A running gag on the podcast I co-host is that we continually encourage Republicans to admit their true feelings. So much of conservatism is cloaked behind the veneer of “compassion” that their true feelings don’t come to the surface and the lapdog media is too timid to do any digging. It is with that in mind that I applaud the latest bigot eruption from Don Goldwater, nephew of the very same Barry Goldwater whose campaign in 1968 1964 was so responsible for mainstreaming hate and bigotry in the modern conservative movement.
Don Goldwater, nephew of the late Sen. Barry Goldwater, caused an international stir this week when EFE, a Mexican news service, quoted him as saying he wanted to hold undocumented immigrants in camps to use them “as labor in the construction of a wall and to clean the areas of the Arizona desert that they’re polluting.”
The article described Goldwater’s plan as a “concentration camp” for migrants.
Realizing that while Goldwater’s position may reflect a majority of the Republican caucus, Sen. McCain and Rep. Jim Kolbe understand that the Republican party must keep up the pretense of not being knuckle dragging cavemen and condemned Goldwater. But you know they didn’t mean it.
UPDATE: The news agency says they misquoted Goldwater, though I would add that the sentiment is not far from that echoed by many of the anti-immigration folks on the right.
The article [emphasis added - fd] described Goldwater’s plan as a “concentration camp” for migrants.
Bigotry balloon deflated.
I know how hard you’re trying, Oliver, but it’s just not working. It’s those durn facts that keep getting in the way.
BTW, that ancient “hater” Barry Goldwater, co – founded the NAACP in Arizona.
And, of course, Barry Goldwater ran for President in 1964, not 1968 — but what’s a little fact-checking in the middle of a good rant?
Barry Goldwater whose campaign in 1968 was so responsible for mainstreaming hate and bigotry in the modern conservative movement.
To be perfectly honest, that sounds like bullshit even from my side.
No wonder oliver’s web site has lost so much popularity. Even the liberals think he is spewing garbage.
Unless I’m mistaken (and I haven’t really studied Goldwater’s career in ages), didn’t Barry Goldwater turn positively liberal (well, libertarian, anyway) over the years? I seem to recall him being very much opposed to government intrusion into personal affairs, even including abortion and homosexuality. I remember him being a staunch anti-commie winger in many respects, but that position seemed a lot less remarkable back when I was a kid.
HOWEVER, the Don Goldwater bit about labor camps for illegal aliens is reprehensible. Once again, all the talk centers around closing down our southern borders, mainstreaming the notion that it’s all about the dirty Meskins ruining our white culture. Nor is it much of a leap to see how this feeds and inflames prejudice and hatred, particularly among the fringe, who will no doubt latch onto such language as further validation of their bigotry. But please, they’re not concentration camps, just forced labor.
Right frank, this is the typical leftist diatribe now days…
It’s inhuman to make illegal aliens work while incarcerated! (Of course it is fine for the american citizens….Sheriff Joe has work camps all over the place in Maricopa county).
And you are correct Bill. Goldwater was a REAL republican. He was quoted as saying a women’s right to abortion was “none of my business”. In fact, the republicans in AZ were going to name a building after him, but didn’t because of his laissez-faire attitude on abortion.
From the ABC story: “He said he was calling for a work program for convicted nonviolent felons, similar to “tried and tested, effective and accepted practices” used by state and local jails.”
Reprehensible, indeed.
Anything but open arms for illegal immigrants = racism
Goldwater’s campaign was the victory of (literally) the John Birchers and the Dixiecrats over the Rockefeller Republicans. Goldwater himself tried to tamp down on the wingnuttery of his supporters, but ensuing Republican candidates – Nixon, Reagan, Bush and Bush II embraced it.
And those illegal immigrants that are here now, I plan to put them in a tent city down on the border and use them as the labor force to build the wall and clean up the desert, he said.
Don GoldWater in April.
I don’t see any reference to incarcerated felons in that remark. Maybe now that people are getting a concentration camp/ slave labor image Goldwater is backpedalling to a more um…. politically correct position.
Yes, I totally imagined Willie Horton and Ronny Raygun’s “welfare queens”.
Then who voted for Wallace in 1968?
You do realize that those Democrats didn’t return for years.
But the idea that it was the southern racists went over to the Republicans is nonsense.
First of all, Taft from Ohio gave Eisenhower a run for his money in 1952.
Second, Reagan could have beaten Carter in 1976, but he stepped aside for Ford in the name of party unity.
Read a book by a Republican, once in a while.
Wow- you have a podcast?
You just keep writing those talking points. And quit projecting.
By the way- didn’t you once say your family’s immigration status put you on the same side as the conservative Republicans?
Racist.
Then who voted for Wallace in 1968?
You do realize that those Democrats didn t return for years.
Frank, most of them in the south started voting republican.
I always hear Ollie talking about willie horton.
Ollie, refresh my memory.
Didn’t Horton get a pass from then governor dukakis? Didn’t he escape while on pass? Didn’t he then rape and murder (attempt to murder) someone?
And the republicans are racist because they publicised this?
You leftist really have no shame do you?
“The Massachusetts inmate furlough program actually began under Governor Francis Sargent in 1972. But in 1976 Governor Dukakis vetoed a bill to ban furloughs for first-degree murderers. It would, he said, “Cut the heart out of inmate rehabilitation.”
http://www.forerunner.com/forerunner/X0158_Dukakis__Willie_Hort.html
So I repeat, how does the republican party telling the truth about Horton become racist?
Some people would call Barry Goldwater a libertarian conservative. I believe Barry Goldwater was a true conservative, believing in limiting the power of the federal government to those powers delegated in the Constitution. Such was why he refused to buy into the neo “conservative” banner issue that pushes more governmental interference into the personal lives of ordinary citizens. Yet he stood where it counted on environment issues as he fought against and helped prevent the building of an additional dam, which would have flooded part of the Grand Canyon.
I may not have agreed with him on all issues and only remember his later years. But, his nephew doesn’t sound anything like him, other than belonging to the same political party. That is why I raised an objection to the statement in the original post.
Didn’t you mean to write :did Willie Horton get a furlough under a program signed into law by the previous Republican governor, DrDoper? Why, yes, he did.
Well, Dr.”P” because it wasn’t the truth. And it was racist.
Furlough programs were pretty widespread in many states even prior to Dukakis becoming of Governor of MA.
Even Repug icon, Ronnie Reagan, had one when he was guv of CA. And he even had a number of first-degree murderers who committed murder while on furlough.
The Bush’s campaign made it a racist issue, however, by deliberately putting a face to a name by splashing Horton’s face everywhere. The issue was no longer that Dukakis was soft on crime–the Repus made it that if you elect Dukakis, scary-looking black killers would come to your home, rape your wife and kill you.
What’s interesting is that “willie ” Horton was never known as “willie”–he was always referred to as “William” in court and police reports. But he became “Willie” to the Bush campaign. If you read the Lee Atwater bio Bad Boy–Atwater made sure every racisl sereotype was played up.
>>And the republicans are racist because they publicised this?
Uh…(man, I can’t believe I had to refresh this pinhead’s memory)….I also can’t believe he claims he’s a Dr., at this point.
It wasn’t the furlough program per se–it was the manner in which Lee Atwater and the Bush I regime portrayed Willie Horton, in those now, “infamous” political advertisements to attack Dukakis, who was 17 points up in the polls at the time.
Years later, it’s reported that Atwater himself felt remorse about those ads, that clearly used fear, and race-baiting to influence voters. It was less about the furlough program (which other states, had, at the time), and more about the “imagery” used to instill fear.
Look, knucklehead, it’s the same crap you pulled against Kerry, and even John McCain, when he got some traction with a win against Bush in New Hampshire.
When you start losing, you guys on the right get nasty. You get personal. You’ll do anything, legal or illegal, to maintain your hold on power. Whether it’s manipulating vote counts in Ohio (read RFK’s article in Rolling Stone), or setting new standards for negative campaigning, Republicans have demonstrated conclusively that the lowest common denominator wins elections.
6 years later, it’s *still* amazing to me that a decorated war veteran, in John Kerry, took the brunt of negative campaigning against a failed businessman/cocaine user and alcoholic, who happened to not show up for all of his Guard drills.
In that sense, OW is right. Democrats aren’t particularly good at the “lowest common denominator.”
It’s just that I’m not sure if that’s how I would want to win.
JK
Marty, you’re kind of a one trick pony on your responses, aren’t you? I mean, feel free to disagree with me but come up with something more imaginative.
So DrDoper is blaming Dukakis for not overturning a program started by a previous Republican governor? Wow. As if Dukakis personally signed William (Willie is the Republican name used for race-baiting) Horton’s furlough papers.
Incidently Doper, great uncited quote. What cut the heart out of the program? I couldn’t find many details on the legislation or Dukakis’ quote.
Here’s one for you: Angel Medrano. I believe Reagan furloughed more prisoners than Dukakis.
Angel Medrano was not a murderer, when furloughed…
I swear you lefties must have a hard time looking yourselves in the mirror.
So JK and Jade everything about Horton was true, but it was racist cause they put his picture up? Whatever happened to the “truth” being neither liberal or conservative.
Then to say that “Reagan did it!”, (no reference to the Reagan murderers though!), and Atwater regretted it (no reference) is just the icing on the cake.
Piddgy work on your reading comprehension too. Uncitied quote?
“The majority of this material was taken from the article “Getting Away with Murder,” by Robert James Bidinotto, which appeared in Reader’s Digest, July 1988.”
Finally, my personal favorite…
“The issue was no longer that Dukakis was soft on crime the Repus made it that if you elect Dukakis, scary-looking black killers would come to your home, rape your wife and kill you.”
Another bit of brilliance from jade…..Except that is EXACTLY what happened to the Barnes’, you dumbass.
Pedro,
You didn’t understand one word I said about “imagery,” did you? If you had, you would have addressed my argument.
Clearly, thinking in two dimensions isn’t one of your strong suits, true to GOP form.
Remind me never to get a diagnosis from you.
What’s the point…..I give up.
JK
Ah- more ‘avoid your own personal views for the sake of comedy’.
I always make a point Oliver. In your typical fashion you chose to ignore the real point and hide behind .
At least when I take a swipe, I always try to make a point at the same time.
And one trick pony? That’s funny. You mean GOP=hate is not one of your favorite talking points? Talk about one trick pony.
Especially when you conveniently hide your own views on illegal immigration whenver you start talking about “Republican hate” (except for that one time.) In fact, I would venture to guess that based on your personal history that you, and especially your parents are much more inclined towards the Republican position than the Democrats/McCain/Kennedy version of illegal immigration reform.
By the way- I have always wondered how do you reconcile this “Republicans hate hispanics” talking point on ILLEGAL immigration when a vast majority of Americans (including non-Washington Democrats) see the problem the way Republicans do?
How do you reconcile your personal views based on your family’s immigration status with your “Republicans hate hispanic” talking point?
For that matter, how do you reconcile the fact that almost half of Hispanics think that illegal immigration is a major problem? Do Hispanics hate Hispanics?
(There- is that better Oliver? I realize that subtle doesn’t always work with you.)
the imagery is what is in your imagination, and I am not equipped to address your imagination.
The man was black. They put his picture up. That.Is.Not.Racist. No matter how you try to twist your imagination around it, it isn’t racist. I don’t care how many “dimensions” you think there are, the only one who makes it “racist” is you.
Let me try to put it another way.
Was Ollie trying to play the race card by putting HIS picture on the site? Trying to get an advantage by being black?
And you still keep riding the pony. As I’ve said before, the Dem talking points just aren’t that good or often, it’s yet another area where the RNC is better.
Your inclination would be very wrong, again as I’ve said before I probably agree more with Bush’s position than the GOP base (and my mom is more along the lines of the open borders folks to be frank).
Most Americans are against illegal immigration, but most aren’t in favor of closing the border or building a stupid fence. The motivation of the Republican base against immigration, as evidenced by many of the commenters here and folks like Bill Frist and Tom Tancredo is basic xenophobia. The big fear is that brown men from down south will do harm to our existing culture. If your motivation against immigration is because of race, that’s hate in my book.
Oliver you realize how idiotic you sound when you say something like
“Most Americans are against illegal immigration, but most aren t in favor of closing the border or building a stupid fence”
Don’t you?
That statement has a certain lack of …ahem…internal consistency shall we say?
Actually, no, it doesn’t. Unless you’ve bought into the conservative myth that a fence will increase border security. Because the only one who believes that nonsense is Tom Tancredo and he’s an idiot.
I guess I HAVE bought into the myth that fences help security. Me, and millions of other fence owning americans…
But I am gullible that way. I also bought into the “myth” that drinking water can help slake thirst, but I am SURE that is just another right wing conspiracy….
Oliver, how many Americans do you think “aren t in favor of closing the border”?
Poor Dr”P”.
It should be noted that when Lee Atwater was dying of cancer, he did apologize for the Horton campaign–admitting it was racist.
Yet, Dr “P” still contends there was nothing wrong with the ad campaign.
And let’s also remember nobody referred to William Horton as “Willie”–except the GOP ad campaign creators.
And let’s forget that Colin Powell–in his bio–said this about the Horton ad campaign:
It’s obvious only a fence will protect the borders from illegals flying in on planes from all over the world.
It’s obvious only a fence will make people whose visa has run out go home.
It’s obvious only a fence will prevent Chinese people from emigrating in the cargo holds of ships.
but you know, Mexicans and other Latinos are just SO easy to hate for some, and they are so easy to blame.
Jade, I guess Colin Powell wasn’t bothered enough by the ad campaign to go work for the Bushes’. I guess if you want to stay in the house with ‘massa you have to ignore what ‘massa does to the other slaves.
and there you have it fact.
A black guy that does your bidding….no problem. Otherwise he ain’t nothing but a slave to the massa….
So, anyone else getting a good picture of the REAL racists here?
And when the irish, and chinese and other plane-bound illegals start coming in illegally by the millions, I will be looking for other options. But for now, a fence will do nicely to keep our southern borders from bleeding illegals.
Instead of “quoting” Lee Atwater’s ‘deathbed confession’ about a single campaign ad, how about some reasonably probative evidence that the Republican Party has a racist core, or a corps of racists, or a racist base, or whatever nonsense you lefties have been trying to sell, by hanging your hat on an ad that originated in the Gore campaign 18 years ago!
Yes, but he didn’t murder people while on a furlough program.
Go Fish.
No but Orlando Bosch was when Bush pardoned him. I believe 84 dead was his tally.