August 30, 2007
No Goldwater ::
politics — tagged politics, senate and washington dc
7:47 am
Slate discusses whether the Republicans lashing out against Larry Craig is consistent with the fundamental principles of conservatism—namely, by asking what Barry Goldwater would have done in the same situation. Looking back to the 1964 campaign for President, when Goldwater decided against attacking Johnson for keeping his aide Walter Jenkins after Jenkins had been arrested for the same behavior in a Washington, D.C. YMCA, Slate argues that Republicans today have drifted far away from their more principled—not to mention personally decent—roots. Goldwater recounted his reasoning for leaving the matter alone:
As Goldwater later wrote, “It was a sad time for Jenkins’ wife and children, and I was not about to add to their private sorrow. Winning isn’t everything. Some things, like loyalty to friends or lasting principle, are more important.”
I can imagine the sort of personal turmoil this incident has created for the Senator’s family. That his colleagues have either abandoned him or have decided to openly attack him speaks volumes on their current lack of decency.
