Rest in Peace the Man, Not the Idea

Cal Thomas | Syndicated Columnist | Updated: Dec 22, 2008

Rest in Peace the Man, Not the Idea


December 22, 2008

One of the great stalwarts of the modern conservative movement died last week. Paul Weyrich was 66 and had been in poor health for some years. But Paul’s mind never gave out and he never gave in until the end.

Like William F. Buckley, Jr., who also died this year, Paul was an idea man whose principles never changed. Why should they? Paul’s principles work whenever they are tried – lower taxes, smaller government, personal responsibility and accountability, faith in God.

Paul – along with Jerry Falwell, Howard Phillips and Richard Viguerie – founded the new right and the Moral Majority. Their fusion of the two kingdoms led to the modern conservative renaissance. Whatever one’s view of church and state – and I have written much about that – there is no question that the presidency of Ronald Reagan and both George Bushes and the Republican Congress would not have been possible without them.

The old ways won’t work for a new generation, but the old ideas will if packaged properly. Paul Weyrich was a believer in Jesus Christ. He is home now with a new body. Pray for his wife, Joyce, and their family.


Cal Thomas is a nationally syndicated columnist based in Washington, D.C.

Rest in Peace the Man, Not the Idea