Loss of a Conservative Voice: Alice Stewart Remembered Fondly by Media World
Glenn Gilmour, 5/19/2024The conservative movement has lost a shining light - Alice Stewart, a fearless champion of truth and American values. Her untimely passing silences a voice of reason amidst the partisan cacophony. We must honor her legacy by carrying the torch of principled, unapologetic conservatism with the same grace and dignity she embodied.
The conservative media world is mourning the sudden and tragic loss of one of its most beloved voices - Alice Stewart, a veteran Republican strategist and CNN political commentator known for her kindness, wit and unwavering principles. At just 58 years old, Stewart's life was cut short in a shocking turn of events, her body discovered outdoors in a northern Virginia neighborhood on Saturday morning.
Law enforcement officials suspect no foul play, indicating Stewart likely suffered a devastating medical emergency. But for those who knew her well, the news was no less shattering. "Alice was a very dear friend and colleague to all of us at CNN," network CEO Mark Thompson somberly declared in an internal memo. "A political veteran and an Emmy Award-winning journalist who brought an incomparable spark to CNN's coverage, known across our bureaus not only for her political savvy, but for her unwavering kindness."
Stewart's roots in the world of politics and media ran deep - born in Atlanta, she launched her career as a local reporter and news anchor in Georgia and Arkansas before pivoting to Republican campaigns and communications. She served as communications director for former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee's presidential bids in 2008 and 2016, as well as the campaigns of Sen. Ted Cruz, former Rep. Michele Bachmann, and former Sen. Rick Santorum.
Yet it was her role as a CNN commentator that truly cemented Stewart's reputation as a voice of reason and decency amidst the partisan rancor so endemic to modern political discourse. "My role at CNN is to be a conservative commentator; I provide my perspective on the politics of the day from my conservative viewpoint," she explained in a 2020 interview. "There are different facets of conservatism these days...I support the president, but there are a lot of things I don't agree with regarding his tone and demeanor, and I call him out on it when necessary."
Stewart's colleagues - even those of vastly differing ideologies - were united in their admiration for her principled stances and gracious demeanor. "She was a breath of fresh air - always professional - at a time when lack of decorum and civility reign in political discussions," remarked fellow CNN commentator Ana Navarro. And Sen. Ted Cruz, whose 2016 campaign Stewart helped steer, was effusive: "Heartbreaking. Alice was wonderful and talented and a dear friend. And she loved America fiercely. She lived every day to the fullest, and she will be deeply missed."
Indeed, the tributes pouring in captured the true essence of Stewart - a consummate professional, to be sure, but also a genuinely kind soul who engendered respect and affection from allies and opponents alike. CNN's Jake Tapper spoke for many when he said "We are all gutted" by the loss, while anchor Dana Bash hailed Stewart as "a woman's woman who brought kindness and support along with smarts and expertise."
For her legion of admirers, Stewart's untimely passing extinguished a vital light - a principled conservative voice, yes, but more importantly, a shining example of human decency in an arena too often devoid of it. As former Trump advisor Kellyanne Conway so eloquently put it: "Alice Stewart was a remarkable woman of faith, a friend & colleague. She was the same person on-air & off-air: smart, witty, authentic, kind, respectful, insightful." In these bitterly polarized times, her absence will be profoundly felt.
