A few months back, Steve Deace spoke at an event at Dream City Church in Phoenix, Arizona, where Charlie Kirk often collaborated with the initiative. Just before Steve took the stage, Charlie leaned over and whispered encouraging words to him, saying, “I’m going hard.”
Today, as we process Charlie’s loss, we should keep that advice in mind—it’s time to go hard.
But what does that actually mean? How can we work really hard in a way that addresses the root causes of violence and brings about real change?
At a recent gathering at the Conservative Partnership Institute, Steve outlined three key initiatives where we could all take responsibility for our future.
1. Address Evil
Steve implores everyone, particularly elected officials, to confront evil head-on. Generosity and delay are no longer acceptable; we must either punish evil or allow it to flourish.
According to him, “The Bible states that the purpose of government on earth is to enact justice against evil.” He stressed that those in power must take action: “You need to punish evil! You must!” If not, he warns, we only open the door to more evil.
He rebuffed criticisms that responding to evil often backfires, asserting that “they’ve already done it all! They are doing it again!” pointing out that the urgency of justice isn’t just about Charlie’s tragic death; many injustices remain unaddressed, from issues faced due to immigration policies to misrepresentations about political figures.
“Who has faced consequences for this?” he questions. “If we don’t punish evil, it will only escalate. I promise you.”
2. Halt Political Sadism
Steve describes a troubling phenomenon he calls “political sadism.” After recent violent events, he observes that radical leftists have reveled in celebrating attacks on their opponents, showcasing their disturbing enthusiasm for suffering and decline.
What can we do? Steve advocates utilizing “Cancel Culture.” He suggests we must publicly shame these actions to combat them, admitting, “I like canceling cultures when my side is involved.” He believes we have to employ this tactic since they’ve already targeted us relentlessly. Job losses and damaged careers should be met with overwhelming social stigma.
3. Strengthen Red States
Steve argues that red states need to adopt measures that reflect their stance as strongly as blue states do. Since Trump’s presidency, blue states haven’t eased their progressive agendas; they’ve intensified them. So why aren’t red states doing the same?
He states, “It should be unthinkable for them to propose these liberal ideas.” He encourages states like Wyoming and Idaho to mirror progressive powerhouses, arguing that newcomers should not bring their ideologies with them and dilute the values of the red states.
We need to embody the robust attitude Reagan displayed during the Cold War. If not, as he says, “we risk more tragedies like Charlie,” emphasizing that the void he left is immeasurable.
It goes beyond a Republican versus Democrat narrative; it raises an essential question: “Will I still be an American?” Our response to Charlie’s death will shape that answer.
“Let’s not leave our children to resolve these conflicts in ways that are inexplicable. We must be proactive while we still can,” he urged, speaking to the battle Charlie fought until his last moments.
As he concluded, we should all consider living our lives in ways that would make us hear, “Well done, good and faithful servant,” when that time comes.
So, “I’m going hard,” Steve insists. Our future depends on that commitment.
