Coming after Obama's victory, the "most unkindest" cut of all for Republicans has surely been a "Ship of Fools" editorial by Lexington in the ECONOMIST (11/15).  Starting its assault by asserting that the title "stupid party" now belongs to "the Tories' transatlantic cousins, the Republicans," Lexington blames their defeat upon the "degeneracy of the conservative intelligentsia itself," noting that Sara Palin was recruited by Alaska-cruising journalists from the Weekly Standard and the National Review.    

Hurtful though the accusation of stupidity is, Americans should take comfort in the fact that intelligence itself has never been an officially designated Republican virtue.  The Republican virtue, frankly, has always been integrity.  As opposed to great Democrats like Roosevelt, Kennedy, and Clinton, our truly great Republicans like Robert Taft, Barry Goldwater, and Ronald Reagan are revered far more for the feelings of trust they evoked than for coruscating wit and boffo laughs at press conferences. 

Nor should we forget that virtues usually link up with corresponding vices.  For intelligent liberals, sad to say, the corresponding vice is corruption, often including sexual hanky panky.   For the conservative virtue of integrity, on the other hand, the corresponding vice is downright laziness, a heart-breaking flaw which seems to be turning up more and more these days in conservative think tanks.

Less laziness, more integrity — this kind of moral energy never goes out of style for conservatives.  Nor does its value to Republicans right now as a loyal opposition party that will play a major role in keeping the Obama administration alert, honest, and  productive during the hard times that lie ahead for many, many Americans. 

All this is by way of saying:  Republicans, hang in there!  Be true to yourselves,  and you'll continue to serve this nation well, forcefully, and with your traditional virtues — personal and party integrity.

Published December 14, 2008