When Men Spoke Boldly
August 4th, 2008 at 06:35am Mark Noonan
Grand Old Partisan remembers Oliver Morton, a Civil War-era GOPer:
During the Civil War, Governor Morton blocked a Democrat ploy to withdraw the state militia from the U.S. Army by having Republican legislators walk out, preventing a quorum. For the next two years, he funded the state government with contributions from Republican counties and the War Department. When Secretary Stanton told him that the War Department’s (illegal) financial support for the state of Indiana would open Governor Morton to prosecution should the U.S. Government lose the Civil War, Morton replied: “If we lose this war, I do not wish to live.”
A few years later, as a U.S Senator, Oliver Morton had this to say: “Every one who shoots down negroes in the streets, burns negro school-houses and meeting-houses, and murders women and children by the light of their own flaming dwellings, calls himself a Democrat. Every New York rioter in 1863 who burned up little children in colored asylums, who robbed, ravished, and murdered indiscriminately in the midst of a blazing city for three days and nights, calls himself a Democrat. In short, the Democratic Party may be described as a common sewer and loathsome receptacle into which is emptied every element of treason, North and South, every element of inhumanity and barbarism which has dishonored the age.”
Strong stuff, but when the truth needs to be told, then one should tell it - and back in those days, what Morton was saying was 100% true. I bring this up for two reasons:
1. To add yet more proof of the GOP’s ancient concern for the rights of African-Americans.
2. To demonstrate that some times we must speak boldly - that when someone is doing something really horrific, we should be horrified and tell everyone how we view the issue. To hide behind mealy-mouthed words in the service of false amity is to play the part of a coward.
It is true that we must work for peace and for the calm settlements of our differences - but when one side continually usurps the rights of the people, continually protects their corrupt members and continually undermines the war effort in the service of partisan goals, then we are justly outraged, and we should say so. We have allowed, in the name of national unity, the Democrats to have too free a time with their partisan, hate-filled and corrupt attacks. Part of this stemmed from an admirable impulse on the part of President Bush (as well as John McCain, and others) to honestly work with Democrats for the public good, but another part of it stems from a fear of censure. Too many GOPers fear to be called divisive…and the absurd part of this is twofold: we’re going to be called divisive any time we disagree, and we’re being called divisive by those who feed on the divisions in our society.
What we must do is stand up and make our voices heard - remembering that while we may lose even so, at least we’ll at least lose honorably after putting up a strong fight.
Entry Filed under: Campaign 2008, Corruption, Democrats, Republicans
30 Comments
1. Melvin Sikes | August 4th, 2008 at 7:35 am
Ancient History.
Republicans use to be the good guys.
They use to be the party of Lincoln.
The policies that have passed over the last fifty years have shown that they are racists and fascists.
McCain’s most recent adds are clearly speaking to in code but we in the South know what he is saying. He is calling Obama an uppity nigger.
You cannot get much more racist than that.
2. Stingray | August 4th, 2008 at 8:06 am
Why now do the Repugs want to learn about their roots? Well if this is how you feel Mark, then why don’t you condemn McCain’s recent ads that even David Gurgen referred to as nothing more than accusing Obama of being an uppity black man who does not know his place? Ads that play to the worst parts of our society and are intended not to educate by to scare.
Mark since you have proven to be a student of history, what is Obama’s place?
3. CanadianObserver | August 4th, 2008 at 8:43 am
If what you say about the early Republican Party is true, Mark, then something shameful has happened since then.
Republicans should take a long hard look at what their Party has become and insist that there be a return to the humane policies of the past.
4. neocon | August 4th, 2008 at 8:58 am
Melvin, Vicodin, and CO,
You hyper-sensitive little lemmings. 69% of the people disagree with your liberal talking point of what McCain “meant”. Hard to believe that you don’t believe the despicable things Ahmendijad actually says, but are able to decipher McCains “code”.
It is the Dems that have shamelessly continue to inject race into this campaign, but that is expected from the “common sewer” party. (What a great line)
Sixty-nine percent (69%) of the nation’s voters say they’ve seen news coverage of the McCain campaign commercial that includes images of Britney Spears and Paris Hilton and suggests that Barack Obama is a celebrity just like them. Of those, just 22% say the ad was racist while 63% say it was not.
However, Obama’s comment that his Republican opponent will try to scare people because Obama does not look like all the other presidents on dollar bills was seen as racist by 53%. Thirty-eight percent (38%) disagree.
5. neocon | August 4th, 2008 at 10:14 am
CO,
I am glad that you aksed about what has transpired since Governor Mortons proclamation. The following are just some of the examples:
- October 20, 1942 60 prominent African-Americans issue Durham Manifesto, calling on southern Democrats to abolish their all-white primaries
- April 3, 1944 U.S. Supreme Court strikes down Texas Democratic Party’s “whites only” primary election system
- February 18, 1946 Appointed by Republican President Calvin Coolidge, federal judge Paul McCormick ends segregation of Mexican-American children in California public schools
- July 11, 1952 Republican Party platform condemns “duplicity and insincerity” of Democrats in racial matters
September 30, 1953 Earl Warren, California’s three-term Republican Governor and 1948 Republican vice presidential nominee, nominated to be Chief Justice; wrote landmark decision in Brown v. Board of Education
- December 8, 1953 Eisenhower administration Asst. Attorney General Lee Rankin argues for plaintiffs in Brown v. Board of Education
May 17, 1954 Chief Justice Earl Warren, three-term Republican Governor (CA) and Republican vice presidential nominee in 1948, wins unanimous support of Supreme Court for school desegregation in Brown v. Board of Education
6. js | August 4th, 2008 at 10:27 am
so, the democratic party is all for taxing corportations as heavily as they can…the result was for all the jobs those corporations created to be moved to 3rd world nations…resulting in less work and lower wages for everyone…ecspecially hard hit however, was the minority populations whose means of making an decent and honest living was taxed out of existence by the very party that obama represents….
did anyone mention the fact that obama has well made his intentions known that he intends to tax the shiite out of corporations…again…?
7. Poncho Bowler | August 4th, 2008 at 11:48 am
Democrats Alone Should Apologize For Slavery & Jim Crow
Democrats want to give an apology for slavery and Jim Crow laws.
The civil war is not enough of an apology? 620,000 dead is not enough?
8. Ai Karumba | August 4th, 2008 at 11:51 am
How dare the Dems cast the Rep’s in the same light. The past 50 years there has been a war against socializing America and the Republicans don’t have to apologize for that.
When it comes to slavery keep in mind that the Confederate states were dominated by the Democrats own party and it was their platform that included slavery, not The Republicans. As for Jim Crow laws, again it was State laws, Southern states and Democrats who instituted and enforced Jim Crow laws.
The Republicans and the northern states do not have anything to apologize for because Abraham Lincoln saw to it that any guilt was washed clean with the blood of over 400,000 Northern lives leading to the end of Slavery.
Shame on the Democrats attempt to pull this sin down upon others heads.
9. Pool Boy | August 4th, 2008 at 11:54 am
Why The Dem’s Want Us All To Apologize For Slavery Now.
Of course the reason for them trying to paint the Reps into their house of guilt and shame is because the nonbinding resolution, was introduced by Rep. Steve Cohen, a white lawmaker who represents a majority black district in Memphis, Tennessee who has a challenging election coming up.
Northern States were Republican controlled and their sacrifice of over 300,000 lives to end slavery is apology enough. It is the height of hypocrisy for the Democrats to ask us all to apologize for them!
I agree with the prior blogger, the Republicans past 50 years is one of fighting for equal rights and anti socialism. Socialism is not is the stepping stone to facism and fighting against it is no sin
10. HeyHey | August 4th, 2008 at 12:04 pm
“It is the Dems that have shamelessly continue to inject race into this campaign, but that is expected from the “common sewer” party.”
Laughable…That is exactly what this topic is based on. Race. Injecting race into the debate….again. Thanks for taking the high road.
11. neocon | August 4th, 2008 at 12:09 pm
“Did I mention I was black” - Obama
12. Sue | August 4th, 2008 at 12:23 pm
Yes, of course. Pointing out how racist the Democrats are, and how they inject racism for political gain is considered the conservatives “injecting race into the debate” and is proof that the Republicans are to blame for injecting race into the debate. (sarcasm)
Yell racism all you want. WE know the truth and the public is learning just who is injecting race into the presidential campaign, as well as daily life.
13. Kahn | August 4th, 2008 at 12:29 pm
Melvin Sikes - what a load of crap. McCain is attacking Obama for being a celebrity with no substance (exactly like Paris Hilton).
And what racist po9licies have the Republicans pushed? Republicans voted overwhelmingly to pass the Civil Rights and Voting Acts. Voted in higher percentages than Democrats did? Just what are you talking about? - I’ll tell you.
Republicans believe that welfare in it’s many forms is destructive. We believe that welfare has destroyed the inner city black culture. It has lead to the dissolution of black families, high unemployment, hell - high unemployability in the black communities. We believe that YOU did this as a ploy to buy black votes. Which by the way has worked for decades. But at the aforementioned cost.
Republicans believe that “affirmative action” is reverse discrimination. That having a government bureaucrat or court decide what the ratio of blacks, Hispanics, Asians, and whites will be in any institution is inherently racists. And it is.
What else are you thinking of? Our being against voter fraud?
14. Eric T | August 4th, 2008 at 1:22 pm
http://www.manhattan-institute.org/html/critical_acclaim-america_in_bl.htm
Get this book!
15. Stingray | August 4th, 2008 at 3:50 pm
McCain is attacking Obama for being a celebrity with no substance (exactly like Paris Hilton). Kahn | August 4th, 2008 at 12:29 pm
Now let me see how this swift-boating mentality works. When Kerry even mentioned Cheney’s daughter during the political campaign; wingnut radio went on rampage. Yet a shameless attack on Hilton’s daughter, an American citizen, for pure political gain is OK with the Cons. I can see the Republican attack on Brittney Spears, since she is under court ordered doctor care. Just like Savage’s attack on autism and Limbaugh’s on Parkinson’s those with disabilities are mere tools for Repug exploitation. How do you Repugs keep all of these inconsistencies straight?
16. Poop Party | August 4th, 2008 at 5:34 pm
Paris Hilton is fair game. She is a celebrity of no talent. She is famous due to her name, family and looks. Obama is famous for being the guy who wrote the feel good Audacity book that holds about as much water as the communist manifesto in terms of practical and rational usage.
17. Kahn | August 4th, 2008 at 6:04 pm
Stingray, associating Paris Hilton with Obama is an insult to Hilton??? OK, I’ll bow to that. Thanks.
Thanks for coming back with such a brilliant defense of Obamas positions. Do you even know any? Are you up to date on his tax plans… ALL of his tax plans? What about that he has voted against nuv=clear energy despite saying he is for it? H9ow about being for drilling (now) while the Dems refuse to allow votes or even debate on the subject in both houses? Give me a break.
By the way Dems… now that Obama says he’s for drilling, just how would that happen with Pelosi and Reid standing firmly in the way?
Comparing Hilton and Spears to Obama is insulting THEM, rich. Really - thanks for that.
18. Danish Artist | August 4th, 2008 at 9:13 pm
melvin,
spoken like an old blue blood southern democrat!
Ni—– is such an 1960s southern democrat, who’s against civil rights and longs for the return of Jim Crowe, era of a term.
your code did not pass on to us sensible southern voters. It’s time to burn your sheets.
19. Kahn | August 4th, 2008 at 11:47 pm
Poncho - how is the Civil War a Democrat apology? They split and formed the Confederacy and caused the deaths? You do get that right?
20. Tractatus | August 5th, 2008 at 12:03 am
They split and formed the Confederacy and caused the deaths? You do get that right?
And those conservative Democrats are now conservative Republicans who fight to preserve “Confederate heritage.”. You do get that, right?
You do get that. I know you do. It’s why you go out of your way to avoid mentioning conservatives in general when talking about civil rights, preferring to talk only about parties, and when talking about parties, you restrict your discussion of Republicans to pre-Southern Strategy times. You assiduously avoid that which tears down your entire construction. You know it’s there; it’s why you do so much to avoid it.
21. FmrMarine | August 5th, 2008 at 9:56 pm
melvin
>>>>He is calling Obama an uppity nigger.>>>
The ONLY poster here to use the words, NIGGER and UPPITY, was the BLACK - BANNED, poster brett michaels……
glad to see you back spouting the same JE$$E J@AKSCUM, language here again.
amazing how you guys work!
22. Stretchrun | August 5th, 2008 at 9:58 pm
17. Kahn | August 4th, 2008 at 6:04 pm
The ad claims Hilton’s daughter is without substance. She was smart enough to have her own friggin TV show. What the hell did you ever do? You think McCain would be where he is today without Mommy Warbuck’s beer money? He knew what he was doing when he KOed his first wife.
23. FmrMarine | August 5th, 2008 at 10:04 pm
stingram
>>>Now let me see how this swift-boating mentality works.>>>
NOOOOO
HERE is how “swiftboating” works.
1. run your campaign as a “war hero”
2. be proven your “hero” status was BOGUS.
3. Be proven you used 3 band aid “wounds” to ABANDON your men, and your command.
4. be called out by those who were there and knew you to be a FAKE!.
5. LIE under oath to congress.
6. AID and ABET the enemy.
7. be DIS honorably discharged.
8. be a money grubbing gigolo.
9. then whine when you lost.
earbama will be crying the same tune in nov.
except his tune will be crying RACISM!
24. FmrMarine | August 5th, 2008 at 10:07 pm
strechedass
>>>She was smart enough to have her own friggin TV show. >>>
so did….GILLIGAN!!!
so much for that “argument” ROTFLMAO!!!!!
25. cam | August 5th, 2008 at 11:52 pm
Stretchrun,
You are tryig to defend Paris Hilton? Are you friggin insane. Oh by the way - it was her parents who contributed to MCCAIN.
And Fmr Marine,
Glad you can see that any dumb ass can get a TV show. That explains Hanity and Colms.
26. Danish Artist | August 6th, 2008 at 6:59 am
Tract,
I thought you dealt in facts……….
“Conservative Democrats” are now the “conservative Republicans”.
Ok, whatever makes you feel better about yourself. But, that tired old talking point is so thin it is almost transparent.
27. Tractatus | August 6th, 2008 at 11:26 am
I thought you dealt in facts……….
“Conservative Democrats” are now the “conservative Republicans”.
I sure do. Why do you so adamantly refuse to do so? And we were making such good progress, too–I even got you to start looking at factcheck.org. It was a baby step, sure, but we have to proceed slowly with you, and that it was a start. Did all that knowledge frighten you?
Anyway, learning about the civil rights era is clearly beyond your capability at this point, but if you get back in the game and start dealing with facts again, I’m sure that you’ll eventually be ready to learn about it. As always, let me know if you need any help. Good luck!
28. Stingray | August 6th, 2008 at 6:00 pm
24. cam | August 5th, 2008 at 11:52 pm
My point was, why would McCain attack any U.S. citizen, who has not shown any political motivation, even Paris Hilton for pure political gain? Attacking even Hilton says something about McCain’s character.
29. Stingray | August 6th, 2008 at 6:13 pm
22. FmrMarine | August 5th, 2008 at 10:04 pm
No that is not Swift-boating. Swift-boating is Bush Jr. and McCain’s current campaign adviser conducting push polling in South Carolina suggesting a war hero; McCain has a black illegitimate daughter to scare the good white folks.
30. FmrMarine | August 6th, 2008 at 8:47 pm
sting
>>>Swift-boating is Bush Jr. and McCain’s current campaign adviser conducting push polling in South Carolina suggesting a war hero; McCain has a black illegitimate daughter to scare the good white folks.>>
actually it was KLINTON who had da crack hoes kid.
but that is his “personal business”
McCain was not swiftboated because it was a rumor based on a LIE!
lyrch was EXPOSED for the FRAUD he is by FELLOW swiftboaters.
learn the difference dummy!