The practices and ideologies of the present Republican Party are shameful, sad, and poor replacements for the great practices and ideologies of the earlier Republican Party.
The ideas of the present Republican Party are flashbacks to the “southern dixiecratisms” of the post-civil war, pre-civil rights era. They are gradual (but intentional) reinstatement of Jim Crow laws, denial of voting rights, repeal of women’s rights, suppression of the masses’ individual freedoms, and the reestablishment of the plantation mentality, which previously culminated in two classes of Americans – the “haves” and the “have-nots.”
The ideas of the earlier Republican Party were courageous, challenging, innovative, God-fearing, democratic visions, which foreshadowed America’s later achievement and laid the ground works for the great nation it became.
I can site many examples that show the dramatic contrast between the present and the earlier republican parties. However, the following brief glimpses at some of the cornerstone beliefs of Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt, Dwight D. Eisenhower and Ronald Reagan will illustrate the point:
Glimpse 1. President Abraham Lincoln freed the slaves. His policies provided hope and freedom to the most impoverished, least empowered, group of people living in the United States. His policies uplifted these newly freed men and women and authorized them to begin taking charge of their lives. But more importantly, however, Lincoln argued that a nation divided couldn’t stand. He believed in “one nation under God with liberty and justice for all.” He felt so strongly about “one united union” that he fought the Civil War to preserve it. His policies created the beginnings of the strong federal (central) government we have today. His policies started “the states” on the path to becoming more inclusive, more democratic, and more united. His effort made two groups of divided states into one union – the United States of America. His legacy left the Republican Party in charge of ensuring that the United States remains a fair, just, and united nation that protects the rights, and fight for the rights of its most vulnerable citizens – regardless of their race, creed, gender, or national origin.
Glimpse 2. Theodore Roosevelt regulated, defended, and promoted corporations throughout the United States and around the world. He believed the “bully pulpit” of his presidency granted him permission to speak, mediate, defend, and act on behalf of all Americans. But most importantly, however, Theodore Roosevelt was the conservation president. He believed in the preservation of the land, the air, and the water. He believed in the pristine beauty of the natural world. The national parks we have in the United States, today, are largely the results of the legislation he signed between 1901– 1909,and the Antiquities Act he signed on June 8,1906.
Glimpse 3. President Dwight D. Eisenhower was the personification of knowledge, skills, confidence, and vision. Ironically these qualities made him a victim of his own genius. For although he was respected, trusted, and loved by the American people, most political experts believed then and now that he was the beneficiary of the presidency during a very calm period in American and world history. I believe the truth is far more complicated: The calmness of Eisenhower’s presidency, in my judgment, was due in large measure to his ability to anticipate problems and prevent them from occurring. He was the last great proactive president we had: I believe he saw the social, domestic, and economic problems in the United States and the world in a way that is similar to a grand master chess player seeing his opponents next eight moves before they occurred. I truly believe the armed forces training of military commands develops their abilities to anticipate, articulate, prepare, and evaluate their commands for all future scenarios. The commanders who demonstrate the best abilities to perform these skills rise to the top echelons. No one rose higher or distinguished himself more clearly than President Eisenhower. I think he is the most underrated president that lived. Today we give too much credit to leaders who demonstrate how effectively and efficiently they can put out the fires occurring during their administration, and no enough credits to leaders who demonstrate how effectively and efficiently the can prevent fires from occurring in the first place! President Eisenhower falls into the latter category.
Glimpse 4. Ideologically, Ronald Reagan was a member of the Tea Party, before there was a Tea Party. He suggested that there were two major causes for America’s problems. The first was big government wasteful spending; and the second was taxes. He argued that we needed to reduce the size of government and drastically cut taxes. However, Reagan’s argument was ironic because no one grew the size of the armed forces, built more unnecessary weapon systems, awarded more defense contracts, and wasted the tax payer money of weapon research and development than he. Yes, he cut taxes and argued, like the Tea Party of today, that the benefits from reduced taxes will trickle down to those Americans at the bottom of the economic ladder. It never did; instead it got worst for most of them. Most importantly, however, President Ronald Reagan believed in making deals, and he believed in communicating with everyone. He spoke and dine with the democrats. He respected and valued the opinions of House Speaker Tip O’Neill. He gave members of Congress arrangements, agreements, and contracts specific to the need of their constituencies. And he gave the public a voice: Reagan articulated, most clearly, their hopes and dreams for the future.
Contrast the four glimpses of Lincoln, Roosevelt, Eisenhower and Reagan with a current look at the present republican leadership. Present republican leadership is marked by divided government (anti-Lincoln), exploitation of our natural resources (anti-Roosevelt), lack of vision or short sightedness (anti-Eisenhower), and the unwillingness to compromise, talk to the other side, or provide all Americans with hope (anti-Reagan).
Yet, they’re probably going to win most of the elections, including the presidency.
God help us!
By
James A. Porter
