A Rock in the Storm: The Heritage Foundation's Principles of Conservatism

[Valin]

PJ Media

Tyler O'Neil

October 21, 2019

President Donald Trump has championed many conservative principles, but his presidency has unleashed a battle for the soul of American conservatism. Early this year, Fox News host Tucker Carlson set forth a populist vision. In June, Sohrab Ahmari attacked David French, calling for an aggressive and reactionary vision. Some conservatives have adopted a #NeverTrump stance that often leads them to embrace liberal policy goals and far-left politicians.

Amidst all this turmoil, the Heritage Foundation is standing firm for the fusionist view of conservatism best articulated by former President Ronald Reagan. The foundation neither embraces Trump sycophantically nor rejects him. Instead, it charts a path forward independent of the president.

In a powerful speech to Heritage supporters in Washington, D.C. on Monday, Heritage President Kay Coles James set forth a 14-point document called "True North: The Principles of Conservatism." Those principles set forth a guiding star for conservatism that should help American patriots and believers in limited government to hold true to the founding principles amid fresh battles about the meaning of conservatism.

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