Reply #14: examine how the right took over the GOP [View All]

[Douglas Carpenter]

The current right wing dominance of the Republican Party grew out of the Barry Goldwater campaign of 1964. (see Rick Perlstein's book, "Before the Storm: Barry Goldwater and the Unmaking of the American Consensus" available on Amazon at:http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0809028581/qid=1126876965/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/103-2418796-8084644?v=glance&s=books )

Out of this humiliating defeat the movement grew. They built the networks, the media (I personally think the most important part) infrastructure, and activated activist to build a presence within the GOP.

In contrast, when grassroots activist took over the Democratic Party infrastructure in 1972 and nominated one of the greatest real Democrats of all times, George McGovern, (The main rift in those days was a rift between the peace movement and the labor movement. Now these two movements largely get along just fine.) they lost by almost the same percentage as Goldwater in 64--but everyone just seemed to give up or get involved outside of electoral politics. It then became a cliche that real progressives with grassroots campaigns will lead to humiliating defeats. We even hear that sometimes here on DU--33 years later. In the mid to late 70.s DNC Chair, Robert Straus even dismantled almost the entire grassroots mechanism, relying instead on large corporate donors and expensive media campaigns. This approach continues throughout the 80's and 90's and to a large extent to this day. Only recently have things began to shift. I am not a "Deaniac". But, I have to credit him and his campaign for helping to restore grassroots democracy.


Someone once said that victory belongs to those who want it the most.