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Prominent conservative and progressive figures argued that their movements could expand their appeal with more precise messaging on economics and inequality in remarks at The Wall Street Journalâs Future of Everything Festival.
As the GOP mulls its course following former President Donald Trumpâs defeat last year, Republican lawmakers in Washington have debated his place in the party going forward. That debate is coming to a head Wednesday, when House GOP lawmakers are expected to vote to remove Rep. Liz Cheney (R., Wyo.) from her post as the No. 3 Republican in leadership.
Oren Cass, executive director of the conservative think tank American Compass and Mitt Romneyâs former policy adviser, on Tuesday likened Mr. Trump to an earthquake that exposed âwhat was poorly built or outdatedâ but also presented an âopportunity to rebuild.â
Mr. Cass added that the GOPâs tensions arenât just about personality but also about whether the party should think more intentionally about how the economy is divided by class.
âAll of these debates get tangled up in the more personality-driven component. I think when you strip that out, you still find the conceptual debates there,â he said of the party, arguing that the gaps between middle-class Americans and so-called elites deserved attention from conservatives. âThe reality is, weâre going to have to resolve those, if conservatism is going to move forward beyond Trump to actually provide a direction for the country.â
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The Conservative Case for Unions & the Battle for the Soul of the Republican Party
American Compass’s Oren Cass joins The Realignment to discuss how the GOP can reconcile with organized labor and how the left and right should rethink their approach to economics.
Is Romneyâs former adviser building the post-Trump GOP?
Oren Cass has made a name for himself rejecting the old conservative economic consensus.
A GOP Reckoning? If Trump Loses His Reelection Bid, the Party May Face an Identity Crisis
Maureen Groppe discusses where the Republican Party will go after the 2020 election if Trump loses, noting American Compass’s key role in defining “post-Trumpism.”
