Last night, National Review published a special edition of its magazine, devoted to attacking Donald Trump. Less than 12 hours later, NR publisher Jack Fowler sent the below letter to "friends of the magazine."
This is a very unusual letter. It suggests to me that cancellations to the magazine must be pouring in because of the Trump attack edition.
There is a big difference between neocons, old right anti-interventionist conservatives and grassroots followers.
The old right anti-interventionist conservatives cancelled subscriptions to NR decades ago. The grassroots followers, who never understood the split, despite its significance, are likely leading the cancellation onslaught. They lean conservative but don't get all the factions and nuances. It would be easy for them to become Trump supporters. The special edition just showed them that they are different from the neocons running the show at NR.
The neocons running NR are probably realizing that they just blew up a significant amount of their subscription base--which they are now realizing weren't neocons.
This is probably the best thing that has occurred to date because of the Trump campaign. NR is taking on water. It is exposing the fact that the number of true neocons is minuscule.
Dear Friend,
Today is a big day for National Review. Our editors have made a very forceful defense of conservatism, of principle, and against the politics of attitude, in our editorial, Against Trump.
We have received angry calls, and cancel my subscription demands. One in particular broke my heart. Well, let’s hope time heals.
None of this was unexpected.
But: We have also received very strong expressions of support from many NR friends. People who believe and they are right to believe this that the main reason National Review exists is to do the very thing it is doing today.
Defending conservative principle. Defending it from being marginalized, or recast as emotion and bluster instead of as an expression of reason and intelligence.
On behalf of Rich Lowry and my colleagues, thank you for standing with us. Or, better, thanks for letting us stand alongside you as we embrace the Buckley mission: To stand athwart history, yelling stop.
Best, Jack Fowler Publisher National Review -RW