Jonathan Krohn: 13-Year-Old Conservative Wunderkind Wows CPAC, Joe The Plumber

The future of the conservative movement presented himself on Friday, and he was 13.

Jonathan Krohn, the author of "Define Conservatism" and political prodigy voted "Atlanta's Most Talented Child" in 2006, was the talk of the Conservative Political Action Conference for a brief portion of the afternoon session.

His two-minute address on "Conservative Victories Across the Nation" covered the lost principles of the Republican Party, which he called the "shell" to conservatism's "filling." It was filled with the type of rhetorical flow and emotional pitch one would expect from a seasoned hand. Except, Korn is more than four years away from being able to vote.

Certainly, it was enough to win him a whole host of plaudits, from his co-panelists to the big-name attendees. "Watch out David Keene," said Millie Hallow, the moderator of the panel, in reference to the conservative luminary who heads CPAC.

"He came up to me, grabbed my hand, and shook it," said Joe the Plumber. "If I didn't know any better I would say he was 30 years old. He definitely has a great confidence about him. I enjoyed talking with him.... He's definitely sharp."

How, exactly, a 13-year-old (Krohn turns 14 on Sunday) got to this place is story of an intense, downright obsessive, interest in politics. Sitting at a table and signing copies his books -- his red tie flopping on top of the white tablecloth, a flag pin pinched to his sports coat -- he assigns credit for his fast ascension to none other than Bill Bennett.

"I got into politics when I was eight years old. Six years now. And I got involved because I started listening to talk radio. It goes back to one event. The Democrats filibustered something in the Senate when I was eight years old. I don't remember what it was on and I didn't honestly care when I was eight years old. I cared about the history and the Senate rules," he told the Huffington Post. "I listened to Bill Bennett and tons of other talk show hosts who talked about that and other policies and started branching out and caring about other issues in regards to politics. Bill Bennett really became an idol for me. I listened to him every morning from 6 to 9 for, oh, years. And I started learning more and started to be able to think on my own, understanding politics on my own. I started to be able to use my mind to engage in political conversations under the conservative banner."

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He talks fast and with high-pitched emotion (no cracking of the voice), often banging his two fists against the table (each one holding a pen) for dramatic effect. His mother, naturally protective, reminds him at one point that he's talking to a reporter from the Huffington Post.

"I know he is a liberal," he replies. "But you are not the first liberal I talked to at CPAC."

The topic on his mind - or at least mine - is how the Republican Party can resurrect itself. "Conservatism, conservatism, conservatism..." he replies. Whether these are talking points, I'm not sure. Either way, he has them down. "A lot of people say to me, 'oh, you're a Republican.' And I say, 'No, I'm a conservative.' I'm a Republican when I support candidates. When I talk about the party I'm affiliated with I'm a Republican. But when it comes to what I am, I'm a conservative."

It was, Krohn says, an abandonment of philosophy that brought the GOP to its current state; on issues from immigration reform to bailouts. "I think they started losing it because the American people saw the American party wasn't really based on conservatism," he says.

And it will only be when Republicans return to their core conservative beliefs that electoral power will be reassumed. It's an idea the majority of CPAC participants ardently believe. But he's the only 13-year-old waxing philosophically about them.

As for his choices for president, Krohn talks, once more, like a seasoned vet. "I would love to see Newt Gingrich," he said. "But it's impossible to see him up there. I don't see him doing it. I would love Sarah Palin and Mitt Romney as well."

Comments

[Janzie Abram]

isn't conservatism based on protecting and relying on older, pre-defined institutions? and a liberal believes in the liberty of the individual? i mean, by that definition they aren't even at odds with each other. the four principals johnathan outlines sound more like 4 basic american judeo-christian morals rather then philosophies for running a government. people should look up the definition before using blanket terms to describe their political alliances. as i see it, both liberals (or rather democrats) and conservatives (or republicans) have respect for the constitution, both have respect for "life" (in a general way), and both agree that people should have personal responsibility. so at least three of these principals are shared, just disagreed on the application there of. without going to much farthe i guess we shouldn't really be taking political advise from a biased, uneducated 13 year old. who knew?

[Bill Daniels]

I hate being so unconsciously naive. There is always some part of me that expects people to see through the dangerous nonsense that spews out of this party and their minions.

You would think conservatives would be natural environmentalists. They can recycle almost any pile of their rhetorical cow patties.

[elfvis]

Bright kid. Extremely intelligent and engaged. You don't see too many 13 year olds critiquing the merits of ideological fervor. I wish more kids took that much of an interest. That said, he's misguided. So very, very misguided. His four basic principles of conservatism read like the four horsemen of contradiction:

1) Respect for the Constitution
2) Respect for Life
3) Less Government
4) Personal Responsibility

Contradiction #1:
Numbers 1 and 3 contradict each other, because the Constitution (as the blueprint for government) is designed to be amended. Amendments mean more government, no matter how you try and sell it.

Contradiction #2:
Though not mentioned specifically by Jonathan, respect for the constitution means refutation of the Patriot Act. And the fact is that more conservatives than liberals support the Patriot Act.

Contradiction #3:
Numbers 2 and 4 are at odds because respect for life in conservative eyes ends when you're born. Then, depending on your circumstances, you are either lauded or shunned from there forward. If you're a child born to an unwed teen mother, then you're virtually guaranteed a life of poverty since the mother, as part of conservative principle number 4, should get no help from the government. Where should she get help? Church? Do Churches lean left or right? Hmmm....

I could go on, but those are the first three that popped into my head. So Jonathan, bright as you are, please spare me the principled nonsense. Conservatism is more unprincipled and contradictory than most ideologies.

[Madrussian]

And why are you so afraid of contradictions that call it "four horsemen"? Those with philosophical mood see it as a source of development and growth (Hegel, for example). Life is always contradictory, that is why it is so interesting and why it never can be fully grasped and appreciated by any non-contradictory ideology. Conservatism is not an ideology, it is attitude. And it has principles, while different conservative thinkers give different priorities to different principles. I also do not agree with many other your assertions. Amendments not necessary mean more government: they are additional restrictions on government power. Patriot Act is consistent with Constitution, which allows some restrictions of freedoms in times of war or emergency. These restictions are much more mild than introduced by FDR during WWII; you can see them unnecessary, of course, if you do not believe in GWOT; but this is highly partisan view. Patriot Act was voted by majority with due procedure, and even Obama yet did not anything to abolish it. When teen mother get help? Yes, at Church or other charity, there are lots of them; but government is not a charity and should not be one. It use taxpayers money which it collect coercively; all charitable donations should be voluntary.

[imacanucktwo]

' he said. "But it's impossible to see him up there. I don't see him doing it. I would love Sarah Palin and Mitt Romney as well. " '

...Wow, I thought this kid knew what he was talkign about until that line. Sure, I'm a liberal, but there is absolutely never good about sarah palin. She is literally uneducated and so average that under no circumstances should she be in government. Her policies are optimal for corporate giants and absolutely hurt the environment and any middle-class citizen.

This kid does not understand the moral, ethical and value dilemmas involved in politics and how far-reaching policies are beyond just their desired results.

[BrokenSpectrum]

I can't understand all the hubbub over this kid. He sounded like a classic broken record politician, with rhetoric and no actual substance. I can tell he listens closely to these political personalities, as he regurgitates what he has heard and has done very little independent thinking of his own. This sounds like the Obama of the Republican Party, to be brutally honest. All rhetoric and a bunch of hope, with more of the same, just veiled in a different way.

This kid hasn't the slightest idea what he is talking about, mostly because he is, a KID. I doubt that he has ever been submerged in a world where it takes more then just talking to get something done. This is why we have an age requirement for President and other elected positions. Knowledge isn't attained solely from a book or from listening to your favorite political personality. It takes real world experience through trial and error, and years of dedication of learning the issues that surround us, in order to formulate a solid, reasonable opinion or stance about something.

That's not to say that this kid may grow up and one day figure it out for himself and formulate new, uninfluenced opinions of his own. But right now, he's being bottle fed narrow views, and its sad that, if they could, these people would probably elect him as their leader.

-Former Republican, now a Progressive Libertarian

[Kevin62]

The boy is phenomenal. He did not merely regurgitate information that he had acquired over the years while listening and learning. He conveyed an ideal, and an ideal "is what it is" (and if my use of a cliche offends you for lack of originality, get over it). He was simply reminding us of a core principle that has been forgotten or otherwise obscured by modern day rhetoric and the pressure that most, if not all, politicians are under to please everyone in an effort to win an election.

When you go to look for a new car, do you expect originality? "Hmmm, you mean to tell me the automobile still has 4 tires and a motor? I'll pass...I was expecting something more original". Or when you go buy groceries is it, "Oh, you mean beef still comes from cattle, well then, that isn't exactly original now is it. I'll pass on that as well".

When it comes to movies, TV, inventions, or medical breakthroughs that improve our way of living, then originality comes into play. When it comes to core ideals and moral codes of ethics, they are what they are. There's honesty and integrity, or there's the opposite. If you have an original idea in those areas, which make up the core concepts of conservatism, then change your name to God.

[sosadforrepublicans]

Lets face it, the republican party is about to implode, they are ignorant, short sighted, narrow minded, unsympathetic, but more so just plain PATHETIC! Watching these idiots try to deny the much needed funds to have any kind of economic recovery in the media to look like the stalwarts of republican ideals and then take the money behind the scenes is ridiculous! Who do they think they are fooling! SO SAD!

[willy0904]

Did anyone notice that he really had nothing fresh or new to say at all?

[sosadforrepublicans]

It is a sad day when the republican party has to rely on the brains of a 13 year old to define any word for them, let alone the one word that drives them to rally behind stupid and failed policies of an unelected president. One day this party will come to realize it's bitter outlook on the world where only the personal responsibility of making as much money as possible and forgetting about the rest of us has led them down the path to destruction! God help them!

[Drash]

Is anyone surprised that Joe the unlicensed Plumber is wow-ed by a 13-year old?

[JBisson]

No denying that this kid is intelligent and well spoken. It just says everything to me that the brightest bulb in the republican party currently is a 13 year old kid. As much as the conservative ideology makes no sense to me, I can stomach this child a wee bit longer than Rush Limbaugh. That said, I still did not last the entire clip.

[Bogdan Belei]

Great Speech Indeed.

I personally believe the same way that he does, during the election so many people threw out words that completely did not understand and used to to benefit or to diminish a candidate's political stance. Although, even if these people understood theses terms such as calling one conservative, liberal, socialist or to the extreme even communist, they did not full comprehend how to correctly apply them to our current government.

I, myself am 15 years old. I personally would love to give out a speech like that or something close to it for more of the public to hear and understand my mind of thought that is usually bottled up unless a random debate appears on an online forum or with some friends. Until then, I will be gathering more knowledge and sticking with YouTube.

[jaxmarie]

Glad to see a young person using their brain. However, I am disappointed that everyone says his views are a breath of fresh air in the Republican Party when someone that just ran for president, who was advocating the same ideals, was brushed off for McCain. If you didn't pay attention to the election until after the primaries his name is Ron Paul. Guess you have to be under age to get exposure.

[HarryPumpkin]

I find it odd that so many people blithely assume that he must have a narrow worldview and must be a puppet parroting someone else's views based on a 2 minute speech and a single article. Isn't such a baseless assumption itself a sign of narrow thinking on your part?

[GhostDogWarrior]

As a capitalist, I take offense to anyone who does immediately start slapping him bald-headed

[LHibbard]

Let's start listening to our kids, even if they disagree with us. We might learn something about ourselves, even if we don't like what we learn.

Let's face it, our kids are facing a bleak future. They have a bleak present. Here in Chicago, 27 kids under the age of 18 have been murdered since the start of the school year. I'm working like hell to get my twelve-year-old daughter the f*** out of here so that she doesn't become a statistic. Outside these kids' families and friends, no one really cares about them.

As adults, we have an obligation here to nurture and protect the young. If they grow up with virtues that teach them self-respect and respect of others, then we'll all have a brighter future, no matter what they believe.

I am a liberal. I am a witch. I also believe the children are the future, like my daughter and the young man who spoke at CPAC. Disrespect their views, and we're only shortchanging ourselves.

[Catherine Byers]

interesting.. he's a DOOF!