In a striking moment of moral clarity, coming at a time when some conservatives have succumbed to confusion or chosen silence, Texas Senator Ted Cruz declared antisemitism has become a “an existential crisis” and a challenge for the conservative movement and the Republican Party.
In today’s environment, where self-styled populists and internet influencers flirt with, or seek to explain away, antisemitism, Ted Cruz stood apart. It is the latest instance of the clarity and principle which has defined Cruz throughout his career.
Today, Ted Cruz is defending the conservative movement by guarding its moral compass.
Would-be influencers and online populists have developed a formula using the conservative lexicon to drift into antisemitic tropes and conspiracies, updated for the 21st century.
This threatens to weaken the conservative movement and the Republican Party on multiple fronts.
It undermines the coherence of modern conservatism and its core principle that people should be judged based on their own conduct. Antisemitism and racism is in direct conflict with this principle of personal responsibility because it involves judging people not on their conduct, but by some group they belong to.
It shrinks the appeal of conservatism and conservative candidates by alienating those who should find a welcoming home in the movement, including pro-Israel evangelicals, Jewish-Americans, national security conservatives, and anyone else who believing in liberty, and personal responsibility.
It concedes the moral high ground to our opponents, who have been plagued by their own flawed extremists (See: Zohran Mamdani).
The conservative movement now finds itself in a position similar to what our predecessors faced in the 1960’s, when the choice was whether to welcome southern segregationists into the movement. Led by giants like William F. Buckley, the movement decided segregation, often framed with soothing language about “local control” and “states’ rights,” was incompatible with conservative principles upholding equality of all Americans before the law.
Senator Cruz’ direct intervention at this moment matters. He is showing the way that core principles are worth upholding, even at the risk of an intra-movement conflict.
It further demonstrates the recognition that in order to govern, the conservative movement must be a majority coalition, welcoming pro-Israel evangelicals, Jewish-Americans, national security conservatives — and that tolerance for bigotry and antisemitism undermines that coalition.
This is much more than “nice talk” or saying what someone else expects. For conservatism to succeed, it must maintain credibility and consistency while avoiding self-inflicted wounds. Cruz has made the calculation the conservative movement has reached the point where it must have, and resolve, this conflict.
He is right, because should today’s drift continue, two big risks will follow.
First, the conservative movement and its candidates will concede the moral high ground to the left, which will have been provided a perfect distraction from its deep issues with antisemitism which have been placed front and center by “the squad” and leftists like Mamdani.
Second, conservatives will pay the price with voters as segments of the electorate which should be supporting conservatives turn elsewhere.
Yet in the midst of this “existential crisis,” as Cruz put it, lies opportunity.
When this conflict is resolved in favor of principled conservatism, it will reinforce the conservative brand as principled, broad-based, forward-looking and confident. Antisemitism and its variants will have been confronted and rejected.
Further, it opens the door to further building a movement appealing to young conservatives and members of a range of groups who share our common values and respect moral clarity.
Cruz is showing the way for other Republican and conservative elected officials, candidates, party leaders, and other voices.
Campaign communicators and leaders should follow the Senator’s lead in making clear, through words or actions, that antisemitism and tolerated bigotry are inconsistent with our values. Brand alignment here matters.
Grassroots activists and influencers can take encouragement from Senator Cruz to stay true to sound and proven conservative principles of equality before the law, the dignity of the individual, and alliance with democratic nations — while resisting the lure of cheap clicks or tribal outrage masking as conservatism.
Donors can contribute positively to the future of the movement by supporting organizations, elected officials and candidates upholding principles, while elevating voices that build, rather than burn down, the conservative coalition.
The movement as a whole should embrace the responsibility of being the intellectual and moral alternative to the left. We must stabilize, and build, conservatism so it can both win and govern.
Senator Cruz’ leadership here matters because the conservative movement’s future depends – morally and practically – on being anchored in principle, not drifting into opportunism.
As Cruz demonstrates, now is the time for conservatives to commit and act. We should not wait until the movement’s identity is warped, damage is done, and trust is sacrificed. The moment is now.
Around the world, we see daily how when the principles of the modern conservative movement are put into action people prosper. When they are sacrificed, by forces from anywhere on the political spectrum, people suffer. With the right leadership – and choices – conservatism will continue to thrive.
Ron Nehring served as Chairman of the California Republican Party from 2007 to 2011.