A friend of mine sent me some Barry Goldwater quotes that are timely for our current political situation.
Unless you are of a certain age, or are a student of American history you may not know who Barry Goldwater was. He was a five term senator from Arizona and ran on the Republican ticket for President in 1964 against Lyndon B. Johnson. He scared the bejeebers out of a lot people with his hawkish position on the Vietnam War and extreme right wing positions. He lost in a landslide.
While a Republican, he was very much to the right of most of the run-of-mill Republicans. He was considered an extreme right-winger, an ultra-conservative.
All of which make the follow Barry Goldwater quotes very interesting as they reflect the opinion of one of the most conservative members of the Republican Party in the 1960s. The MAGAs would ride him out of town on a rail today, if he said such things.
“Abortion is “a decision that’s up to the pregnant woman, not up to the pope or some do-gooders or the religious right. It’s not a conservative issue at all.”
“Mark my word, if and when these preachers get control of the [Republican] party, and they’re sure trying to do so, it’s going to be a terrible damn problem. Frankly, these people frighten me. Politics and governing demand compromise. But these Christians believe they are acting in the name of God, so they can’t and won’t compromise. I know, I’ve tried to deal with them.”
Well the preachers did get control of the Republican Party, quickly followed by the crazies. Now we are all paying the price.
But then there is this quote which to my mind undoes it all.
“I would remind you that extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice. And let me remind you also that moderation in the pursuit of justice is no virtue.”
Oh well.
And so it went back in the 60s.
Download as PDF
