DENVER, Colorado—This year at the 10th Western Conservative Summit on July 12-13, the theme was defending America’s religious freedom and First Amendment.
Luke Saunders, a high school student planning to attend Colorado Christian University, was fascinated by the discussion on abortion and family.
“My family is a Christian family, we go to church, we’re strong in the church and involved,” said Saunders. “That’s why I’m pushing against abortion because I believe everyone, even the babies that aren’t born yet, [should] be able to have that chance at a good family.”
Contrast
John Marvin, a conservative, explained his understanding of the differences between conservatives and liberals using an analogy of a man trying to get to the top of a building.
“The liberals want to give him a rope, and they say, ‘Hold onto that rope. We’re going to pull you up.’ Well, it’s up to the guys on top, the liberals, if they don’t want to pull him he’s not going to get up,” said Marvin.
Marvin said that kind of man is dependent on liberals, whereas conservatives will instead give the man a ladder.
“Here’s a ladder, you work your way up the ladder,” said Marvin. “That’s what we believe in.”
Marvin also said he thinks liberals want the government to be involved in everything, in contrast to the conservative desire for the government to be limited.
“The government works for us,” said Marvin. “We are the government.”
Around Like-minded People
Another attendee, wearing a red “Trump 2020” hat, told us that most of her friends are liberal, and that it was nice being around like-minded people. Sally Robinson, the CEO of WorkSmart USA, LLC, said that although she can’t have deep discussion with her friends about politics, she does try.
“I use to be way more timid about [being a conservative] and I just never said anything, but now everyone knows I’m conservative because I post things now and then—I try not to post anything negative at all,” she said. “But when President Trump does something amazing like crosses the demilitarized zone … I do post those things because I don’t think the media ever posts them. And so I want my friends to see that.”
Her friends may not like the president, but when asked about her expectations for the 2020 presidential election, Robinson said she said she thinks President Trump will “win by a landslide.” The only way she thinks that a Democrat can win is through election fraud.
Additional reporting by Ilene Eng.