Posted on 06/10/2002 11:04:43 AM PDT by rdb3
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Can the Right Unite?
FrontPageMagazine.com | June 10, 2002 INDUBITABLY AMERICA’S SOCIALISTS are well organized and well funded. Organizations such as the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) have accomplished much in terms of disseminating misinformation, communicating their message, and obtaining access to political, media, and academic centers of influence. They have been able to persuade the opinion makers and trendsetters (The "limo liberals" or, as Allan Levite wrote, "Penthouse Bolsheviks," a concept he details in his book, "Guilt, Blame, and Politics"). In fact, if the DSA were a corporation, they would win awards for their marketing department.
They have established The Center for Democratic Values (CDV) a network of academics, professionals and activists committed to making "progressive" ideas about society, the economy, and government part of the mainstream. They do this by through organizing to make their collective presence significant and doing whatever is necessary to spread their message. Their first conference in 1997 featured sessions such as " Reclaiming Religion and Morality" (speakers were a Rabbi and a professor from Vanderbilt Divinity School), "101 Ways to Get Your Progressive Issues on Talk Radio" (the speakers: talk show host Ellen Ratner, a former NYC Consumer Affairs Commissioner, and a member of the People for the American Way). Black radical Cornel West was there as well. The CDV has implemented a "Letters to the Editor" project providing members with templates for letters and addresses of the editors of major media publications and news outlets. A sample of their op-eds includes one opposing capital punishment by University of Delaware Philosophy Professor Harry Brod, which was featured in the Philadelphia Inquirer. Another one by UC Santa Cruz professor discusses white racism and another Philadelphia Inquirer piece inveighs against privatizing Social Security. None of these pieces mentions the DSA. It is obvious that the socialists are very adept of creating communicating and implementing their policies. However, help could be on the way. Readers of FrontPageMagazine.com are familiar with David Horowitz’s campus crusades and the Center for the Study of Popular Culture’s efforts to bring political diversity to Hollywood. However, there are other conservative groups working for these goals as well. One such group is National Association of Scholars (NAS). The NAS, which held a conference in Washington, DC, is an organization that is not so much conservative as it is anti-political correctness. Their advisors and members include such distinguished academicians as Eugene Genovese, Richard Lamm, Jeanne J. Kirkpatrick, Robert Bork , Gertrude Himmelfarb, and Christina Hoff Sommers. The NAS is committed to diversity in discourse--unlike the socialist academicians and administrators who purge any thought that is contrary to their dogma. Another organization dedicated to free speech is the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education. Founded by Alan Kors a History professor at the University of Pennsylvania (famous for his representation of the student in the "water buffalo" incident) and Harvey Silverglate of the Massachusetts ACLU, they represent students and faculty who have been fired, suspended, expelled, or faced similar actions by universities simply because they exercised their free speech rights. Other organizations that are working to prevent the hegemony of the socialists in academia are Young America’s Foundation, the Intercollegiate Studies Institute, and Accuracy in Academia. Individuals such as Jay Bergman, a History professor at Central Connecticut and Sharad Karkhanis a professor at CUNY do their part as well. Bergman sued the college to rescind a reprimand he received after he attempted to exercise his free speech rights. Karkhanis publishes a newsletter at Kingsborough Community College with anecdotes about collegiate political correctness. The remedies for Marxist/feminism include the Clare Boothe Luce Policy Institute, the Independent Women’s Forum, the Eagle Forum, and ifeminsts.com. Each has instituted drives to provide information about women’s issues to counteract the dogmatic Marxism provided by NOW and similar groups on the left. The American Center for Law in Justice is the "anti-ACLU" insofar as religion is concerned. Their efficacy preventing the bowdlerization of religion from society is listed on their website. Danny Schroeder, an individual who invested his own money to publish a satirical novel about Conservative grassroots individuals and organizations, involved with a variety of issues, exist all over the country. True-Blue Freedom is a Cincinnati taxpayer group. They have organized a "protest" protest. On Flag Day, they are sponsoring a rally in Cincinnati protesting the business boycott by African-Americans and socialists. Stephen Frazier, an African-American, has his own website "The Black Turncoat Forum," which is a forum for black conservatives. Free Republic is a large grassroots organization that is active in advocating conservative politics and issues. Lucianne.com is a conservative website forum similar to Free Republic’s website. Many of these organizations and websites are listed with Townhall.com. Conservative and middle class media outlets include the Washington Times, Wall Street Journal, Pittsburgh Tribune Review, Boston Herald, LA Daily News, TalkAmerica, radio talkers Neal Boortz, Oliver North, Ken Hamblin, Armstrong Williams and TV programs We The People, American Liberty Foundation and, for undiluted news and political esoterica, C-SPAN. If you go on-line, you will locate websites for many libertarian, and conservative groups. Information about the Second Amendment, Affirmative Action, Politically Incorrect Colleges are all available. However, unlike the socialists these organizations do not coalesce. Nonetheless, the antidote for socialism in America does exist—at least if these groups can unite to battle the left. |
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Indeed it does, but I can't even guess as to why. I think the Greens pose little, if any, threat to the RATS.
I see. This statement is offered, all while totally ignoring (apparently) the substance of the piece.
Interesting. Thank you for your (non) contribution.
You and I most certainly will keep trying, BANNER-MAN!
;-)
Substance?
Do you think statements such as the following have substance?
I would focus instead on "cooperation." The real strength of our enemies has come in their instinctive cooperation on a wide variety of issues, without necessarily compromising any aspect of what is important to individual organizations. It would be well if we could work together generally, without the need to try to force all into one mold, wherever individual consciences will allow. At the very least, we should apply Ronald Reagan's Eleventh Commandment--proposed for Republicans as to other Republicans, but equally applicable (really more applicable) to our ideological fellow Conservatives)--and not speak ill of one another.
But well beyond such mutual acceptance, there are a wide range of issues, where most Conservative groups could cooperate, very well indeed. And it is one of the major keys to reversing the trends that threaten everything that we believe in.
William Flax Return Of The Gods Web Site
Just a theory, mind you. But not every one is politically savvy. Some go on headlines and Brokaw/Rather/Jennings news. They simply hear Democratic Party and automatically think Democracy. I think it's why they can form these numerous groups of people - ignorance is bliss folks - and actually control their direction. These poor saps think they're doing it for Democracy.
Does this make sense?
"Social conservatives" are often their own worst enemy. While I desire a moral society, I'm not convinced that the way to go about it is through legislation. Autonomous people will do what they want to do, regardless of what I or anyone else think.
For example, I think homosexuality is both unnatural and an absolute abomination. Yet I'm against sodomy laws. Does this make me a libertarian?
Hardly!
I can bring any number of issues up that deal with our society and its moral decay. However, stacking up the number of laws in our society really makes our society corrupt, moreso than what "social conservative" legislation would hope to alleviate. Ultimately, the individual and his or her homosexuality will be dealt with by God. In the meantime, let we who oppose the homosexualization of our culture speak out loudly! Let us speak with both our voices and our money. Too many of us will complain amongst ourselves, but not where it counts the most. I believe that more will come about through active participation in society with our actions than will by attempting to go through D.C.
If legislative action for social conservatives is of utmost importance, then get involved locally to create the type of community within you desire to live.
There's more.
Take the drug issue. As a Christian, I think that if one plant that grows naturally is legal (tobacco), then another (marijuana) which grows naturally should NOT be illegal.
Does that mean that I'm pro-weed? Nope. Just logically consistent. And far more suffer from lung cancer than do from the affects of marijuana. Harder narcotics? That's a whole different discussion. But the libertarian right is just radically indifferent to honest debate on the issue (read: their way or the highway).
I'd like to work on a roadmap towards unification of the Right, with the goal of resecuring our freedom and the destruction of the Left's stranglehold over America as a whole.
We have conservatives, social conservatives, paleos, neos, and libertarians who comprise the overall Right. What combination of issues can we all agree upon and work to realize the accomplishment of their fruition which then serves as a springboard towards the other areas within which we disagree?
Hmmm...
One, I think that each and everyone of us must realize that our continued fractured state is akin to a football team with only 8 players. How successful is an 8-player football team going to be against a full 11-player team? You may get two first downs in four quarters, if you're lucky.
I'm open for suggestions, just for kicks. I'm in no position to influence anyone anywhere.
Okay.
Can two walk except they be agreed? Amos 3:3
If you can't see the forest for one branch, I can't walk with you, and have no desire to do so, either.
RTR.
Bingo!
Remember last year when some GOP legislators began to, and correctly I might add, refer to the RATS as the "Democrat Party?" The RATS raised a ruckus over it because of what you state here. They count on "Democrat" and "Democratic" being subconsciously connected with "democracy."
Excellent point.
I wouldn't say that's always the case but it is when the choices are ideologically far apart.
We have conservatives, social conservatives, paleos, neos, and libertarians who comprise the overall Right. What combination of issues can we all agree upon and work to realize the accomplishment of their fruition which then serves as a springboard towards the other areas within which we disagree?
I think taxes may be the best issue- these guys are too far apart on most social issues and not all of them are constitutionalists.
A worthy goal for sure. I'll help if I can.
Well, as I see it, my initial comment on this thread criticized the author's pretentious writing style.
OTOH, your responses to me have once again taken the form of a personal attack.
Your inability and lack of desire "to walk with me" is not MY problem.
I think that slight change in terms is significant. "Unite" does have a manefeso-ish ring to it.
P.S. Everytime I see your username I get homesick!
I think the right is united and like never before. Of course, if you go by the vocal loud mouths on FreeRepublic, you'd think the world is coming to end for the political rightwing. That isn't the case. If you discount the rants from all the fringe extremists, you know, the political malcontents and social misfits, conservative-Republicans are still a very powerful force. Our conservative President, enjoys 95% approval from Republicans and since conservatives make up, the majority base for the Republican Party, Bush probably gets about 90% support from conservatives. Republicans have controlled the full Congress six of the last seven years and with some hard workd and a little luck, will take back control of the Senate this November. The just over one million votes given to Buchanan, Browne, Hagelin and Phillips in the 2000 general election, are the dissatisfied fringe element on the political right. Nothing to fear from those folks, except high volume rehtoric, that leads nowhere and can't win any elections.
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