The End of Conservatism? April 1, 2009

Hosted by: The Heritage Foundation

In the wake of the 2008 election and the aggressively liberal thrust of the Obama Administration, many pundits, conservative as well as liberal, are declaring that the era of modern Conservatism, launched under Ronald Reagan a quarter of a century ago, is over. The country is no longer “America the conservative,” one progressive trumpeted, but “America the liberal.” Another gloated that Obama’s election marked “the collapse of conservatism.” Displaying more than a little panic some conservatives are urging the Conservative Movement to forget Reagan, abandon “old-fashioned” ideas and adopt a “new” Conservatism relevant to our times.

Is Conservatism headed for the ash heap of history or can it rise from the ashes as it did after the crushing defeat of Barry Goldwater in 1964, Reagan’s failure to capture the presidential nomination in 1976 and Bill Clinton’s surprising victory in 1992? Lee Edwards, Heritage’s Distinguished Fellow in Conservative Thought and a leading conservative historian, insists that the end is not in sight and outlines how the Conservative Movement can rejuvenate itself and regain its rightful place as a major player in American politics.

Official Website: http://www.heritage.org/press/events/ev040109a.cfm