Finally - Compassionate Conservatism!
All of us left-of-center cynics are kicking themselves. How could we have doubted there’s such a thing as compassionate conservatism?
For example, David Frum, the former Bush speechwriter, clearly understands human frailty. He shows great compassion for Rush Limbaugh, a victim of pain killer overuse. Frum told the Washington Post,” The question is, do you face up to them in a manful way, which it sounds like he did. . . . There is nobody — not you, not me — who doesn’t have flaws at least as serious of those of Rush Limbaugh.”
The courageous and manly Rush, a wealthy man with access to world-class medical care, is making a valiant effort to stop violating drug laws. Of course, to be compassionate about Rush’s problem is not to reject what Rush has said on his radio program:
“There’s nothing good about drug use. We know it. It destroys individuals. It destroys families. Drug use destroys societies. Drug use, some might say, is destroying this country. And we have laws against selling drugs, pushing drugs, using drugs, importing drugs. And the laws are good because we know what happens to people in societies and neighborhoods which become consumed by them. And so if people are violating the law by doing drugs, they ought to be accused and they ought to be convicted and they ought to be sent up.”
- October 5, 1995
You’ll recall that Rush’s views on drug use extend beyond black kids in urban slums. He has consistently shown particular disdain for affluent Caucasians who abuse drugs, saying that “… too many whites are getting away with drug use.”
But Rush’s case is different. He has spinal pain, for God’s sake. We’re not talking about the laundry list of human frailties cited by victimology-pushing liberals who argue against prison for non-violent drug crimes or call for more drug treatment programs. The liberals whine about hopelessness, family breakdown, economic hardship, depression, violence and abuse, and so on. Rush has spinal pain! That can drive someone to illegal drug use. He needs our our compassion.