Conservatives must reclaim human rights leadership
The article discusses the need for conservatives to reclaim leadership in human rights advocacy, which has been dominated by Democrats and progressives. It highlights a historical shift where conservatives, particularly during Reagan's presidency, actively engaged in promoting freedom and democracy. Currently, however, there is a concerning trend among Republicans and conservative think tanks to neglect human rights issues, which could undermine the movement's credibility and commitment to liberty.
- ▪For decades, Democrats have portrayed conservatives as uninterested in freedom and democracy.
- ▪Under Reagan, conservatives actively promoted human rights and economic freedom in Latin America and East Asia.
- ▪Currently, many conservative institutions have shifted focus away from human rights advocacy, risking the erosion of freedom.
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
For decades, Democrats and progressives have sought to claim human rights as their own. They depicted conservatives as Cold War-obsessed, uninterested in either freedom or democracy. For many liberals, the Cuban Revolution was about human rights. So too were the Sandinistas in Nicaragua. Every Latin American dictator was a Republican friend; every revolutionary was an inspiration for change. Too often, conservatives refused to engage. That ended when President Ronald Reagan appointed Elliott Abrams and Paul Wolfowitz, respectively, to the Latin America and East Asia bureaus at the State Department. Both took on leftist groups that used the language of progressivism but sought autocracy. Both tied liberty to economic freedom.
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Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at Washington Examiner.
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