A shadow conservative convention took place Wednesday just 15 miles west of President Donald Trump’s big shindig in Dallas, with Republicans civilly discussing some of the issues causing fissures in the GOP, and seeking unity in the movement.
Both events occurred as the nation prepared to mark two solemn anniversaries, Sept. 10, the day we lost Charlie Kirk, and Sept. 11, the day that nearly 3,000 Americans were killed by Islamist terror.
Forum, as the shadow conference was called, featured speakers like the Claremont Institute’s Michael Anton, an architect of President Trump’s immigration policies, and lively debates, such as one over the future of AI between Joe Lonsdale and Joe Allen.
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The evening ended with a tribute to Kirk, reminding everyone on the right that they have too much in common to let petty differences divide them.
The biggest division in Dallas this week among Republicans is over the administration’s plan, led by Vice President JD Vance, to allow married stay-at-home moms to receive federal benefits. Traditionalists are calling it socialism, while populists are arguing it makes the most of a system already in place and accusing the other side of obstinance.
Party unity has been an undercurrent all week in Big D, according to Ross Hemminger, president of the Log Cabin Republicans.
“It’s critical, people need to keep their eye on the ball, they need to be completely and totally focused, the president needs a Republican Congress or things are going to go completely off the rails,” Hemminger said.
A similar sentiment was sounded by Jack Posobiec, a close friend of Charlie Kirk.
“I know that Charlie held as his North Star the idea of building the coalition and of keeping the coalition together,” Posobiec said. “What Charlie understood is, this is an umbrella. We’re all members of the coalition.”
Texas Republicans can see firsthand the importance of coming together, after a bruising Senate primary saw state Attorney General Ken Paxton knock out longtime incumbent John Cornyn. Brian, a convention goer in his 40s who works in finance but spent a decade on Capitol Hill before that, said there’s no time for bad blood within the party.
“I wish Cornyn had won, I think things would be easier, but he didn’t,” Brian said. “The voters chose Ken Paxton and he is our nominee.”
The crucial subplot to all the infighting in the GOP – that Republicans in Dallas are seeking to quell – is the battle for the future of the party once President Trump leaves office in January 2029, not just in terms of who the nominee might be, but what the heart and soul of the party will be.
Cara, in her 30s who works in political advertising, said the party has a plethora of potential 2028 candidates.
“I really love JD Vance and I think he is the future, but I like [Sen. Ted] Cruz and [Gov. Ron] DeSantis, too,” she said. “Unlike Democrats, we have a lot of great options.”
While the ideological divides in the GOP are real, they are nowhere near as polarizing as those facing the Democrats, who have a wing of their party that is literally embracing socialism and crazy ideas like abolishing the Senate.
In fact, the Democrat civil war has grown so vitriolic that, in a shocking move, Pennsylvania Democratic Sen. John Fetterman gave remarks, via video, to the assembled crowd at the Republican convention, spurring more speculation that a party switch could be in his future.
Meanwhile, in the Texas Senate race, Rep. Jasmine Crockett, who lost a bitter primary to James Talarico, still will not appear with, or even endorse, the candidate voters chose.
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All in all, despite some sniping and nasty remarks between the traditionalists and the New Right, Republicans are in much better shape regarding party unity.
The assassination of Charlie Kirk and 9/11, the former fresh in hearts and minds, and the latter somehow 25 years in past, need to be solid reminders to Republicans across America that whatever disagreements they may have, what they are fighting for is the America that al Qaeda and Kirk’s killer sought to destroy.
Should Republicans triumph in November, there will be plenty of time for policy debates. But unless unity can achieve that victory, all the arguments will be for naught, as victorious Democrats will surely spend two years blocking everything the Trump administration sees to do.
Now is the time to come together, because losing to socialists doesn’t just mean losing an election, it could very well mean losing America as we have known and loved her.
