Like the communists that were kicked out of the Democratic Party in the 1940’s liberals were kicked out of the GOP but over a much longer period of time. For tradition and contrariness as much as anything else I decided to stick with my family’s long time Party when I reached voting age in 1972. That means that my Republican association began twelve years before this chart begins and, trust me, there were even more “liberals” in the Republican Party in the years I signed up.
There were a number of events which winnowed liberals and moderates out. I’d like to think on this hypothesis a bit before I wrap myself up in it but I’d say it was the calculations of hacks that drove them out in order not to offend richer pickings from chip on their shoulder Southerners, religious know-it-alls and Ayn Rand Union haters. Pragmatic politicians gave way or were driven out by politicians who were happy to shill for these forces whatever their personal beliefs. The result is Mitt Romney whose political soul is for sale so cheaply that even the Republican hardliners don’t trust him for fear he’ll turn on them should he be elected.
My personal turning points were 1980, 1992 and 2006. The first time, in 1980, I voted for third party candidate John Anderson a former moderate Republican and his Democratic Running mate the Democratic Wisconsin Governor Patrick Lucey. The second time I became a third party candidate for Congress when I ran with the Ross Perot crowd until their man started saying black helicopters were flying over his ranch. After that I retreated back to the GOP although I voted for Bill Clinton. In 1994 I was thrilled that Newt Gingrich dragged the Congressional Republicans to victory even though I thought his Contract with America was pretty thin gruel. It was the fifty year control by Democrats I resented. That soured soon enough with Gingrich pulling stunts like ordering everybody to use a long list of perjoritive words whenever they referred to the “Democrat” party. It could no longer be the democratic party because that sounded to wholesome and patriotic.
I finally gave up the ghost in 2006 when I began attending Minnesota’s Democratic Party Caucuses. At the first one a Democrat gave a wonderful speech about how great my hero Abe Lincoln was. Back in the GOP was all “Abe who?” Even so I ran for Congress then for a second time as an Independent candidate. This year, should I run, it will be as a Democrat.
If you’ve read my fantasy Congressional campaign you may be scratching your head at part of the plan that says that if I win as a Democrat this year (presuming I file) I’ll run as a Republican in 2114. Most of you would find that crazy. For me its merely novel.
Let me give you some precedents.
In 1864 Republican Abe Lincoln asked a Democrat, Andrew Johnson, to be his running mate to create a powerful symbol of national unity in a time of our greatest disunity.
In 1928 FDR courted Herbert Hoover to be the Democratic Party Presidential nominee.
In 1952 Harry Truman courted General Eisenhower to be the Democratic Party’s Presidential nominee.
I’ve mentioned the David Niven movie a couple times in previous posts like this one. It was a war time comedy called “Best of Enemies.” Here’s a sweet little film review by Roger Ebert. Politics was a lot like that movie for most of my youth.
Until Newt Gingrich arrived on the scene Democrats and Republicans could fight hammer and tong over issues of importance to them and then go out for drinks together after the end of a long Congressional Day. With Gingrich, and Limbaugh, and Fox News Democrats became baby killers, Jew haters, appeasers, you name it and our long poisonous electoral history spiraled out of control despite the ironic fact that we as a nation were getting well past some of the real nastiness like Jim Crow and a toxic anti-Catholicism.
Here’s one more personal precedent for me. My Grandfather was a rock ribbed Republican from Kansas. He was an elected official winning 12 straight races as a Republican. When I was born in 1950 and christened “Harry” a lot of Kansans raised their eyebrows. It was hard for most Kansans to imagine anyone naming their child after that little ornery cussing Democrat in the White House. (I was named for my Dad’s Father, Harry) You can be sure my Grandfather, George Robb, (the one in that video earlier today) had no use for Harry Truman and sure as shootin never voted for him. And yet when my Mother asked him what he thought of Truman he told her that he liked the President.
That’s where I’m going. These Republicans that I excoriate are not bad people for the most part. They are simply trapped in a web created for them long ago. I will do my part to undo their fetters….if I file for office. Heck, no party is perfect. My book is about some pretty bad days in the history of Minnesota’s DFL. Its meant to be a cautionary tale. I just hope I get the damn thing written.
