Jonah Goldberg is not sold on what Matt Schlapp is selling when it comes to the reason he says he’s invited Marion Le Pen to speak at CPAC:
Reagan battalion I've come to respect you but do your research. This is Marion not her aunt. Marion is a classical liberal, a conservative https://t.co/fok5TSpcpP
— Matt Schlapp (@mschlapp) February 20, 2018
This is fantastic news. I mean if she's a classical liberal, she'll announce she's leaving the National Front, right? That's a coup for CPAC. Congrats. https://t.co/2EEqgx9Iy5
— Jonah Goldberg (@JonahNRO) February 20, 2018
Seriously, @mschlapp I'm psyched to learn that she's a classical liberal. I've always known her economic policies were less statist than her grandfather's or mom's. But I didn't know she was a disciple of Bastiat et al. I'd like to see the research you refer to though. https://t.co/VLorlGyUg7
— Jonah Goldberg (@JonahNRO) February 20, 2018
I’m think I’m sensing a little sarcasm…
It continues:
Hey Jonah our biggest coup was getting your wife to join mine on the trump train. Choo choo https://t.co/N1WxQiPrlU
— Matt Schlapp (@mschlapp) February 20, 2018
Hey Matt, please address my point. You know I like you (& your wife). Personally I think it's bad form to drag my wife into this. Regardless, CPAC claims to speak for the conservative movement. A speaker from the National Front, never mind a Le Pen seems like a bad decision. https://t.co/WNnAPAI7WW
— Jonah Goldberg (@JonahNRO) February 20, 2018
But you said she's a "classical liberal" and I took you at your word. Is that true? Or is she a National Front Kardashian with better messaging?
— Jonah Goldberg (@JonahNRO) February 20, 2018
I totally agree with Jonah, very bad form for Schlappy to bring his wife into it. How very Trumpian of him…
It continues:
Part of @CPAC is hearing people out. Debate is good for democracy and we are honored to have her address our activists. We hope to see you https://t.co/sgSURjRh4F
— Matt Schlapp (@mschlapp) February 20, 2018
Debate?
Wait. I thought you said she's a classical liberal. Is that not right? We need to hear Nationalist ideas now for the sake of democracy and debate? https://t.co/DkBAr4jVty
— Jonah Goldberg (@JonahNRO) February 20, 2018
Goldberg getting ready to drop the boom…
BTW, this is the same argument you made for Milo last year. I won't be attending, thanks. Haven't been invited in good faith for years. But I do hope to see you again in the Green Room.
— Jonah Goldberg (@JonahNRO) February 20, 2018
BOOM! Milo bomb! Seriously though, Goldberg’s exactly right.
Sensing he’s not going to win this, Schlapp decides to bring Goldberg’s wife back into it again:
I'm proud of our spouses working for trump. And I'm proud that Marion has moved away from the politics of her forebearers. Hear her out. https://t.co/64G2xe7Y1u
— Matt Schlapp (@mschlapp) February 20, 2018
Oh I'm sure Marion will say lots of things the CPAC audience wants to hear. But do us both a favor stop tweeting about my wife or associating her with what you're defending. https://t.co/PX1rOMwAfy
— Jonah Goldberg (@JonahNRO) February 20, 2018
Oy.
Goldberg getting read to drop the mic:
So, how many critics of Donald Trump are on the agenda? I mean from the right? Democracy, debate, rah-rah right? Is George Will a conservative? If Marion Le Pen is a classical liberal, so is Jeff Flake. Is he speaking? https://t.co/DkBAr4jVty
— Jonah Goldberg (@JonahNRO) February 20, 2018
Dropped.
You can be sure of one thing, if Le Pen remains a guest speaker, she’ll be there to praise Trump just like everyone else.
Goldberg finishes it off with this:
I like @mschlapp, I really do. He's a very decent nice guy. I just have more and more problems with Conservatism Inc. in the age of Trump.
— Jonah Goldberg (@JonahNRO) February 20, 2018
Look, you know I don’t have an issue with praising Trump for the good stuff he’s done. But that’s all CPAC is going to be, which is really fine. I’ve got no problem with that. Celebrate the good things that have been done in Trump’s first year. Just don’t characterize it as a ‘debate of ideas’ to excuse Le Pen when there won’t be any debate on Trump, as Goldberg so deftly pointed out. We all know there could be a debate if it were allowed to happen, because for as many good things as Trump’s done, he’s working up quite a list of bad things right now and they are definitely not conservative.