Pence’s speech centered on the idea of true conservatism. Those who identify as conservatives are people who believe in “traditional values,” limited government, and that people’s “inalienable rights” are derived from God. “We cherish individual liberties, private property, freedom of worship, freedom of speech,” Pence said. “We recognize the dangers of unchecked government power and the importance of adhering to a written constitution.”
“What does it mean to be a conservative?” asked the former vice president. “A conservative is, by definition, an individual who has a calling to conserve what is best about this nation and to no less extent, what’s best about the great traditions of Western civilization. And for me, the foundations of our greatness will always be faith and freedom.”
“As an unapologetic conservative, I believe in a strong national defense and limited government,” said Pence.
And yet, Pence warned that populism is on the rise. “I’ve witnessed, as I’ve traveled around the country the last four years, the sentiment rising and a populist sentiment in our party that threatens to undermine and replace a traditional conservatism with an agenda fueled in many ways by personal grievance,” he said.
“More and more populists would deliberately erode norms of…time-honored principles to achieve their ends, even walking away from a commitment to limited government and free markets to achieve what they believe to be honorable ends,” Pence continued. “Well, I must say to each and every one of you, I think this is a choice that we must consider deeply.”
“I believe conservatism begins from a place of gratitude,” he explained. “Gratitude for what we’ve inherited from the brilliant and flawed people who wrestled with the challenges of having a free society for generations past.”
In contrast, Pence said, “Populism begins from a different place altogether. It comes ultimately from the depths of frustration and oftentimes anger toward perceived wrongs and injustices, some real, some imagined, and a subsequent desire to bring about a leveling change.”
He acknowledged “the frustrations that have fueled populism in recent years,” saying, “I have witnessed firsthand, in so many cases, not only government, but many of the institutions in our society have failed us, broken trust, and consistently evaded accountability.” However, the means by which populists seek to fix these problems are “wrong.”
One of the tactics of populism, said the former vice president, is to have the U.S. “abdicate our position as leader of the free world.” This is a tactic that Pence wholeheartedly rejects. “There is a truth that you should take to heart,” he told the crowd. “If America’s not leading the free world, the free world is not being led. America is the indispensable leader of the free world.”
Moreover, “anyone that says that America can’t solve our problems here at home and be the leader of the free world [has] a pretty small view of the greatest nation on earth,” said Pence. “We can do both.” Later, during a Q&A time, Pence clearly stated his beliefs in the importance of supporting Ukraine and Israel.
 in Lakewood, Colorado, the evening of Friday, Nov. 15.){kind=link}