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ALLAN C. BROWNFELD
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I remember a Republican Party quite different from the one we see at the present time. I was involved with that party for many years, beginning in college. In Virginia. The Young Republicans I joined were committed to ending segregation, which then existed throughout the South. It was the Democrats who promoted segregation and, in Virginia, were prepared to close the public schools rather than integrate them. This, they proceeded to do. In 1957. It was a Republican, Dwight D. Eisenhower, who sent federal troops to integrate the schools in Little Rock, Arkansas, whose Democratic governor resisted integration.
In law school, I did a law review article about the laws against miscegenation, inter-racial marriage, which existed in Virginia and throughout the South—-all states controlled by Democrats. Until I began to study this subject, I did not know that the Nazis defended their Nuremberg racial laws, by pointing to the law against inter-racial marriage in Virginia. Democrats in those days had little regard for individual freedom. As someone who considered himself conservative, I questioned what right any state had to tell men and women whom they might marry, or restaurant owners and hotel operators whom they might serve.
Later, I worked in Congress for a number of Republicans, for whom I had—-and have—-high regard. These include Reps. Phil Crane (R-IL), Jack Kemp (R-Ny)—-and two members of Congress who went on to be president, George H.W. Bush and Gerald Ford. I never heard any of them speak Ill ,of their Democratic colleagues, much less mock them or call them names. Their goal was to form coalitions with Democrats and convince them of the merits of the legislation they were proposing. Beyond this, they were gentlemen.
Republicans in those days had a philosophy of what government should and should not do. They believed in the Constitution, which reflected the fear of government power which the Framers shared. They believed in the division of power between the executive, legislative and judicial branches. And were particularly concerned about an all-powerful executive. They believed in free markets, free trade and balanced budgets. They believed America was Unique——made up of men and women of every race, religion and nation. They embraced the idea that, “If you shed a drop of American blood, you shed the blood of the whole world.” They understood that we are all immigrants to these shores.
In the world, Republicans believed in American leadership. They were strong proponents of NATO, which has kept the peace in Europe. Since the end of World War ll. They understood the evil of Communism and the goal of world domination pursued by the Soviet Union. Many on the left had sympathy for what they viewed as the Communist “experiment.” I remember that when I was a member of the staff of the U.S. Senate Internal Security subcommittee, we held a series of hearings about religious persecution in Communist countries. These hearings were criticized by, among others, the World Council of Churches. I remember writing them a letter asking, “If there is religious freedom in Communist countries, would you please tell me the address where Bibles are published in the Soviet Union, Romania, Hungary, etc.”. I received no reply.
In our two-party system, we have traditionally had the concept of a “loyal opposition.” The parties have differed on a variety of subjects——how to best provide health care, how to,provide for the poor, how to maintain the environment and a variety of other subjects. In the past, not all Republicans and not all Democrats agreed with the “official” party position. The President was often challenged by members of his own party when they disagreed. Independent thinking was once respected.
What the Republican Party stands for today is difficult to understand. We have the largest budget deficits in our history. While Westrrn Europe, New Zealand, Taiwan, South Korea and other countries have brought the coronavirus pandemic under control, it is still raging here, with no national,plan to deal with it. We have insulted our friends and allies in NATO and the European Union, and have embraced The autocrat who controls Russia. Our slogan of “America First,”. Whether or not those who use it understand, was the slogan of a group that opposed U.S. involvement in the war against Adolph Hitler. It is the opposite of the leadership—-and magnanimity—- the U.S. has traditionally exhibited.
Race relations have been exacerbated by a series of police killings of unarmed black men and women. The need for real police reform is clear. A Republican President, one would have thought, would try to bring a divided country together. Instead, we have seen the opposite from the White House. Fanning the flames is hardly an exercise in leadership.
In my years of observing elections I have never seen so many members of one party——the Republican Party——embracing the candidate of the other party. These include former Secretary of State Colin Powell, former Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel, , former Governor of Ohio John Kasich, and a list which has filled full,page advertisements in The Wall Street Journal and another list in The Washington Post. There have always been a handful,of members of one party supporting the candidate of the other party. But this is a stampede.
We need a Republican Party that represents the values which once, indeed, made it the party of Lincoln. In the open give and take of a free society, a president should be prepared to be criticized. Every president I remember, of both parties, has been subject to it. No one other than our current president, however,, has lashed out with vituperation and insult at the slightest criticism. Remember his response to Sen. ted Cruz (R-TX) in the last election cycle when he accused Cruz’s father of having been involved in the assassination of John F. Kennedy. Or his declaration that he had little respect for American servicemen who had been captured and tortured by the enemy, like the late Sen. John McCain. Sadly, we can fill,pages with such insults. Even his niece and sister, who have been critical, have faced his harsh personal attacks. Is this the kind of example we want for our children? What ever happened to the old idea of being able to disagree without being disagreeable?
Whether or not the Republican Party wins the November election, its future is open to serious question. The things it once stood for all seem to have been abandoned. Those who still believe in those things will have to decide what to do next, no matter who wins in November.
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