Cameron Smith: Too much conservative headspace is lost to liberal outrage – AL.com

This is an opinion column.

One of the unexpected consequences of regularly sharing my opinions in print and online is that Im frequently asked to respond to my colleagues columns. I totally understand it. Conflict drives entertainment in the media. Without it, theres no story arc, no villains, and no heroes. Those interesting clashes prevent the drone of an endless monologue. While we can learn from our disagreements with liberal friends and colleagues, conservatives are losing way too much headspace to meaningless outrage.

You would not believe the number of emails I get when Kyle Whitmire begs Kay Ivey to expand Medicaid...again. When Roy Johnson writes critically about race or John Archibald shakes the gates of hell, somebody invariably asks me to attack them or accuses me of being less conservative because I write on the same pages they do. I even received a message today letting me know that Josh Moon, who writes for a completely different publication, got upset that Dana McCain criticized the Alabama Education Association (AEA). Im puzzled how this concerns me, but apparently, I should get bent out of shape over it.

Thats a path for folks without any sense of priority or purpose. Conservatives shouldnt lose sleep over Whitmires Medicaid perspectives, but its not a bad idea for legislators to be able to address his arguments competently. I dont always agree with Johnsonss takes on racial issues, but hes taught me plenty about race relations. Ive learned to be a better writer by reading Archibalds columns.

Each of them are my friends and quality men who make me think deeply even where I disagree with them. When we clash, sometimes we talk about it. I learn what I can and move on. I dont lie awake at night and think about Whitmires musings because that would be super creepy.

But thats exactly the kind of crazy thats beset so many conservatives. We cant tell the difference between social media battles and actually governing. We have deluded ourselves into believing that slap fighting with liberals on cable news is useful in advancing our real priorities. Were outraged when President Joe Biden acts like a progressive liberal. Whoa, Nancy Pelosi wants to advance policies only a San Francisco Democrat would love? How dare Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez behave like a New York socialist!

We can and should point out the Democratic policies that arent working. Bidens mishandling of Americas immigration crisis is a perfect example. But its not sufficient to simply repeat that on a loop and believe were somehow winning. Its like trying to play football with only a defense.

Who cares if I ring up the score with people who are already inclined to agree with me by telling them that their political opponents are the worst? We need to figure out what were actually going to do about it. Conservatives should be proactive.

The conservative obsession with liberal Democrats is tremendously toxic. Imagine that Alabama football players spend all their time explaining why Auburn is awful. As much as Bama fans might enjoy watching the Crimson Tide engage in a battle of words with the Tigers on social media, those arent the wins we actually care about.

Nick Sabans famous process keeps players focused on areas of the game where they have personal control and accountability. Dont think about the national championship, he says. Think about what you need to do in this drill, on this play, in this moment. Thats the process: Lets think about what we can do today, the task at hand. For conservatives, the task is building an agenda and the majorities to advance it rather than securing rhetorical victory or owning the libs. We must learn the difference between entertainment and effectiveness.

To borrow another Saban metaphor, the vain slap fights on cable news and social media are rat poison that distracts conservatives from building coalitions, taking over swing districts, and enacting legislation. If conservatives won decisively over the last several decades, all wed have to do is put people in charge who could vote no on liberal policies. Now were in a situation where conservatives must actually move legislation to rein in government and expand liberty. Yes, its a dark irony that conservatives rightly skeptical of government power must now use it effectively to contend for our future.

Next time youre letting a liberal friend or colleague get you all spun up, ask whether you care more about getting a snap reaction or actually doing what it takes to win where it matters. The answer makes all the difference in the direction of our nation.

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Cameron Smith: Too much conservative headspace is lost to liberal outrage - AL.com