Compassionate conservatism

From RationalWiki
Jump to: navigation, search
Guide to:

U.S. Politics

Icon politics USA.svg
Hail to the Chief?
Persons of interest
I want to help you. I really do. But you know, I just can't.
Bill Clinton on the nature of compassionate conservatism.

Compassionate conservatism is an oxymoron. It implies that a conservative being compassionate is unusual and noteworthy and that 'normal' conservativism is somehow by nature lacking in compassion (which is sadly often true), as to say that conservatism is compassionate, one must be capable of compassion, as well as, if possible, love, intelligence and rational thought.

Marvin Olasky, who authored a book about 'compassionate conservatism', is a Dominionist. Thus, in his ideal of society, many people would be treated in a less than compassionate manner.

The juxtaposition of these two words was first brought to the general attention by (then Texas Governor) George W. Bush (Olasky was an advisor to Bush in his first Presidential election campaign) in 1999. [1]

[edit] See also

[edit] Footnotes

  1. Extract from Wall Street Journal
Personal tools
Namespaces

Variants
Actions
Navigation
Community
Tools
support