The conservatives’ ‘Mount Vernon Statement’: Yaaawwwn
Some of those who style themselves as the leading conservative intellectuals of our age — no, Glenn Beck, Sarah Palin and Rush Limbaugh are not among them — have labored mightily and today given birth to what they call The Mount Vernon Statement.
The group’s goal is to … well, I’ll let them describe it themselves:
“In light of the challenges facing the country and the need for clarity in the age of Obama, The Mount Vernon Statement … is a defining statement of conservative beliefs, values and principles penned by a broad coalition of conservative leaders representing a wide spectrum of the movement including fiscal, social, cultural and national security conservatives.”
However, as defining statements go, this statement defines nothing whatsoever. It’s so bland and generic that I would agree with much of what it tries to say.
It is marketed as an updating of the Sharon Statement, which was issued by young conservatives back in 1960 as a manifesto for what was then a vibrant, emerging political movement. But as I read today’s statement and glanced through the list of its drafters, I was struck by how quaint and irrelevant the whole exercise seems.
I mean, Ed Meese? Richard Viguerie? Grover Norquist, the bag man for Jack Abramoff? Whatever you think of modern conservatism, these are not the people who are generating its energy or new ideas. But then, that’s the way they like it. As the statement itself puts it:
“Some insist that America must change, cast off the old and put on the new. But where would this lead — forward or backward, up or down? Isn’t this idea of change an empty promise or even a dangerous deception?”
Yeah, those Founding Fathers were so very opposed to change.
Nonetheless, attention must apparently be paid. The headline at Foxnews.com refers to these folks as the “Who’s Who of Conservative Movement;” the story by Carl Cameron describes them as “more than 80 of the most influential and respected conservative grass roots leaders in the country.”
In fact, Cameron’s breathless “news story” is more remarkable and interesting than the document it purports to discuss. He writes:
Conservatives, Republicans, right leaning independents, libertarians and Teapartiers are searching for direction and leadership … listen up … today the leadership of some of the biggest grass roots conservative groups are speaking out…..
There is no doubt today that conservatives again feel compelled to protect constitutional liberty anew.
This document seeks to be a conservative line in the sand against left-wing political advances during democratic control of Congress and the White House.
The Tea Party movement has shown full well that large swaths of previously disengaged Americans fear for the future of the republic.
They should have asked Cameron to draft the Mount Vernon Statement. His call to action is so much more dramatic.
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269 comments Add your comment
Jenifer
February 17th, 2010
1:30 pm
I love the Mount Vernon statement. So informative. Shows great intelligence.
Jenifer
February 17th, 2010
1:33 pm
FIRST AGAIN! WOW! This must be my lucky day!
Doggone/GA
February 17th, 2010
1:33 pm
I like that “age of Obama” – pretty good going, to be defined as an “age” – when he’s only been in office a little over a year.
Steven Daedalus
February 17th, 2010
1:33 pm
Just a typical bunch of right wing do and offer nothing lip.
TaxPayer
February 17th, 2010
1:34 pm
I’m feeling a movement coming on.
Nancy Pelosi's Colostomy Bag
February 17th, 2010
1:34 pm
Here’s the funny video for the day. Harry Reid says paying taxes is voluntary. I guess that’s only true if your last name is Rangel, Geithner or Daschele.
http://www.safeshare.tv/v/R7mRSI8yWwg?b=00:33&e=01:54
Peadawg
February 17th, 2010
1:38 pm
“I love the Mount Vernon statement. So informative. Shows great intelligence.”
Like Obama?
Bazinga!
Scout
February 17th, 2010
1:39 pm
Jay – you must really be whistling in the dark.
That “backlash” is looming bigger everyday. It’s coming. Get ready !!
Kamchak
February 17th, 2010
1:39 pm
The Tea Party movement has shown full well that large swaths of previously disengaged Americans fear for the future of the republic.
Uh huh—yeah right.
The Tea Party movement, which has grown out of the strain of discontent, so far commands relatively little public support; 18 percent of respondents said they considered themselves supporters of the movement, while 55 percent said they had heard little or nothing about it.
Bosch
February 17th, 2010
1:39 pm
I knew Contract for America and you are no Contract for America.
Peadawg
February 17th, 2010
1:39 pm
“FIRST AGAIN! WOW! This must be my lucky day!”
I take it your waiting for your handout instead of working?
md
February 17th, 2010
1:41 pm
I guess Bayh is still a non story – here.
Intown Lib
February 17th, 2010
1:41 pm
Conservatives have soiled Mount Vernon forever associating it with a bland PR stunt. George Washington is rolling over in his grave.
Evan Bye Bye
February 17th, 2010
1:41 pm
Keep laughing moonbats…
Virginia, New Jersey and Massachusetts were only the beginning.
We’re going to beat Boxer in California, Reid in Nevada, Lincoln in Arkansas for Senate seats.
The balance of power will shift in November.
Demonize, mock and slander us. You’ll soon find yourselves on the outside looking in.
Tea Party Revolt 2010.
Jenifer
February 17th, 2010
1:41 pm
Palin wrote the Mount Vernon statement in her palm:
1)White rule
2)The rich don’t pay taxes
3)Jesus
4)Perpetual war and military metaphysics
5)’Librul’ boogie man = socialist
RUN, SARAH, RUN!
Jenifer
February 17th, 2010
1:43 pm
TaxPayer, 1:34,
It’s a good thing I remembered to cover the screen with plastic.
arnold
February 17th, 2010
1:47 pm
All they had to say is, “NO”
The Dude
February 17th, 2010
1:48 pm
This goes against everything we stood for in the original Port Huron Statement (not the compromise second draft). This aggression …. this aggression will not stand, uh, man.
Del
February 17th, 2010
1:53 pm
Looks like the neo-libs have something else to be terrified about. Now it’s the Mount Vernon Statement. I wonder if it will displace Sarah Palin fear and paranoia. Oh well…if it strikes too much terror they can always go back to Dick Cheney.
Jenifer
February 17th, 2010
1:54 pm
That Obama has really got them cons skeered up! They’s liable to have a nervous breakdown.
Refounding America
February 17th, 2010
1:56 pm
The list of conservative signers of the Mount Vernon Statement reads like a who’s who of the Refounding Mothers.
Conservatism remains undefined in any practical sense, which means it’s perfect for the Tea Party and the vestiges of the neo-conservatives who haunt the polls and ruin the IQ grading curve.
The Mount Vernon Statement: zzzzz
Doggone/GA
February 17th, 2010
1:56 pm
“Looks like the neo-libs have something else to be terrified about”
Terrified? Remind me to get around to that, after I quit laughing.
jewcowboy
February 17th, 2010
1:59 pm
” today the leadership of some of the biggest grass roots conservative groups are speaking out…..”
Funny how conservatives only get worked up when they are not in power….otherwise they could care less about “conservative values.” When Reagan, Bush I and Bush II added to the defecit, where were the screams of “conservative values”?
Bubba Baxter
February 17th, 2010
2:01 pm
I am amazed at the liberal left how they in spite of the condition of the country caused by the Democratic controll of the house for several years now is ignored. This clown in a business suit they call president along with his sidekicks is the most devisive president to come down the pike in years. Your hatred of the right and I do mean we are right has blinded you to support anything this bozo says or does. Well your time is coming , I think it took this moron to shake up the majority and open their eyes. THings will change and in the mean time their are a lot of groups sprouting up which may not seem relevent but it shows that people are waking up. You can attack them, you can attack Sarah Palin, you can attack the pundits, however the group of discontents is growing at an snowballing pace. If you dont believe what I say, look at the rats jumping ship in congress and the senate… They see a knife fight coming up and dont want to be involved and cut up..
I think that you kookaide drinking sheep will bring your knives to this fight however us on the right side of things think its a gun fight and will come well prepared….
Sam
February 17th, 2010
2:01 pm
leave it to Fox “News” to make a leading story out of what amountys to a vague and meaningless press release.
Del
February 17th, 2010
2:03 pm
“Terrified? Remind me to get around to that, after I quit laughing”
Keep laughing all the way through November but don’t check in with the real world. Stay happy…they say ignorance is bliss.
Doggone/GA
February 17th, 2010
2:03 pm
“however us on the right side of things think its a gun fight and will come well prepared”
NRB..is that you?
Doggone/GA
February 17th, 2010
2:04 pm
“Keep laughing all the way through November”
No matter what happens in Nov, it won’t affect how funny this “statement” is.
professional skeptic
February 17th, 2010
2:04 pm
Off topic again… but…
HA!! Even Tennessee and Alamaba got rail funding this time around! See page 32 at the link below!!
NC, FL, AL, TN… but GA gets left behind at the station!
Thank you, Sonny. If only your sudden interest in helping the citizens of Georgia had come sooner than the 11th hour of your failed Governorship, so that Georgians, too, could share in the nearly $2 billion in rail funding that our neighboring states currently enjoy.
http://www.dot.gov/documents/finaltigergrantinfo.pdf
Redneck Convert (R--and proud of it)
February 17th, 2010
2:06 pm
Well, I read that Mount Vernon Statement nineteen times and there ain’t a thing in it I disagree with. But it still don’t tell me what I’m suppose to do to make all this stuff happen. It’s sort of like saying Mom Is a Fine Human Being when what you want to know is how to go about making sure Mom is safe and warm and well-fed. Heck, a bunch of us down at Billy Bob’s could of made up a statement about what we liked if you never held our feet to the fire to make it all come true.
The more I think about it, the more I’m beginning to beleive the people that made up and signed that statement are just a bunch of morans suited to enroll in a special school for “learning challenged” people and be taught by @@. If I never knowed better I would swear the whole thing is just a stump speech that never says nothing but makes everybody feel all warm and fuzzy and Patriotic inside.
Well, all I got to say is don’t try this stuff and expect me to vote for you in November. I want to know what you plan to do, not how good your cooking is.
Have a good p.m. everybody.
Sarah
February 17th, 2010
2:07 pm
oh you conservatives think you’re on to something…wait for it, here it comes!
Wait for what? More fear? Here’s your Mt Vernon Movement, here’s your Tea Party Manifesto:
“Fear! We’re afraid of everything! Please join us in our fear! We’ll soon be Communist! We’ll soon be defeated by terrorists! We’ll soon be giving 100% of our paycheck to taxes for the red commie pinkos! We’ll soon all be gay! We’ll soon all be speaking Spanish!”
I’ve figured out why you’re so angry. I’d be angry too if my shadow scared me. Careful conservatives, your shadow might be a terrorist. With all this fear, it’s a wonder any of you get out of bed in the morning (you might fall down and hurt yourself).
ty webb
February 17th, 2010
2:08 pm
yeah, these words ring fairly hollow after the bush years. Hopefully, we can find some people who practice what they preach.
Del
February 17th, 2010
2:08 pm
professional skeptic,
is Alamaba in the United States?
Jenifer
February 17th, 2010
2:08 pm
What a bunch of hypocrites.
They could care less about anything but themselves.
Let’s cut taxes and regulations to nothing so we can have everything. A bunch of right wing politician/lobbyist/corporate types, “defending” the Constitution? Ha! They want to shred the thing faster than anyone.
These people are the greatest threat to this nation…ever.
Sam
February 17th, 2010
2:10 pm
you tell us Del..is it?
Sam
February 17th, 2010
2:11 pm
i bet you’ve got a lot of nice ties ty..
Doggone/GA
February 17th, 2010
2:12 pm
“is Alamaba in the United States?”
Of course it is. Look at your map. It’s right there, beside Goegria
jewcowboy
February 17th, 2010
2:13 pm
professional skeptic,
Atlanta’s proposal for the streetcar was well written. However, given that $0 was to contributed by the city, county, region or state…why would GA be granted anything? Until, GA shows its committment to transportation funding, including transit, the federal gov’t rightly should refuse any funding.
Hillbilly Deluxe
February 17th, 2010
2:14 pm
I also remember the Contract for America and in my view, a large part of the Republicans’ problem today is that they didn’t keep the promises they made in it.
Doggone/GA
February 17th, 2010
2:15 pm
“a large part of the Republicans’ problem today is that they didn’t keep the promises they made in it.”
Do you really mean you EXPECTED them to?
ty webb
February 17th, 2010
2:15 pm
yeah sam, me and judge smails.
I Report (-: You Whine )-: mmm, mmmm, mmmmm!
February 17th, 2010
2:16 pm
This is the same guy that nutted over words like”hope” and “change” just sayin….
jewcowboy
February 17th, 2010
2:19 pm
“is Alamaba in the United States?”
The real question is GA in the US?
professional skeptic
February 17th, 2010
2:21 pm
I’m in full agreement, jewcowboy. Thanks to Sonny and the conservatives in the Legislature, who, year after year,
(1) refuse to fund transit and
(2) refuse to allow local communities to raise their own sales tax dollars as matching funds…
Atlanta has nothing.
Georgia has nothing.
Nothing, nothing, nothing… while the rest of the nation, including our nieghboring states, leave us behind.
Mick
February 17th, 2010
2:22 pm
Lets go back to the future and give the repubs another shot, especially after the bang up job they did from 01 – 07.
Midori
February 17th, 2010
2:24 pm
MD – why not start your own blog?
your very first thread can be about Bayh……..
NJ
February 17th, 2010
2:25 pm
As usual, Republicans rewriting history as to what the constitution “means”.
The fact that the constitution was almost immediately rewritten to be “amended” in consideration of future conditions makes this entire point moot.
The fact is that whenever conservatives get into office, they invariably fail to assert a conservative agenda, because as soon as they get into office, the realities of governing smack them in the face, either directly in an administrative sense, or indirectly, in an economic sense, which is why every “conservative” administration since WWII has increased the national debt and the deficit and every liberal administration has either reduced it by the end of that administration or at least, kept these levels static. The usual conservative reply is that these people were not “real conservatives” when the facts of the history of conservatism point in one direction and one direction only. Conservatism does not work. Trying to stand still in a world that changes is simply not an option.
Paul
February 17th, 2010
2:25 pm
Jay
A key sentence: “Whatever you think of modern conservatism, these are not the people who are generating its energy or new ideas.”
It’s the Old Guard attempting to hold on to power and influence. As far as the ‘breathless’ description of Cameron’s piece – you do have an interesting interpretation. It seemed to be an accurate description of what the movement’s about, in its own words. I suppose the more accepted practice for many is to bring in a critic to offer his or her disparaging opinion?
I reread the “Conservatives, Republicans, right leaning independents, libertarians and Teapartiers are searching for direction and leadership…listen up… today the leadership of some of the biggest grass roots conservative groups are speaking out.” section a few times. It’s a different style. I took it to mean “hey all you nonliberal groups, listen up, someone’s making a play to bring you under their tent.” Seems pretty accurate. J
ust the fact this Vernon group thinks they have a shot at that tells me they’re just as clueless as the Democratic Leadership.
Jenifer 1:41
Still revelling in your bigotry?
Bosch
February 17th, 2010
2:25 pm
ty and Sam,
One of the best movies evah! I saw Michael O’Keefe on Criminal MInds the other night – he was a really creepy serial killer. Did you know he was married to Bonnie Raitt?
Peadawg
February 17th, 2010
2:25 pm
“a large part of the Republicans’ problem today is that they didn’t keep the promises they made in it”
And Obama has kept all of his promises? Is unemployment over 8%? Is Guantanamo Bay closed yet(it’s been over 1 year)? That’s just to name a couple.