to combat armed terrorists instead of guns and body armor. I see police dancing with children on the news at the benefit concert yesterday, while they are supposed to be on duty with their “stick and radio” just in case somebody walks in with a bomb.

SBT writes more fairy tales, while huddled in the corner with the women and children who are singing the latest version of cum-ba-ya. The Brits live fairy tales, while the Wall St. terrorists and Muslim terrorists thrive.

I agree SBT, great article that shows how screwed up your thought process is. And, how you will dance to cum-ba-ya no matter what band is playing.
Richard Roberts II

To the contrary Davis has allowed the youngsters running his campaign free reign to lie at will. They have attacked both Vogel and Reeves trying to distract from Glen’s less than stellar record. Yesterday in fact they suggested that Gken was. The only one who supported our President. I know that Vogel supported him financially and I was side by side with @BryceReeves at a rally for Trump in Fredericksburg which he helped organize for the President. Glen Davis continues to live in a fantasy land with coal and clearly does not understand what a LG does.
Richard Roberts II

Most of this article is spot on but Glen Davis is struggling in 3rd place and attacking his opponents at will. He truly fails to grasp the limitations per our law on the powers of the Lt. Governor. As a CEO of his own firm ask yourselves why would he want a job like that that would curtail his business dealings?
Chris k

I think you should know by now everyone is the epitome of conservative in their own head and everyone else is an establishment and Obummer loving c**kservative.
John Massoud

. We all endorse and or support people whose values don’t line up 100% with ours, but we support them anyway for personal reasons. Sometimes it’s out of friendship with that person or a family member of the candidate, sometimes it’s because we’ve worked with them or for them. Sometimes it’s a visceral reaction. Other times it’s because we can’t stand the other candidates in a race.

In 2013, I supported and campaigned hard for Jeanne Marie Devolites Davis for Lt. Governor. She was no where near the most conservative candidate in the race. To the contrary she was probably the least conservative. But I have known her for years and always respected and admired her, and am a personal fan of Tom Davis. I’d make that choice again if given the opportunity to do so. For either Jeanne Marie or for Tom Davis. Doesn’t mean I agree

If you feel for certain reasons that Glenn Davis is the right choice for you, then by all means support that person. That doesn’t make you a RINO – just means you support Glenn Davis. I can disagree with you, and that’s my right.

The fact that I support Ed Gillespie for Governor doesn’t make me an establishment hack. I’m supporting Ed Gillespie because he’s the only guy with a proven track record of conservatism (aka small government and not supporting tax increases).

You’re correct that we need to allow all people into the party tent. But there must be a place for conservatives also. And until the “moderates” get that fact through their thick skulls – we won’t have peace anytime soon
- Rob Blackstone
  
  Agree.
  
  One of the GOP’s biggest problems over the past couple of decades is the establishment’s utter contempt for their conservative base. They want the conservatives voting but expect them to sit quietly in the corner when it comes time to make policy.
  
  That’s not going to happen anymore.
  - John Massoud
    
    The arrogance of the so called “sensible center” or moderates – and how insulting they can be is beyond ridiculous. One of them had the absolute gall to say to me on multiple occasions that “all the soldiers who were shot in Iraq deserved it”. However one feels about the Iraq war one way or another, don’t wish for bad things for our troops.
    
    Another rocket scientist member of the GOP sensible center was whining about how all NRA members should be taken out and shot. No idea why someone else could be offended by that.
    
    Another so called “moderate” had the nerve to tell me it’s anti Christian to post in TBE about Jesus Christ.
    
    These people can be really nauseating.
  - Lillianrcortez
    
    Google is paying 97$ per hour! Work for few hours and have longer with friends & family! !mj318d:
    On tuesday I got a great new Land Rover Range Rover from having earned $8752 this last four weeks.. Its the most-financialy rewarding I’ve had.. It sounds unbelievable but you wont forgive yourself if you don’t check it
    !mj318:
    ➽➽
    ➽➽;➽➽ http://GoogleFinancialJobsCash318MediaProGetPay$97Hour… ★★✫★★✫★★✫★★✫★★✫★★✫★★✫★★✫★★✫★★✫★★✫★★✫★★✫★★✫★★✫★★✫★★✫★★:::::!mj318d..,.
Mies Rohe

Generally agreed with SBT, especially around the notion of a “big tent” that can and does accommodate differences of opinion among those who would characterize themselves as conservative.

Respectfully, good conservatives can and will differ on issues like the Paris Accord.

If as some assert support for the Paris Accords is tantamount to joining the socialist left, then you’re shrinking the tent. Likewise support for James Comey is not the equivalent of joining the radical leftist fringe. We can and should differ on immigration policies.

And so on. Let’s be clear: Virginia is now a Blue State, or on the verge of becoming one. Trump was not Virginia’s choice. Obama won the state twice. If you fancy changing that, build a big tent. If you like the way things are going in Virginia. shrink the tent over and over, just the way your TBE fringe advocates.
- Richard Statman
  
  Exactly right.
Chad Davis

I agree on unity. I will vote for our nominees in November, whether they be conservative or moderate. I am tired of McAuliffe/Warner/Kaine/Herring.
Jean Baptiste Bellegarde

SBT, I’d like to know your definition of a “nationalist”. I’m a conservative with strong libertarian leanings, retired Army and believe in America First. You don’t want me in your party… so be it.

As for Mr. TARP Gillespie; you say he has appealed to every faction in the Commonwealth. I say he has pandered to any group who will listen and just tells them what they want to hear. I don’t trust him. He’s just another big business Republican pushing cheap labor of illegal immigration over Americans who need jobs.
Downstater

SBT, Are you pushing a “purge” from the RPV such as the one promoted by Shaun Kenney (formerly of Bearing Drift), because that is what it sounds like.

As far as Ed goes, one who refuses to take a stand on anything and pretends to play both sides of the fence on every issue is by definition not a governor “For All Virginians. Case-in-point: He refused to even come out against the recent Tmac pardon of an illegal alien in Va. Even the RPV/Whitbeck issued a statement calling out the governor for that decision. A candidate who pretends to play both sides of the field ends up standing for no values. If this is what we have to settle for in order to appease the democrats, then we have already lost.
FrankUnderwoodSr

It is a bit amusing to see SBT waxing on about conservatives and Republican unity, except for his own feud with whomever he is referring to as “nationalists” or “populists”. I suppose he might mean Trump supporters, but it doesn’t really matter.

It’s pretty clear that everyone with a point of view on the right thinks they are conservative. I’ll admit I don’t think I’ve ever met anyone more conservative than myself, but I can also see that many people I wouldn’t consider very conservative at all somehow believe they represent the epitome of conservatism. Whatever.

We all think we are right in the sweet spot of conservatism. I’m happy to have them all in the foxhole with me, because defeating the left is the most important thing we can do to preserve liberty. The history of government is an inexorable drift leftward toward statism, and history also shows that is very difficult to reset without violence. We should be trying to avoid that. I’m not much interested in the feuding between the flavors of conservatism, so long as we are all pulling to the right and resisting statism. However, when I see self-declared conservatives promoting globalism, something every leftist wants dearly….. I do get suspicious.
- Mies Rohe
  
  It is fair to observe that conservatives can and do object to government-instituted restrictions on trade across borders. Free and open global markets are objectives advanced by conservatives (some conservatives) for many decades. That there should be an invisible hand of the market ruling in place of government borders is not a leftist idea in any way. Indeed, none fought more for closed markets and borders than US labor unions, so it is a surprise now to hear you declare support for them in the name of conservatism.
Downstater

Jeannine, Before I get back politics, are you ever going to ban
Tanyachardin? While I may disagree with some of other posters, I am not here to be scammed! It is just making the site look really amateur. Is somebody asleep at the wheel here?

Feedback from the Conservative Base

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