What would possess an individual to bring a rifle to a political town hall on health care?  Arms at political events are not a valid expression of support for the Second Amendment.  They are an attempt to intimidate opponents and suppress dissent.  Without being dramatic, the situation reminds me of what happened during Weimar Germany.

Among its many flaws, the politics of Weimar were marked with increased radicalism, escalating threats of violence that actually led to real violence, and increased inability for governments to govern.  Weimar politics were built upon a lie – Dolchsosslegende – the belief that the Republic had lost World War I, not the military.  The radical right thrived off that lie – among other it created – as it increased its strength and became part of the mainstream right.  Besides deception, the radical right created enemies – socialists, communists, Jews, intellectuals, homosexuals – which they exploited to recruit followers to their cause.

Modern day conservative charlatans are taking a page out of this playbook.  Who are these charlatans?  They are talk radio hosts, bloggers, columnists and certain organizations which have gutted conservatism of its intellectual gravitas and have created a new “conservatism” on nothing more than lies and opposition to their “enemies.”  Intellectual debate and dissent are not permitted.  You either adhere to all of their agenda or you are expelled.  The only source of true information comes from others within their cadre.   They quote and cite each other as if it is gospel.

For their credit, they do have a great deal of followers – and they appear to be increasing in number.  However, that is a mirage.  Their increased strength and influence within the conservative movement and the Republican Party are not a result of increased numbers, but of forcing out those who are not “philosophically pure”.  They are taking over the Republican Party and corporate interests have sided with them.  In return, these charlatans promote the interests of these corporate entities even though these interests have little to do with the stated purpose of many of these conservative groups.

Why do conservative groups focused on family values and protecting marriage, such as the Family Research Council and the Eagle Forum, advocate opposition to Cap and Trade, deny global warming, oppose increased regulation of business, support tax cuts for the wealthy, and advocate foreign policy adventurism?  Why is one who is opposed to abortion must also be in favor of the death penalty to be a true conservative?  Why is one who is fighting to stop the “gay agenda” also fighting to prevent common sense regulation of business in order to be a true conservative?  They don’t in order to be a true conservative, but charlatans don’t want to think that way.

Charlatans have their own agenda – to defend those who pay their way.  They don’t care about these social issues.  Heck, I doubt many actually believe them - Intelligent Design comes to mind.  They don’t care about intellectual honesty and integrity, or debate – they care about enforcing and re-enforcing their agenda.  The only thing that is consistent is that they will say what it takes to make sure their followers will not stray far from the corporate line.

They do not inspire people to seriously think about the important issues facing America today.  They do not inspire people to appreciate America’s history, its uniqueness and its promise.  Whether you agreed with Barry Goldwater or William F. Buckley, they truly believed what they said and wrote.  They were passionate, dynamic and independent.  They thrived on dissent and legitimate debate.  They thought and re-thought their positions, admitted their mistakes and respectfully shared their world views with others.  They evolved with the times and never resorted to crass tirades to whip up their followers.

They never would have accepted Sarah Palin as one their own.  They would never claim that she was qualified to be Vice President even if they knew it not to be true.  They would have tested and vetted her before dubbing her the future of conservatism.  These charlatans did not.  They thrive on deceit and falsehoods.  They thrive on false equivalents and ignorance of the facts.  They thrive on the distortion of history.  In short, they are no Buckley or Goldwater.

And yet, these charlatans have followers and make millions.  They have millions of listeners and readers.  Their product is never tiring to their adherents even though it is static and repetitive.  How can these followers be so naïve and so slavishly devoted to their conservative icons?  That is what makes these people charlatans.  They play on these people’s fears of social and economic change and manipulate them so that they will follow.  They make their followers victims, convince them that others are persecuting them and that they are the only source of truth.  The followers have no choice but to follow – they cannot turn to other sources, because that would be siding with you persecutor.

It is eerily similar to Weimar.  The Germany military and right deceived the populace throughout World War I and convinced them that they were winning the war.  Meanwhile, as the war dragged on and with the entry of the United States, the Germany military turned power over to the Social Democrats for the purpose of suing for peace.  The Social Democrats acted in the interest of Germany while the German military and right use it as an opportunity to demonize the left and blame them for the lost of the War, when it in fact was their fault.  It was all a game for the German right, a ploy to return to power and return an authoritarian regime after they had ruined Germany.  They were not above deception and accusing the opposition of doing what they, in fact, had done.

Conservative charlatans of today are doing the same.  During the Bush years, they pushed for massive tax cuts and international adventurism which caused the deficit to sky rocket.  They did not care about deficits until Obama became President and then they began to preach fiscal responsibility.  And, that is just the start of their deceit.  They were complicit with Bush in destroying this country’s finances, international standing, economy and politics.  And, now they are trying to wash their hands of their guilt by disowning Bush, ignoring history and demonizing Obama.

All the time, they are destroying conservatism and the Republican Party.  This is the goal of this essay – to chronicle how they have manipulated and ruined conservatism, drove out mainstream conservatives and how they need to be held accountable.  After chronicling the vile work of these conservative charlatans, the essay will propose a common sense approach for conservatism in the 21^st century.  A conservatism that celebrates the autonomy of the individual even in an age of increased government spending.  A conservatism that recognizes that we live in a society with others who we need to consider and respect.  A conservatism that does not define freedom as limited corporate taxes and regulation.  And, finally, a conservatism that does not deny science and history for crass political gain.