I am reading BEFORE THE STORM by Rick Perlstein which tells the story of the rise of Goldwater conservatives within the Republican party.
It is very very interesting and surely plenty would need to be said.
But as I was finishing a chapter about the 1960 convention, I read the speech Goldwater gave there when some of his supporters, upset at the inclusion of civil rights in the Republican platform and at some concessions Nixon made to more liberal Rockfeller, were clamoring for him to turn this into a floor fight.
Read below. Please.
"We are conservatives,
"This great Republican Party is our historic house. This is our Home.
"Some of us do not agree with every statement in the official platform of our party, but I might remind you that this is always true in every platform of an American political party... We can be absolutely certain of one thing — in spite of the individual points of difference, the Republican platform deserves the support of every American over the blueprint for socialism presented by the Democrats....
"Yet, if each segment, each section of our great party were to insist on the compelte and unqualified acceptance of its views, if each viewpoint were to be enforced by a Russian-type veto, the Republican Party would not long survive....
"Now, radical Democrats, who rightfully fear that the American people will reject their extreme program in November, are watching this convention with eager hope that some split will occur in our party. I am telling them now that no such split will take place. Let them know that the conservatives of the Republican Party do not intend by any act of theirs to turn this country over, by default, to a party which as lost its belief in the dignity of man, a party which as no faith in our economic system, a party which has come to the belief that the United States is a second-rate power...
"While Dick and I may disagree on some points, there are not many. I would not want any negative action of mine to enhance the possibility of victory going to those who by their very words have lost faith in American.... Republicans have not been losing elections because of more Democrat votes - now get this - we have been losing elections because conservatives often fail to vote.
"Why is this? And you conservatives think it over. We don’t gain anything when you get mad at a candidate because you don’t agree with his every philosophy. We don’t gain anything when you disagree with the platform and then do not go out and work and vote for your party. I know what you say, "I will get even with that fellow. I will show this party something." But what are you are doing when you stay at home? You are helping the opposition party elect candidates dedicated to the destruction of this country.... Now, I implore you, forget it. We have had our chance and I think the conservatives have made a splendid showing at this Convention. We have had our chance. We have fought our battle. Now lets put our shoulders to the wheel for Dick Nixon and push him across the line.
"This country is too important for anyone’s feelings. This country, in its majesty, it too great for any man, be he conservative or liberal, to stay home just because he does not agree. Let’s grow up, conservatives. If we want to take this Party back, and I think we can someday, lets get to work." — Senator Barry Goldwater, 1960 Republican Nominating Convention, Chicago, IL.
Replace Republican by Democrats and ignore the conservative BS on Soviets and all and this is exactly the kind of speech I hope Hillary, the former Goldwater girl, will give either later this week (crossing fingers) or in two weeks.