How do you deal with an aggressive individual attacking your political views? Take a page from the book of British member of parliament Jacob Rees-Mogg, a member of the Conservative Party, and calmly but assertively point out why you believe they are wrong.
That’s exactly what Mogg did on Monday when a protester aggressively confronted him at a Conservative Party convention event. The video is both amusing and encouraging.
After all, while Rees-Mogg didn’t allow himself to be cowed, neither did he replicate the protester’s hyperventilating zealotry. This balanced example will play well with Britons who dislike sensationalist attention-seeking from their politicians, but also lament political cowardice. Yet by remaining perfectly calm, Mogg also lent conviction to his viewpoints. Accused of being “a despicable person” whose policies mean “people are dying,” Mogg defended capitalism, stating, “employment, historically, has always been the best route out of poverty.”
Mogg is right.
More than that, as I noted last week, Mogg’s argument in defense of free markets represents an evolving strategy from the Conservative Party. Rather than allowing the avowedly-socialist Labour Party to set the national discourse, the Conservatives are finally articulating why socialism is an ideology of proven immorality and intellectual incontinence.
Still, the contrast between Mogg and his protesting counterpoint didn’t just manifest in their debate. As the two separated, Mogg was asked for his reaction to the crisis. His response was pitch perfect.
“I think it’s very encouraging,” he said, “that in a free country we have such spirited political debate.”
Once again, Jacob Rees-Mogg has proved he has a very bright political future.
