On Barry Goldwater

Much is being said lately about Barry Goldwater. His granddaughter CC released a movie on HBO called "Mr. Conservative; Goldwater on Goldwater." Watergater John Dean put out a book he started with Goldwater called "Conservative without Conscience," criticizing the excesses of the "neo-conservatives" of the current Bush administration. Many Republicans, feeling betrayed by Bush and the current Congressional majority's abuses are re-registering as "Goldwater Democrats" (sort of like when "Reagan Democrats" became Republicans). Still other Republicans feel like the current power holders have abandoned Goldwater's ways. Prairie Home Companion host, Garrison Keillor wrote in his 2004 book "Homegrown Democrat," that the current Democratic party is more like the Republican party of his youth (1940's-early 60's). Humorist Al Frankin has been voicing similar feelings, that Democrats, not G.W.Bush-Republicans are the party of traditional American (dare we say "family") values.

Growing up in Arizona, I came to see Goldwater, our senior Senator for most of my life as sort of a patron saint. When the shrimp hit the fan with Watergate, he went to Nixon and told him to step down. Goldwater was P.O.ed that Nixon had been lying to him. When we got a wing-nut governor in the late '80's, he was highly critical of the corrupt, religious speaking, flag waving freak show that had hijacked his party. Now mind you, I disagree on his stand on states-rights in opposition to civil rights, especially integrating schools and of course there was the idea he had about using "strategic" nukes in Vietnam. Nobody's perfect. But time and time again, I find myself agreeing with him on SO MANY things that I USED to be able to find common ground on with my Republican friends- things like deficit reduction, government reform and streamlining. I think that if he were still alive today he wouldn't have much good to say about President Bush Junior, Speaker Haster, or former Majority Leader DeLay. As a matter of fact, I think he'd be pissed about how we got into Iraq and he'd probably take current Arizona Senator John McCain out behind the woodshed for a lashing a few times for what a whimp and a hypocrite he's been for not standing up to the Bill Frists, Carl Roves, and Dick Cheneys of this world.

Anyway. In honor of one of my favorite Republicans (Lincoln, Roosevelt, Ike, Clarence Hoffman, and Mom), here are some wise words from the old man of the desert:

"I am a conservative Republican," Barry Goldwater wrote in a 1994 Washington Post essay, "but I believe in democracy and the separation of church and state. The conservative movement is founded on the simple tenet that people have the right to live life as they please as long as they don't hurt anyone else in the process."

When Sandra Day O'Connor was nominated to the Supreme Court in 1981, some Religious Right leaders suspected she might be too moderate on abortion and other social concerns. Moral Majority founder Jerry Falwell told the news media that "every good Christian should be concerned." Replied Goldwater, "Every good Christian should line up and kick Jerry Falwell's ass."

"I don't have any respect for the Religious Right. There is no place in this country for practicing religion in politics. That goes for Falwell, Robertson and all the rest of these political preachers. They are a detriment to the country."

"Being a conservative in America traditionally has meant that one holds a deep, abiding respect for the Constitution. We conservatives believe sincerely in the integrity of the Constitution. We treasure the freedoms that document protects. . .

"You don't have to be straight to be in the military; you just have to be able to shoot straight."

"on religious issues there can be little or no compromise. There is no position on which people are so immovable as their religious beliefs. There is no more powerful ally one can claim in a debate than Jesus Christ, or God, or Allah, or whatever one calls this supreme being. But like any powerful weapon, the use of God's name on one's behalf should be used sparingly. The religious factions that are growing throughout our land are not using their religious clout with wisdom. They are trying to force government leaders into following their position 100 percent. If you disagree with these religious groups on a particular moral issue, they complain, they threaten you with a loss of money or votes or both. I'm frankly sick and tired of the political preachers across this country telling me as a citizen that if I want to be a moral person, I must believe in "A," "B," "C," and "D." Just who do they think they are? And from where do they presume to claim the right to dictate their moral beliefs to me? And I am even more angry as a legislator who must endure the threats of every religious group who thinks it has some God-granted right to control my vote on every roll call in the Senate. I am warning them today: I will fight them every step of the way if they try to dictate their moral convictions to all Americans in the name of 'conservatism.'" -- From the Congressional Record, September 16, 1981