In today’s political climate, it’s become common for leftist activists to call conservatives “fascists”, “Nazis” and “Gestapo”.
These words once described real, murderous regimes. Now, they’re casually thrown around as insults.
Democrat politicians J.B. Pritzker, Tim Walz, Brandon Johnson, Kamala Harris, Stephen Lynch, Enrique Sanchez and General John Kelly , along with countless leftist protesters at “No Kings” and other Neo-Marxist rallies, have used this language to describe conservatives.
As an aside, I suspect many of the “No Kings” participants were protesters in the “liberation movements” of the 1960s-1970s reliving their glory days. They appear to be in their seventies now.
Often, music associated with the hippie generation and the liberation movements can be heard in the background.
Consider what “Nazis” and “fascists” actually mean and whether the labels fit.
Fascism arose under Mussolini, combining socialism with nationalism. It demanded state control over the economy, crushed dissent, and exalted the leader above law.
Nazism shared these traits and added a racist doctrine of Aryan supremacy. Both rejected free markets, limited government, and freedom of conscience.
Ask yourself: does that describe conservatives?
American conservatism stands for the opposite—limited government, free enterprise, individual liberty, and moral order grounded in the Judeo-Christian tradition.
Conservatives uphold a Constitution that restrains government power, not one that concentrates it. They argue for local control, freedom of religion, freedom of speech, and due process—all which fascists and Nazis crushed.
Labeling conservatives as fascists and Nazis inverts history.
Ironically, the very tactics that defined fascism—censorship, punishment of dissent, and state-media collusion—now appear more often on the modern left.
Who calls for censorship of speech deemed “misinformation”? Who cancels careers over political disagreement, and criminalizes dissenting moral views?
It isn’t the conservative movement. When federal agencies collude with big tech and media to suppress viewpoints, they mimic the regimes the left claims to hate.
Many leftist activists harbor anti-Semitic sentiments, linking Jews with Western society and capitalism. Their anti-Semitism was on full display when many celebrated the October 2023 massacre alongside jihadists.
I use the word Neo-Marxist to describe Progressives (the woke). Is this fair?
Classical Marxism sought to overthrow capitalism by pitting workers against owners.
Neo-Marxism replaces economic class with cultural categories—race, gender, and sexuality—dividing people into “oppressors” and “oppressed.”
It claims to fight for “equity” (equal outcomes enforced by the state) rather than “equality” (equal opportunity under the law).
This ideology drives identity politics, critical theory, and much of modern leftist activism. It encourages resentment, demands conformity, and regards traditional morality including Christianity as oppressive.
Those ideas are widespread in the Democratic Party and Progressive institutions.
When conservatives call Progressives “Neo-Marxists,” it is an appropriate label.
It describes a worldview that seeks to deconstruct Western civilization, weaken the family, erase objective truth, and replace faith in God with faith in the State.
The left uses semantic deception to shift the Overton window—the range of ideas society accepts. By redefining words and demonizing opponents, they shift the boundaries of what society sees as “normal.”
If a belief in secure borders, traditional marriage, free speech, and moral values can be branded “fascist,” then the left repositions its own radicalism as the sensible middle.
This semantic trick doesn’t win arguments; it poisons them.
One of our national values has been the ability to debate without silencing others. We can’t preserve that value if one side insists on redefining its opponents as immoral.
Labels should clarify truth, not obscure it.
Before hurling words like fascist or Nazi, we must exercise civic virtue and consider whether the term actually applies.
Our republic depends on honest debate and moral restraint in speech. Calling someone a fascist or Nazi doesn’t make them one—it only cheapens our language and erodes trust. It also displays the emptiness of one’s claims.
Additionally, those who use this language of “fascist”, “Nazi” and “Gestapo” in a casual manner without contemplating their appropriateness will ultimately face their Creator in the judgment. Christ stated in Matthew 12:36-37:
“I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”
Mature believers will take these words seriously and guard their speech carefully. Others will disregard this warning and heap more and more judgment upon themselves (Romans 2:5).
S.D.G.,
Robert Sparkman
rob@christiannewsjunkie.com
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If I have listed the content, I think it is worthwhile viewing to educate yourself on the topic, but it may contain coarse language or some opinions I don’t agree with.
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I will continue to add videos and other items to the Related Content section as opportunities present themselves.
I recommend these Youtube channels and commentators for good content on politics and news from a Christian and/or conservative worldview: Albert Mohler, Allie Beth Stuckey, Bill O’Reilly, CBN News, Hugh Hewitt, John Anderson Media (Australia), Nick Freitas, Ruthless Podcast (language warning), Scott Jennings, The Hot Zone with Chuck Holton, Vince Dao, and Verdict with Ted Cruz.
Albert Mohler’s channel on Youtube has a daily episode called The Briefing with Albert Mohler that I highly recommend. Allie Beth Stuckey’s channel is top-notch, too.
For livestreaming of political protests and riots by conservative commentators, check out Nate Friedman, Cam Higby, James Klug, and Nick Shirley. I don’t agree with the perspectives of all these commentators and the language of protesters is often obscene. Most news outlets will not cover these illegal assemblies, though, because it doesn’t promote their narrative.
Depictions of Jesus Christ are used in some illustrations. I realize that some including conservative Presbyterians consider this to be idolatry. I respectfully disagree with their position on this matter as the commandment forbids worshiping such depictions, and I do not worship these illustrations.