Could There Be an Opening for Intellect on the Political Right? — After an Earful from Double-Dummies Governor Perry and Representative Bachmann, Neo-Conservative Columnist Jennifer Rubin Wants Smarter Candidates

© 2011 Peter Free

 

14 September 2011

 

 

Apparently, not every marginally prominent Republican is completely brain dead

 

Jennifer Rubin, who is usually too extreme for me, today said something I enthusiastically support:

 

Republicans have sometimes mistaken anti-elitism with anti-smarts.

 

It’s one thing to heap scorn on liberal elites who parrot unsupportable leftist dogma or who show contempt for ordinary Americans’ values; it’s quite another to celebrate ignorance.

 

We’ve had two rather appalling examples in 24 hours, which I would suggest, are perfect examples of what conservatives should reject.

 

After the Florida debate, Rep. Michele Bachmann . . . passed on a comment . . . that the HPV vaccine . . . caused mental retardation.  This is complete nonsense.

 

Then Perry . . . came out with a series of “See how dumb I am?” one-liners.  He observed that he needed to pull out a dictionary to see what “convocation” meant. . . . He didn’t have the grades to be a vet, so he became a pilot. . . . He was in the top 10 in a high school class of 13.

 

Yes, he was trying to be self-deprecating, but it’s disturbing to see that he thinks being a rotten student and a know-nothing gives one street cred in the GOP.

 

He’s just reveling in the scorn because he has mistaken mainstream . . . media criticism for confirmation that he really is doing something right.

 

But what if, for example, a really smart Republican with a great track record, lots of policy ideas and the ability to counteract the stereotype of Republicans ran?

 

[P]erhaps conservatives would be relieved not to have to make excuses for candidates who think ignorance is virtue and intelligence is a vice.

 

© Jennifer Rubin, GOP should not fall into the trap of being proudly ignorant, Washington Post (14 September 2011) (paragraphs split)

 

 

It seems as far back as the dinosaurs — but there once were smart, thoughtful, and nationally prominent conservatives

 

William F. Buckley (1925-2008), for example.

 

Republican Party conservatism today seems to combine articulated stupidity with toadying to the plutocracy.  Neither is a conservative trait.  Buckley would be as appalled as I am.