As a conservative and a blogger, I'd have to say that one of the most frustrating thing about reading other [read: liberal] blogs is that they think they know what my conservatism means. They attribute all kinds of racist/bigoted/homophobic stereotypes and present that as their definition--and it's one that's widely parroted by liberal members of the media.
In a commentary today on CNN.com, conservative talk show host Glenn Beck discusses the differences between being a conservative and being a Republican. He also defines what he thinks conservatives must believe. Here are some excerpts:
A conservative believes that our inalienable rights do not include housing, healthcare or Hummers.
A conservative believes that our inalienable rights DO include the pursuit of happiness. That means it is guaranteed to no one.
A conservative believes that those who pursue happiness and find it have a right to not be penalized for that success.
A conservative believes that there are no protections against the hardship and heartache of failure. We believe that the right to fail is just as important as the chance to succeed and that those who do fail learn essential lessons that will help them the next time around.
A conservative believes in personal responsibility and accepts the consequences for his or her words and actions.
A conservative believes that real compassion can't be found in any government program.
To read the rest of Glenn Beck's commentary, click on over to his essay on CNN.com.
William Smith
ConservativeBlogger.com
