Video: “Why I’m a Conservative Republican”
posted at 8:05 am on August 8, 2008 by Ed Morrissey
Send to a Friend |
Share on Facebook | printer-friendly
This video appears to be making the rounds after a week on YouTube, and it certainly has the virtue of enthusiasm. The young man gives a series of reasons why he is a conservative Republican — a few of which our own elected representatives might have forgotten:
Something amused me about this beyond the sloganeering, which belies some of the more thoughtful videos at his MySpace TV channel. It was the way he kept looking from side to side while talking about conservatism. It reminded me of conservatives in Minnesota — furtively checking from side to side while talking politics, making sure that neighbors and fellow parishioners hadn’t overheard the conversation. That’s obviously not what’s going on here, but it certainly looked the same.
Check out his other lengthier videos, too, especially the one on Jeremiah Wright. Best takeaway line: “If you don’t want to get treated different, then don’t ask to get treated special.”
You must be logged in to post a comment.
Blowback
Note from Hot Air management: This section is for comments from Hot Air's community of registered readers. Please don't assume that Hot Air management agrees with or otherwise endorses any particular comment just because we let it stand. A reminder: Anyone who fails to comply with our terms of use may lose their posting privilege.
Trackbacks/Pings
Trackback URL
Comments
That just made my day. Thanks!
GT on August 8, 2008 at 8:13 AM
It is dangerous to be right in matters on which the established authorities are wrong.
- Voltaire
MB4 on August 8, 2008 at 8:16 AM
Are you sure this wasn’t written by Vince Foster?
Rovin on August 8, 2008 at 8:21 AM
He did learn the hard way, I suppose.
MB4 on August 8, 2008 at 8:23 AM
This kid is smart and funny, i’ve watched everything on his My Space page.
Some young people get it. My kids are all grown and have been conservatives all their lives.
surrounded on August 8, 2008 at 8:27 AM
The fascists are at it again.
Group Plans Campaign Against G.O.P. Donors
TheBigOldDog on August 8, 2008 at 8:30 AM
Wow - nice way to start my day !!
jake-the-goose on August 8, 2008 at 8:32 AM
is that a Richard Pryor tee shirt?
DaveC on August 8, 2008 at 8:33 AM
Awesome. Here’s keynote speech for the RNC.
Mig on August 8, 2008 at 8:34 AM
“America is not better than everybody else, America IS everybody else”
Love that..
DaveC on August 8, 2008 at 8:34 AM
That was brilliant,and he described America exactly
the way I see it!
canopfor on August 8, 2008 at 8:36 AM
From that article:
That’s exactly what I thought before I even finished the article. This is likely to only further engage staunch republican donors to become even more active. This could backfire big time.
jimmy the notable on August 8, 2008 at 8:37 AM
I thought everybody knew this guy? Frank J (IMAO) clued me in about a year ago. For the confused or undecided. let them listen to his videos. They will straighten them out.
multiuseless on August 8, 2008 at 8:39 AM
I thought everybody knew this guy?
I wish.
You should check out the video where he has a lightsaber duel with Obama.
frankj on August 8, 2008 at 8:42 AM
It’s amazing to me that liberals time and time again, do everything they can to make sure that people are punished intimidated out of against them, yet the media still portrays the left as being the champions of free speech.
MarkTheGreat on August 8, 2008 at 8:43 AM
Kind of like Hollywood leftists keep bringing up the so called black lists against liberals in the 50’s, while ignoring the black lists against conservatives in the 30’s and of today.
MarkTheGreat on August 8, 2008 at 8:44 AM
This gentleman needs to be giving a prime time speech at the convention. He says it from the heart! Amen!!!
red131 on August 8, 2008 at 8:47 AM
Loved it! More people should speak up like that.
How long before this guy is attacked as some “uncle Tom,” for turning his back on his “people?”
JamesLee on August 8, 2008 at 8:49 AM
You ROCK! My man!
TheSitRep on August 8, 2008 at 8:49 AM
At least he didn’t keep glancing up while licking his lips.
Right, Batman?
jgapinoy on August 8, 2008 at 8:51 AM
That’s an excellent idea.
AZCoyote on August 8, 2008 at 8:56 AM
My hero.
Rational Thought on August 8, 2008 at 8:58 AM
Ditto…that was brilliant and spot on
Keli on August 8, 2008 at 9:05 AM
Very refreshing! I am going to check out the rest of his stuff.
Grafted on August 8, 2008 at 9:06 AM
Awesome. Here’s keynote speech for the RNC.
Mig on Aug 8,2008 at 8:34AM.
Thats an excellent idea.
AZCoyote on Aug 8,2008 at 8:56AM.
I fully agree,RNC,this is the speaker for the RNConvention.:)
canopfor on August 8, 2008 at 9:10 AM
That was a damn funny video and that was a nice lightsaber fight. I gotta check on his other stuff. Thanks Ed and FrankJ.
thekingtut on August 8, 2008 at 9:11 AM
This guy rules
This video is great
http://myspacetv.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=34724897
Bodhi on August 8, 2008 at 9:15 AM
Great speech except for this quote.
Thankfully, most Americans realize that 94% of humanity lives elsewhere. Anyone born in France or Nigeria or Thailand is just as valuable as any American. Those “nobodys” are made in God’s image, too.
The sooner we stop looking down our noses at foreigners, the sooner we will become even better than we are.
jgapinoy on August 8, 2008 at 9:21 AM
As soon as the French stop looking down their noses at me, I’ll do the same. I’m not holding my breath, though.
jimmy the notable on August 8, 2008 at 9:28 AM
DY-NO-MITE!!
Mr. Wednesday Night on August 8, 2008 at 9:29 AM
jgap: I think he’s saying that we’re made up of people from all over the world, unlike most countries. Hence the first sentence in your quote.
BadgerHawk on August 8, 2008 at 9:30 AM
Yes, there certainly are some who look down on Americans, but would you punish everyone of French descent for the actions of some?
jgapinoy on August 8, 2008 at 9:32 AM
He keeps looking from side to side because he’s accustomed to being shot at.
whitetop on August 8, 2008 at 9:33 AM
That is a possible interpretaion, but I think the way I read it is what he meant. If you’re right, I wish he would have phrased it differently.
jgapinoy on August 8, 2008 at 9:34 AM
LOL! For being Black or for being conservative?
jgapinoy on August 8, 2008 at 9:35 AM
Send him to congress! His one-minutes and special orders, alone, would be spectacular.
Aunt B on August 8, 2008 at 9:37 AM
LMAO. He’s watching the sidelines cause he’s taping this in the hall outside the professors’ cafeteria.
I love this kid - we saw one of his other videos a couple months ago - he should be on McCain’s short list. He’s on mine.
Jaibones on August 8, 2008 at 9:41 AM
He won’t get shot for being conservative; he’ll just get flunked by his leftist white professors, ridiculed by the know-nothing hip-hop losers, and called an Uncle Tom by the righteous Malcolm X marxist brothers and the CBC.
Besides, he’s a second amendment conservative. Mugger beware.
Jaibones on August 8, 2008 at 9:43 AM
Ed,
How on earth did you find this guy?
Jaibones on August 8, 2008 at 9:47 AM
VP for McCain!
sabbott on August 8, 2008 at 9:48 AM
excellent, now if the elected “conservatives” would remember that.
jdsmith0021 on August 8, 2008 at 10:21 AM
frankj on August 8, 2008 at 8:42 AM
Thank you Frank, I needed that laugh :)
Dawnsblood on August 8, 2008 at 10:21 AM
NEW PLAN!!
GET RID OF ALL THE REPUBLICANS EXCEPT THE ONES PROTESTING ON THE HOUSE FLOOR AND THIS GUY.
thareb on August 8, 2008 at 10:36 AM
Keynote speaker at the national convention..
way to inject some spice into a dull convention..
DaveC on August 8, 2008 at 10:48 AM
He just saved the GOP about $500,000 in YouTube ad development costs. Bring him to the convention!!!!!!!
Dread Pirate Roberts VI on August 8, 2008 at 10:52 AM
baldilocks had one of this Man’s video’s posted a few months back. He tells it like it is.
abinitioadinfinitum on August 8, 2008 at 11:02 AM
Hoat-Air…meet Fresh-Air!
Al-Ozarka on August 8, 2008 at 11:19 AM
Er…umm…that is…”Hot-Air”…
Al-Ozarka on August 8, 2008 at 11:20 AM
You discovered Zo! Excellent.
baldilocks on August 8, 2008 at 11:31 AM
Word!
Mojave Mark on August 8, 2008 at 11:31 AM
It is. Heh.
baldilocks on August 8, 2008 at 11:32 AM
Wow! There is hope for the younger generation.
Pat in NC on August 8, 2008 at 11:35 AM
Great video. Sad to see this, though:
.
I’ve never been ashamed to loudly proclaim what I believe, and why, including to eurotrash on international flights, and in the leftiest of places. Maybe it’s because I’m from Texas, where personal freedom and beliefs carry more weight? My best moment came in Russia, where I was in a smaller town in the Urals, scouting a potential supplier. Our translator was showing us the town, and I noted they had one of the few remaining statues of Lenin still standing. We wouldn’t have been there, potentially adding plenty of money and jobs, if they were still under socialism, so I asked her, “Why don’t you pull that thing down, and put up a statue of Reagan? After all, he’s the reason you have a future now.” She actually smiled…
Think_b4_speaking on August 8, 2008 at 11:37 AM
VERY WELL STATED.
Are you paying attention Oblahblah?
byteshredder on August 8, 2008 at 11:56 AM
Amazing how if you just turn up the volume and turn your back to the monitor, the ‘who’ and ‘what color’ issues are irrelevant. That’s the beauty of the conservative movement: we prefer to provide opportunities and freedoms for legal citizens regardless of their color or culture. At least this fellow gets it. But I agree with a prior post, he’ll get lambasted for ’steppin’ out’ and not ‘lookin’ out for his people’.
I’d say he’s actually lookin’ out for his people more than they are for themselves!
Biffstir on August 8, 2008 at 12:45 PM
Consumption tax? Never going to happen. Not only are there too many entrenched interests in preserving the progressive income tax (with all its exemptions), but also switching to a consumption tax would result in a disincentive, not an incentive, for economic activities. Most people need a job, so an income tax doesn’t disincentive to anywhere near the same extent. Also, most people need to work in the U.S., but they can easily buy overseas, resulting in more foreign buying and enforcement headaches. (And let’s not even mention Craigslist and other means of private sales.) It would also wreak havoc on the already strained housing sector if homes were taxes, and wouldn’t gather anywhere near enough money were they exempted.
Finally, and most importantly, a switch would result working-age Americans being taxed twice: One when they earn the pre-switch money, and once when they spend it post-switch. For a movement which loves to complain about “being taxed twice,” that would be the ultimate hypocrisy. Not to mention the small fact that that would compound the problem with social security in transferring wealth away from responsible middle-aged Americans to others (in this case the younger generation and irresponsible adults — those least likely to vote! — rather than the elderly). As for the elderly, they’d still get a net loss, so the AARP would never, ever, ever allow this one to pass.
It’s a pipe dream in this country.
calbear on August 8, 2008 at 12:47 PM
I don’t see how he could have meant it the way you seem to think.
If that’s what he meant, then why preface it with “I don’t think we’re better than anybody else.”
The way you’re interpreting it would make it sound like he’s saying we are better than everyone else.
The other interpretation makes a lot more sense to me, since he was listing a series of things, then discrediting them.
And he’s right. We ARE everybody else. All countries come to America, and we respect that. It’s what our country is about. America doesn’t have an ethnic identity the way most countries do because of this.
His point reads best (to me) as, “Of course I don’t think we’re better than other cultures, because we are made up of nearly all of those other cultures.”
It’s more like a mixed race person saying, “of course I don’t hate [fill in ethnicity here]. I am [fill in ethnicity here].” We can’t think we’re better than something that is a part of us.
Esthier on August 8, 2008 at 12:48 PM
Great video.
Zorro on August 8, 2008 at 12:53 PM
My Response:
I AGREE 100%!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Bubba Redneck on August 8, 2008 at 12:54 PM
I hope this guy runs for office somewhere soon! He understands things better than most people in the government.
Eclectic on August 8, 2008 at 12:56 PM
This guy has been around for months.
RobCon on August 8, 2008 at 12:59 PM
I felt a Thrill Going Up My Leg.
:)
Conservative_SAHM on August 8, 2008 at 1:16 PM
This is an excellent quote! We are an extremely diverse nation, probably the most diverse nation on the planet, so his quote is quite accurate; people from all points of the compass have flocked to these shores. Even the ancestors of the Indians, both North and South American, came from Asia. I am also thankful the 94+% of humanity lives elsewhere; no single continent can handle all of humanity, nor were any meant to. We as Americans
and that all men, everywhere have the right to pursue the blessings of freedom.
That being said the young man in the video, nor anyone else for that matter, is saying or implying that the massive chunk of humanity not living here is less than human. We have all been made in the image of God and we will all give an account of ourselves before God when He calls us home, regardless of nationality. We all God’s children and are all equal in His eyes and He loves us all equally. Remember, God did not save the Holy Roman Empire, but He saved a lot of Romans.
Bubba Redneck on August 8, 2008 at 1:17 PM
calbear
Your first paragraph’s moot because we already have a consumption tax that is working just fine in the US. It is called the sales tax.
Your 2nd paragraph is moot because we can issue temporary tax credits for twice taxed money. It’s not like we haven’t ever issued tax credits before.
There are better arguments against a consumption tax, but these aren’t it.
craig on August 8, 2008 at 1:54 PM
Veep!
Kensington on August 8, 2008 at 2:15 PM
I hope the word and meaning are true.
If so, it’s reflects what I believe is a majority opinion in America.
Kini on August 8, 2008 at 2:15 PM
I can see how he might have meant it the way you understand it, but he should’ve said it more clearly if he did.
Too many Americans are totally myopic, or else they look down on the 94%.
My wife is a Filipina, so maybe that colored my interpretation.
jgapinoy on August 8, 2008 at 2:15 PM
That is the greatest line!! I’m going to wait to watch the rest of his videos this afternoon with my girls when they get home from school. They are very staunch conservatives, and seem to be in the minority in their high school here in AZ, and are very outspoken about their views. I love giving them great talking points. They kill the science teacher with global warming every year. Tag team her. One is a senior this year and one a junior, just when she thinks she’s escaped them back they come. I suspect she’ll retire just because my girls. I love it. She carries water for Algore.
FWIW-My husband just returned from a business trip in Beirut, Lebanon. For whatever boneheaded reason he signed up for a bus tour of some of the coastal areas. Who knew people were going there for vacations? Anywho, the lovely gent that sat near him on the bus was there from Bagdad, Iraq. My husband says that besides being called his new “American friend” all day, this man proclaimed his great love of America and the soldiers and how great it was that they were there and the great things they were doing for them continuously. Some of the other foreigners, not so much. (Can you say French) Rich says that this man didn’t have to say these things and could have ignored him just like the french did. Without a doubt he was happy to meet him and shake his hand just because he’s an American citizen. Cool stuff, I couldn’t imagine a greater honor. Rich says he really misses being in the military at times like that.
mauioriginal on August 8, 2008 at 2:40 PM
It’s a rap culture thing, Ed.
You wouldn’t understand.
The Ugly American on August 8, 2008 at 2:43 PM
You actually made me tear up there.
I love that. The gratitude, especially during the voting, just means so much that I wish we saw more of it on TV. It might help remind people what’s at stake and what we’ve gained.
Thank you.
Esthier on August 8, 2008 at 2:48 PM
The Vote Reaper…..this one even has a lightsaber fight!
Dr.Cwac.Cwac on August 8, 2008 at 2:59 PM
Try being one in West Los Angeles… I’m moving to OC.
tommylotto on August 8, 2008 at 3:09 PM
…and music from POD!
I like dat. Thanks for the link.
jgapinoy on August 8, 2008 at 3:46 PM
I think I’m in love.
Mynuet on August 8, 2008 at 3:48 PM
The first thing I thought was “KEYNOTE SPEAKER!” and then I started reading the comments. Looks like a lot of us think that.
robblefarian on August 8, 2008 at 4:23 PM
He should spend some time with J.C. Watts and Armstrong Williams and teach them how how to grow a pair.
Great job young man!!!
RMR on August 8, 2008 at 5:38 PM
Love his enthusiasm, and the logic is spot on, this must drive the Liverballs nuts!
Tina Hey on August 8, 2008 at 5:45 PM
I’ve dropped links to his stuff on every, even maginally, related thread I could find for a year or so now….
including here. I’m glad he’s getting the attention he deserves. More please! Zo is our secret weapon.
TBinSTL on August 8, 2008 at 6:04 PM
It’s amazing what the power of optimism can do for one’s outlook on life.
This guy “gets it.” Conviction such as his is very attractive in every way.
Metro on August 8, 2008 at 11:38 PM
I’m just gonna say “YES!”, he gets it.
sMack on August 9, 2008 at 12:17 AM
This guy is awesome. The bit he does on Racism / illegal immigration is pure genius. http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&VideoID=26741080
Dollayo on August 9, 2008 at 7:35 AM