I have had this meme pop up on my Facebook page more than once now. It attacks Hillary Clinton for supporting Barry Goldwater in 1964 -- when she was still in high school. And it infers that she is somehow not a good progressive for that (something that happened 51 years ago).
I don't blame Bernie Sanders for this. He has kept his campaign on a high level, discussing the issues and avoiding personal attacks on Clinton. But some of his supporters don't seem to have the high ethical standards of their candidate.
This meme suggests we should all be judged by mistakes of our past. I was also a Goldwater supporter in 1964, when I was also in high school. I then went to college and did some growing up, becoming a progressive. Hillary Clinton did the same. And both of us have been good progressives for well over 40 years now. Why must we be judged for something that happened 51 years ago. Can't people change? Are we not as good as someone else because we have been progressives for 45 years instead of 51 years?
I have said several times on this blog that I think we have two great Democratic candidates this year, and we progressives (and Democratic moderates) should vote our conscience in the primary. I also believe we should avoid personal attacks, and keep the campaign on the issues (as both Hillary and Bernie are doing).
This image above is a personal attack -- and a very unfair one at that. It's gutter politics, and reminds me of the type of campaigning that Republicans love to do. At least they have a reason for doing it (being on the wrong side of nearly every issue). Democrats don't need to do this, and it's embarrassing to see progressives climbing down into the gutter to support their candidate. I don't like it -- and I doubt that Bernie would like it either.
And what about grace? I personally think that my years as a libertarian have made me a far more insightful liberal. And let's not forget that there actually was a lot to admire about Goldwater. In his later years, I always enjoyed listening to him going after the Republicans. He understood what had gone wrong better than anyone.
ReplyDeleteI'm taking care of a millennial this week. He really loves Sanders and was ranting against Clinton. I'm all for Sanders, but does he really think Clinton is that much different? Tomorrow I am going to quiz him as to whether he will still vote for Clinton in the general election. If not, there will be words.
So what about Goldwater? No one politician is perfect about everything. And there were and are good reasons to be against the civil rights act....you can see how well that is working with all the bigotry alive and well in the USA.
ReplyDeleteI would have voted for Goldwater back then...I didn't trust Johnson...but I turned 21(had to be 21 then to vote) on the 12th and voting was held on the 4th? 5th.anyhow .before I turned 21..pissed me off..
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