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05/28/2003 Archived Entry: "Rock and roll conservatives"

WHAT IS A ROCK AND ROLL CONSERVATIVE?: That's the question that was posed to me by a reader a couple of days ago. I've referred to myself as one a couple of times and W. James Antle III used the term recently in a story on the flavors of conservatism. I think Jim actually made a mistake including the term in his list of the types of conservatives because unlike crunchy-cons or con-cons, rock and roll conservatism refers to a mindset more than a set of beliefs. One can easily be a rock and roll con-con or rock and roll libertarian conservative. That, of course, doesn't answer the question does it?

I first became aware of the term in the late 1990s thanks to a now defunct web magazine called Journal X that I occasionally contributed to. One of the writers, who's name now escapes me, wrote a column which was filled with conservatism, partying, alcohol and drugs and he referred to himself as a rock and roll conservative. While I didn't approve of the drugs he claimed to have taken, I appreciated the rest of his lifestyle given that I'm Generation X myself and hardly free of the hedonistic impulses that young single men occasionally indulge in. So what is a rock and roll conservative? Some people tend to believe that rock and roll conservatism is just regular conservatism drenched with liberal amounts of alcohol and loud music. I don't think it's that simple. Then again, I can't precisely define what it is either.

A rock and roll conservative is the hot blond in the tight white T-Shirt dancing across from you who tells you at night she hopes that "Baby's Got a Temper" will be the tone of the upcoming The Prodigy album and tells you in the morning she wishes the tax cut Congress passed had been far bigger.

A rock and roll conservative prefers a mixed drink over milk.

Rock and roll conservatives appear to be hedonists but have limits.

Rock and roll conservatives tend to be socially liberal but still believe that some things shouldn't be done in public.

A rock and roll conservative is a blend of Frank Sinatra's desire for fun, William F. Buckley Jr.'s education and John Wayne's old-school values.

Many conservative students are rock and roll conservatives.

Rock and roll conservatives can sound contradictory.

Rock and roll conservatives love politics but don't need feel the need to discuss it all the time. They are rarely zealots but are quite passionate about the things that they believe in and will fight for them. Given the choice, they won't talk politics.

People who were rock and roll conservatives: George W. Bush, Ronald Reagan.

People who weren't rock and roll conservatives: George H.W. Bush, Richard Nixon.

Replies: 2 comments

Y'know, I don't think Dubya prefers mixed drinks to milk.

Posted by Jeremy Lott @ 05/28/2003 01:12 PM EST

Ah, but he did at one point. That's why I included him in the list of people who used to be RnRC's, not who currently are.

Posted by Steve Martinovich @ 05/28/2003 01:54 PM EST