IRVING, Tex – A shadow conservative convention took place Wednesday just 15 miles west of President Donald Trump's big shindig in Dallas, with Republicans civilly discussing some of the issues causing fissures in the GOP, and seeking unity in the movement.Both events occurred as the nation prepared to mark two solemn anniversaries, Sept.10, the day we lost Charlie Kirk, and Sept.
11, the day that nearly 3,000 Americans were killed by Islamist terror.Forum, as the shadow conference was called, featured speakers like the Claremont Institute's Michael Anton, an architect of President Trump’s immigration policies, and lively debates, such as one over the future of AI between Joe Lonsdale and Joe Allen.REPUBLICANS HEAD TO DALLAS WITH ONE MISSION: DEFY HISTORY AND WIN BIGThe evening ended with a tribute to Kirk, reminding everyone on the right that they have too much in common to let petty differences divide them.Charlie Kirk was a conservative activist who led Turning Point USA.(Alex Brandon/The Associated Press)The biggest division in Dallas this week among Republicans is over the administration’s plan, led by Vice President JD Vance, to allow married stay-at-home moms to receive federal benefits.
Traditionalists are calling it socialism, while populists are arguing it makes the most of a system already in place and accusing the other side of obstinance.Party unity has been an undercurrent all week in Big D, according to Ross Hemminger, president of the Log Cabin Republicans."It’s critical, people need to keep their eye on the ball, they need to be completely and totally focused, the president needs a Republican Congress or things are going to go completely off the rails," Hemminger said.A similar sentiment was sounded by Jack Posobiec, a close friend of Charlie Kirk."I know that Charlie held as his North Star the idea of building the coalition and of keeping the coalition together," Posobiec said."What Charlie understood is, this is an umbrella.
We’re all ...