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restoring our biblical and constitutional foundations
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Goldwater’s Heirs?
Few writers who claim the “conservative” label have
acquired so prominent a position in the establishment as George Will.
Hence, Will’s musings are of consequence and consideration.
In his latest
column, Will says a couple of strange things. First, he wrote that
political conventions are “intensely interesting.” That’s a knee-slapper,
but not unexpected coming from a bow-tie wearing journalist. Seriously, is
watching McCain, Miller, Edwards, and the rest rant, rave, and prevaricate
really interesting?
Secondly, Will says that the Republican convention saw a rebirth of
Goldwaterism. Since, I had better things to do then watch the convention
(there were heaps of dog dung I had to scoop in the back yard), I was
interested in this mysterious trend that Will had spotted.
What evidence was proffered by Will to prove his assertion that the spirit
of Goldwater had been resurrected in New York? Why the rapturous reception
given to Rudy Giuliani and Arnold Schwarzenegger.
OK, so Will thinks Schwarzenegger and Giuliani are Goldwaterites? When
they endorse repealing the Civil Rights Act of 1964, call for the repeal
of Social Security, support selling the Tennessee Valley Authority, and
condemn racial preferences, I might agree. Until such time, I will
continue to consider them liberals.
In truth, what Will is doing is defining Goldwaterism to mean libertinism.
What he seems to find disturbing about the right is its opposition to the
homosexualist and pro-abort attack on American life. Will writes that “the
dominance of the cultural conservatives gave force to the Democrats' and
the media's caricatures of the Republican Party as a brackish lagoon of
intolerance, a caricature that, like all caricatures, contained a trace of
truth.”
My, my. So it turns out the social right is a “lagoon of intolerance” to
be rescued by paragons of virtue like Ahhhnold and Rudy. What Will is
counseling is that the Republicans, who have in no substantive way
countered the radical homosexuals and done nothing to turn the tide
against abortion, should do even less.
When will conservative Christians wake up to the fact that they have no
political home?
September 5, 2004
Darrell Dow writes from Jeffersonville, Indiana where he works as a statistician. A misanthropic Paleoconservative, Darrell is the husband of Kathy, and the father of Joshua and Andrew. To see pictures of the boys and get a small glimpse into the Dow house, visit the family website. Darrell also maintains a website and a new blog. Darrell can be contacted here.