We don’t need more isolationists in Congress

Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE), who represents Nebraska’s 2nd Congressional District, has not always been popular with the right-most flank of his party. He is one of the most centrist members of the House caucus, and he has been somewhat critical of former President Donald Trump. It is something of a surprise, then, that conservative radio firebrand Mark Levin endorsed Bacon against his opponent last week.

Levin reasoned that Bacon would be better on national security policy than his opponent. “I am not into these radical isolationists and libertarians. I am a constitutional conservative,” he said. “I don’t side with terrorists against Israel. I don’t side with Russia against Ukraine. I don’t side with communist China against anybody, period.” Levin believes Bacon’s populist challenger simply will not put America’s national security interests first.

Conservative leaders could do with a great deal more of Levin’s, and Bacon’s, spirit. For too long, they have cowered before a loud minority of isolationists out of the delusion that they represent the will of “the base.” They do not. Letting out-of-touch extremists exercise such power over GOP policy priorities is a mistake.

Republicans used to be the party of national security. During the Cold War, conservatives such as Barry Goldwater and Ronald Reagan led the charge against liberal appeasement policies toward the Soviet Union. During the war on terrorism, it was Republicans who were most willing to take the fight to the radical Islamists who attacked the United States and its allies. Today, it should be Republicans offering cleareyed responses to the very real threats that face the country.

Read more in the Washington Examiner.