The Mount Vernon Statement

Today conservative leaders signed the Mount Vernon Statement at the Collingwood Library in Alexandria, Virginia, on part of what's known as George Washington's old River Farm.  In advance of the signing ceremony, Carl Cameron at Fox News provided some background here, which says in part:

What does it mean to be a conservative in the era of Obama?

Get ready to hear from the movement’s grassroots leaders.

More than 80 of the most influential and respected conservative grassroots leaders in the country plan to recommit themselves Wednesday to constitutional conservatism in an attempt to reunite and reground the movement, following a period when many thought conservatism was adrift.

They have named the document they will sign “The Mount Vernon Statement.” The signing ceremony is taking place at a library that was part of George Washington’s Mount Vernon Estate.

"For those of us striving hard every day to defend our nation's freedoms from liberalism's belief that an ever-increasing government is the cure for every care, the Mount Vernon Statement is a breath of fresh air that reminds us that constitutional conservatism need not be reinvented or poll-tested in each new election cycle," said Rep. Mike Pence, R-Ind., chairman of the House Republican Conference.

"It merely needs to be restated and practiced, as its principles are timeless," he added. "I am therefore honored to be included as a signer of this proclamation."

Sen. Jim DeMint, R-S.C., chairman of the Steering Committee, also announced he will sign the statement.

"America became the world's greatest nation because of the freedom of our people to take risks and succeed without the heavy hand of government dragging them down," DeMint said. "This didn't happen by accident, our Founding Fathers wrote the Constitution to limit our federal government's ability to interfere with our lives.

"Unfortunately, many of our elected leaders have forgotten this," he added. "They see no limits and create new government programs to address every problem. This has led to crushing debt and crippling taxes that threaten to pass on to our children and grandchildren a nation that is weaker than the one we inherited. We must act boldly if we're going to save freedom."

The Mount Vernon Statement is intended to be an update to the Sharon Statement, the first statement of principles of the modern conservative movement.  It should come as no surprise that liberals are already mocking the effort.  Here are just a few headlines that I've seen today:

The conservatives’ ‘Mount Vernon Statement’: Yaaawwwn
Right-Wing Stunts and Tea Party Froth on the Eve of Conservatives' Yearly Conference
The Latest In Founding Father Fetishism
All for the Constitution, As Long As It Doesn't Obstruct Their Moral Crusades
Old white guys gather to sign The Mount Vernon Statement
The Mount Vernon Statement, An Appeal to Mice Not Men
Mount Vernon Mush
Mount Vernon Statement” brings conservative self-delusion to a new level of fail

I purposely omitted the corresponding links.

While the mainstream media and the left-wing blogosphere continue to ridicule and malign the Tea Party movement, and deny and obfuscate the conservative revolution that is brewing right under their noses, you can show your support by reading and signing The Mount Vernon Statement here.

Ask your friends, family members and colleagues to sign it, too.