What does it mean to be a conservative in the era of Obama?
Get ready to hear from the movement’s grassroots leaders.
More than 80 of the most influential and respected conservative grassroots leaders in the country plan to recommit themselves Wednesday to constitutional conservatism in an attempt to reunite and reground the movement, following a period when many thought conservatism was adrift.
They have named the document they will sign “The Mount Vernon Statement.” The signing ceremony is taking place at a library that was part of George Washington’s Mount Vernon Estate.
"For those of us striving hard every day to defend our nation's freedoms from liberalism's belief that an ever-increasing government is the cure for every care, the Mount Vernon Statement is a breath of fresh air that reminds us that constitutional conservatism need not be reinvented or poll-tested in each new election cycle," said Rep. Mike Pence, R-Ind., chairman of the House Republican Conference.
"It merely needs to be restated and practiced, as its principles are timeless," he added. "I am therefore honored to be included as a signer of this proclamation."
Sen. Jim DeMint, R-S.C., chairman of the Steering Committee, also announced he will sign the statement.
"America became the world's greatest nation because of the freedom of our people to take risks and succeed without the heavy hand of government dragging them down," DeMint said. "This didn't happen by accident, our Founding Fathers wrote the Constitution to limit our federal government's ability to interfere with our lives.
"Unfortunately, many of our elected leaders have forgotten this," he added. "They see no limits and create new government programs to address every problem. This has led to crushing debt and crippling taxes that threaten to pass on to our children and grandchildren a nation that is weaker than the one we inherited. We must act boldly if we're going to save freedom."
