Chuck Muth is Self-Appointed Definitor of Conservatism
What is in a name? Depends on who you ask. Chuck Muth lives and dies by the word “conservative.” He says he isn’t a Republican, he’s a conservative. He also imagines himself as the definitor of the word.
We had a little conversation on Twitter today about the subject. After noticing he and Nevada Assemblyman Mark Sherwood going at it, I had to ask why he thinks only he defines “conservative.” He never answered my question, but apparently, Chuck Muth is living under the assumption that anyone who raises taxes can’t be a conservative.
Duh, what? What does that make Ronald Reagan and George Bush Sr.? Oh, and apparently Governor Sandoval, Mark Sherwood, and several other Republicans in Nevada are also not “conservatives.”
The logic that followed in our conversation was telling. He informed me that because I was unaware of who Reagan adviser Lyn Nofziger was, and because I publish a “liberal blog,” that I couldn’t conceptualize what a conservative was. That makes sense…only in the illogical world of Chuck Muth.
So what exactly is a conservative then? The truth is that there are no set parameters. It’s subjective, it’s an identity, and it’s ideas. There are a lot of generalities we can make from observing the masses who identify themselves as such. They are for smaller government. They believe in lower taxes. They believe that government should focus on upholding the constitution, providing security, and filling pot holes. Of course that is all relative, right?
The truth is, if you ask 20 different conservatives, you’ll get 20 different answers. It’s subjective. What Illinois conservatives consider “small government” is entirely different than what Nevada conservatives think. Even in Nevada, there is a wide array of disagreement about the subject.
I’d rather define Chuck Muth. Chuck is stubborn, authoritative, divisive and cannibalistic within his own party. Glad to have him around. LOL
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Justin is the publisher The Nevada View, which has earned the recognition in the Washington Post’s “Best State-Based Political Blogs,” as well as being awarded the “Most Valuable Blogger Award” by the local CBS affiliate in 2011. Justin is also an associate at the Ramirez Group in Las Vegas. Follow him on Twitter @McAffee |
2 Responses to Chuck Muth is Self-Appointed Definitor of Conservatism
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I never said I thought only I can define “conservative.” What I wrote to you in a tweet was: “Actually, fmr Reagan adviser Lyn Nofziger has definitive definition. You could look it up…and it doesn’t include $600m tax hikes.”
I’m assuming you never found his definition of “conservative”…so I’ll provide it here as a helpful contribution to your blog:
WHAT IS A CONSERVATIVE
“Allowing for differences I would define a conservative, first as one who believes in the Constitution as it is written. That takes care of free speech, freedom of religion, the right to petition the government, the right to keep and bear arms and, in the words of William O. Douglas in one of his saner moments, ‘the right to be let alone.’
“Second, a conservative believes in small, limited government at every level. Along with this he believes strongly in individual responsibility. That is, a person or a family should take care of itself and turn for help to government only when all other means have been exhausted. It also means that society, before government, has a duty to take care of its own. Government should be a resource of last resort.
“Third, a conservative believes taxes should be levied for the purpose of financing the limited responsibilities of government such as providing for the common defense, catching and incarcerating criminals, minting money and filling potholes. Taxes should not be levied for the purpose of redistributing wealth.
“That’s about it.
“I know there are those who say a conservative should be pro-life, which I am, but I’m not sure a person has to be that to qualify as a conservative. Nor am I sure that a person must be opposed to pornography, which I am. In both cases there are questions of individual rights and responsibilities which are arguable.
“One other thing I think a conservative believes is that the parents, not government, are and should be responsible for the upbringing and behavior of their children.”
“Thanks” Chuck. I did find the definition. In fact when I Googled ‘Lyn Nofziger Definition of conservative, your blog was one of the first page results. I even linked to it in the above article (very first link).