David Frum writes: “Two years ago, I published a book on conservative reform that urged conservatives to pay more attention to the social costs of obesity. Those lines prompted National Review’s book reviewer to ceremonially drum me out of the conservative movement.” Frum has made this claim on a few occasions. So here are the closing words in that review: “I’ve been tough on some of Frum’s ideas, in the interest of furthering the necessary conversation that he is trying to start. Our cupboard is nearly bare, and too few conservatives have noticed it. David Frum can’t restock it by himself.” Pretty savage, huh? Other lines from that review are quoted to this day on the Amazon page for Frum’s book.

Frum is a smart guy from whom I have learned a lot—and he can feel free to use that blurb on his next Amazon page. He is right to tell conservatives that they need to learn from criticism instead of reacting with angry pride. I do wish he would learn this lesson himself; it would do his efforts to reform conservatism a world of good.