Rare News Desk
With approximately half of all Americans identifying themselves as politically, socially or economically conservative, the demand for easily findable center-right news, political and lifestyle content has led to the creation of Rare (www.rare.go-vip.net). This national information platform and social hub for conservatives will launch April 15 at the Newseum in Washington, DC.
Videos by Rare
“Controversies at the recent CPAC conference about who’s in or who’s out of the conservative movement demonstrated the wide range of views that make up the red center of America, but what once was a strong coalition has broken down into a bitter family feud in which angry members don’t talk to one another across the dinner table” Brett M. Decker, editor-in-chief of Rare, said. “We will provide a platform that serves, connects and resonates across conservative thought to get at the heart of what our enormous national base of readers has in common.”
Noting that Republicans lost the popular vote in five of the last six presidential elections despite the majority agreeing with many conservative ideas, Decker blamed the failure on a political and media establishment that doesn’t represent the numerous definitions, constituencies and voices of conservatism today, which will find a unifying environment provided by Rare. “We believe that giving voice to a fuller range of views helps define a narrative going forward into one that is beyond politics,” he said. “Rare will be a refreshing, positive alternative taking on subjects others avoid like the plague. The existing media-entertainment complex can’t be allowed to define the parameters of debate over what this country should be.”
Decker said the timing is right to reevaluate and reshape the media’s role in American politics. “We are in the midst of an historic moment that provides the opportunity to reposition and reset the role of media in the political and cultural dialogue of our times,” he said. “Populist movements on the right and left are shaking the foundation of established institutions. Rare recognizes the need to help democratize the many voices that should be engaged in the discussion about where America is today and where it is going in the future. Expanding participation will reignite passion for what has made America a truly rare vision of liberty and freedom around the world.”
Decker previously was editorial page editor of the Washington Times, an editorial page writer and editor for the Wall Street Journal, Senior Vice President of the Export- Import Bank, Senior Vice President of Pentagon Federal Credit Union, speechwriter to then-House Majority Whip (later Majority Leader) Tom DeLay and reporter and television producer for the legendary Robert D. Novak.
Former Governor of the Hong Kong Foreign Correspondents’ Club, an adjunct professor of government at Johns Hopkins University and a media fellow at Stanford University’s Hoover Institution, Decker holds master’s degrees in national security and strategic studies from the U.S. Naval War College and in government from Johns Hopkins and is a graduate of Albion College.
Decker is a member of the national advisory boards of the PenFed Foundation and the Gerald R. Ford Institute. His first book, Global Filipino, was published in 2008; his second book, Bowing to Beijing, was published by Regnery in 2011.
Follow Rare on Twitter @rare, and visit www.rare.go-vip.net for updates on the April 15 launch.
