[Ernie.cal]

Wizard - Now you are inventing straw-man arguments!

I never said anything about "abandoning" States rights arguments because racists hijacked that philosophical viewpoint. My point is that we should reject the RACISTS -- not States rights!

One might want to peruse the FBI file entitled "KKK Infiltration of Law Enforcement" for some background into how prominent southern community leaders (judges, sheriffs, police departments, clergymen, newspapers, businessmen, etc.) were using "States rights" to hide their true agenda.

You and I may disagree over what takes priority when a decision must be made about egregious violations by State or local governments controlled by segregationists whose phony fights against "subversion" or "un-American" activities were usually nothing more than window-dressing for their white supremacist point of view.

There are many honorable, decent, and thoughtful Americans who championed the States' rights position (Robert Taft and Barry Goldwater come immediately into mind) -- but they did so WITHOUT appealing to the WORST qualities in our countrymen or allying themselves with bigots.

Regretably, such figures as Sen. James Eastland (MS), Gov. Ross Barnett (MS), Gov. Marvin Griffin (GA), General Edwin A. Walker, and the John Birch Society (to name just a few) fall into the latter category.

A good idea does not become a bad one just because bad people attach themselves to it. That applies to left-wing ideas also---something which Birchers need to consider when they attempt to conflate Communism with anything left-of-center that they don't like.

And, yes, I HAVE read all of your posts (usually 2 or more times). Not sure what you think I overlooked.

Ernie

[wizardoz]

I never said anything about "abandoning" States rights arguments because racists hijacked that philosophical viewpoint.

Well, perhaps we'd better slow down and maybe you can elaborate what you meant by this:

No thinking person allies himself with anyone or any group that is morally defective just because that person or group might have some political ideas that resonate.