June 11, 2004
On Reagan, the GOP, and Loving America
I was a Republican, before, during, and after Reagan. And I went straight from moderate centrist by heritage (but pro-life) to acute fiery libertarian Republican without any Reagan phase. Still, he was the first President I was able to vote for, and did. But a certain phrase I saw written about Reagan, a claim by mourning admirers, reminded me of why he was so likeable to so many. And in that phrase is something which explains much Republican electoral success.
The phrase that struck me was simply “America loved Ronald Reagan.” It was a stray sentence, a claim uttered by an admiring eulogist. Somehow I dyslexically reversed it. Doing so, I stumbled on a simple but more important and measurably accurate fact: “Ronald Reagan loved America.”
I think that fact is undeniably true. In Reagan’s style, actions, and speech, an overt sincere love of America came through loud and clear. And it made him extraordinarily popular.
And I think that love-of-America statement is true of Republicans generally, in fact, or at least in appearance. Like it or not, vent or rant at it or not, foam at the mouth or not to hear it, but hands down, Republicans are seen as loving America more than the opposition. I admit I too sense that and believe that it is to a degree also objectively true.
Let me use a cliché -- “some of my best friends are.” Some of my best friends are progressive Democrats (with whom I have an affinity on certain issues like foreign affairs) and the truth is: many of them really do have barriers in loving America and/or Americana.
They roll their eyes at patriotic displays, express far too little skepticism of government in general while oddly expressing far too much skepticism of government because it is American. They hate Red Staters, they disdain traditional values of religiosity or military service; they don’t resonate to a patriotic melody. They think American free enterprise is a curse, and gun-ownership a relic of barbarism.
Now I know good and well that very very many lefty Democrats are real lovers of America – George McGovern comes to mind. Kerry paid his dues in heroic warfare and his change of mind was expressed in honorable internal dissent. But both of them were tainted with followers who seemed to despise Americanness itself.
And that’s one of the appeals of the GOP: there is no doubt for example that G.W. Bush loves America. One can carp at his policies and their “objective” effect on this country from right and left, or from good and bad. But one FEELS he loves this country and that other Republicans do too. Yes, more so than their adversaries.
A good example is Pat Buchanan. One realizes that even if he doesn’t like the current war, he is still someone who thinks this country is grand. There’s lots I don’t agree with in Buchanan but he is someone who comes from a mind-set required of Republican politicians – respectful of Americans, and of Americana, respectful of its free enterprise (even while demanding protectionism), its religiosity, its soldiery, its sense of a community spirit built around liberty.
One can embrace all that even if one knows that that liberty wasn’t always for all, and that perhaps, the concept has today become overblown and distorted in external directions (“liberating Iraq”).
In the end, Reagan exemplified that popular dimension of Republicanhood – an overt and sincere love of America. That was the draw he had towards “Reagan Democrats” as their party seemed to fall into the hands of those who did not seem to love it enough (especially in a time of drawn-out uncertainty). It may be more perception than fact, though I suspect not so, and in any case, in competitive politics, perception is fact.
Posted by Matthew Hogan at June 11, 2004 11:04 PMI’ve heard this misconception espoused by many: That liberals don’t love America as much as Republicans, or even that liberals hate America. I can see where the belief comes from - it seems like Republicans love America unconditionally, as if it were a perfect goddess. As a liberal, I’d say that it would be impossible for a man-made system to be perfect, but maybe I just take my christianity more seriously than my opposition. Because I don’t have religious faith in our country’s righteousness, my love for my country is seen as lesser in quantity than the Republicans, but in reality it is simply of a different nature. I want to help my country be as perfect as it can be, and that requires discussion of our problems. Hence, I “don’t love America.” Oh well.
Posted by: Gaelen Burns at June 11, 2004 11:28 PMGaelen, you’re dealing with the other side of the same coin that says Republicans are either Bible-thumping book-burners or Halliburton executives who pour oil over their Cornflakes and whose only joy in their soulless lives is thinking up new ways to stick it to the poor.
I don’t know any reasonable conservative who thinks all leftists hate America. I know plenty, however, who believe that what ought to be constructive criticism of their country often takes the form—in word or deed—of making common cause (often inadvertantly) with oppressive regimes and ideologies like Communism or worse, Islamofacism. Before you accuse me of McCarthyism, let me say that I know that it’s only a tiny minority who do this. But if we have our Michael Savages, you have your Michael Moores and Noam Chomskys. And unlike Savage, your extremists have moved and are now welcomed into the mainstream of your party’s rhetoric.
Posted by: Martin at June 12, 2004 12:04 AMMartin wrote:
I don’t know any reasonable conservative who thinks all leftists hate America.
Right now, the only person that fits this description is Sen. John McCain!
Comparing Micheal Moore to Micheal Savage is a bit of a stretch (which was fired for homphobic remarks?), but for every Moore, Conservatives have Delay, O’Reilly, Limbaugh, Hannity, Coulter, etc.
I ask you Martin, here is an article on Afganistan written by Conservative columnist, Robert Novak:
Now, if this was written by Thom Friedman or Joe Conason, would this then be giving aid and comfort to the enemy?
Posted by: Bert M. Caradine at June 12, 2004 01:16 AM“Love it or leave it,” that’s what I always say.
I think what Matthew is saying is that there is a contingent of the left that is in fact anti-american. Not to say all democrats are, or even all liberals are.
I listen to Pacifica Radio every once in a while, granted it is the left of the left but I don’t recognize the America that Pacifica Radio believes in. In fact it sounds very much like a marxist version of what America should be, not anything it ever was, or hopefully ever will be.
When you hear what a rascist, sexist, homophobic, colonial, imperialistic, war-mongering country America is what is one to presume? That they love America, just not anything it ever was or did?
…The United States has now assumed the role of Nazi Germany and Soviet Russia at their worst and all rolled into one. -rense.comPosted by: Eric Simonson at June 12, 2004 01:59 AMIs US like Germany of the ’30s?… What is this dark side? I would suggest that it is the mix of Calvinist religious righteousness and ”my-country-right-or-wrong” patriotism that dominated our treatment of blacks and American Indians for most of the country’s history. It revealed itself in the American history of imperialism in Mexico and after the Spanish-American War in the Philippines. The ”manifest destiny” of America was to do whatever it wanted to do, because it was strong and virtuous and chosen by God. -commondreams
My point exactly, Bert. When a conservative says something hateful like Savage did, they get fired—or demoted in the case of Lott, who merely said something that reminded people of hatefulness. At the very least, when a conservative does it it’s news.
When a leftist like Moore does it, the left raises their glasses; the spewers get prizes for their vitriol from America-haters on the French Riviera, and the DNC buys and distributes copies of their work. Articles like Novak’s aren’t what we’re talking about here—we can debate stuff like that, related to success or failure of US policies, whether it comes from the left or the right. Friedman would be a counterpart to Novak from the left. Novak isn’t saying, like a Susan Sontag, Noam Chomsky, or Michael Moore that Americans are stupid and corrupt to the core and should hate themselves (unlike the despots and do-nothings represented in international bodies like the UN) and try to absolve themselves of stupidity and corruption by…. what else, voting for John Kerry.
Posted by: Martin at June 12, 2004 02:18 AMI tell you what, Martin. If Moore tells Bush, “Oh, you’re one of the sodomites. You should only get AIDS and die, you pig. How’s that? Why don’t you see if you can sue me, you pig. You got nothing better than to put me down, you piece of garbage. You have got nothing to do today, go eat a sausage and choke on it.”, I’ll start paying attention to whatever it is he does that gets you guys so riled up, and boycott it.
I’ve never heard of Moore saying anything like that to a conservative.
And Matthew, what can I say. If you’re going to call people who want this country to realize it’s full potential, America haters… Well, I guess that’s why you guys are labeled conservative, regressive, and reactionary.
Posted by: American Pundit at June 12, 2004 08:30 AMPeople wanting to improve America are not America-haters. Liberals are not in general or in great numbers America-haters. It is just that some are perceived to be, in part because there are some on the further-out progressive left who are really uncomfortable with American traditions and society, and show it.
There are righties who demand fascist patriotism, and for this reason, a lot of right-wing politics is associated with intolerance, though many more conservatives and Republicans can be thoughtful critics.
At heart, though, when it comes to the crude realities of electoral politics, perception is decisive and Reagan’s genial and sincere American sentimentalism was the way he became perceived by the country as someone who cared about them. He was liked by Americans because he liked them and showed it.
And face it, alot of the hard lefties roll their eyes at religious people, flag-waving, and patriotic sentimentality. In politics you cannot be Cordelia in King Lear, expressing sincerely dutiful love but in dry short minimalist prose. (And as the play showed, she was a failed politician, though not a failed daughter, in the end.)
You have to do the dance, you have to wear it on your sleeve, you have to gush and not curse your own. Angry, even judgmental, criticism, yes. But still you have to “get” the poetry of i,t and recite it as necessary. And to make it really work it should be done sincerely.
Martin Luther King, a lefty, was great at it by the way. He called on and from the richness of American poetry, from traditons both Biblical and secular, to change our attitudes from the sin of racism.
Posted by: matthew hogan at June 12, 2004 09:46 AMAmerikan Pundit,
If you’re going to call people who want this country to realize it’s full potential, America haters… Well, I guess that’s why you guys are labeled conservative, regressive, and reactionary.
You forgot imperialist.
I wouldn’t call anyone who sincerely wanted this country to realize it’s full potential an American hater. But many of the left’s blueprints for achieving that are extremely flawed warmed-over and failed socialist policies. The exact opposite of what America has always stood for, which is freedom and liberty.
There are some in the left who see corporations as something to be outlawed, wealth as an opponent of democracy, and individual economic freedom as a dangerous policy. These are generally the America haters. To be fair and more precise they hate ‘capitalist’ America.
Posted by: Eric Simonson at June 12, 2004 02:48 PMLook, we all love America. George Bush loves America. John Kerry loves America. David Duke loves America. Ralph Nader loves America.
The difference is only in the definitions of what makes America superior to other countries - and what America can and should be in the future.
The America David Duke loves is not the America I know and love. The America Tom DeLay envisions seems like Hell to me, just as the America Ted Kennedy envisions seems like Hell to many conservative Americans.
But the truth is that we’re all in this together, and that we’re all Americans.
To question another American’s love for America is, disgusting. Which is why I generally find the American right wing so disgusting: They will, in a heartbeat, accuse their opposition of disloyalty to America.
This thread is quickly getting ugly. It’s bringing out the worst in WatchBloggers and it’s pretty disapointing and embarassing.
It’s disgusting. It’s un-American!
-Cf
Posted by: Christopher Fahey at June 12, 2004 05:34 PMSpeaking as a moderate I wonder if it is possible to love America and still dislike (strongly) some of the habits that Americans have come to exhibit? I think that “patriotism” taken too far is self-destructive; e.g. the national media—newsprint not the do nothing visual media—dropped the ball on Iraq in that it did not question—out of patriotism after 9/11—the Bush administration motives for going to war closely enough. I am a huge skeptic of the government, especially the current administration under Bush which has a tendency to lie and lie again to the American people—did I say that?
I do not hate anyone; and while I do think religion is a club for the weak minded, I do not dismiss lightly the moral message it imparts. But I do not want my life dictated to by those on the Right who go to church on Sunday morning and sin Sunday afternoon until next Sunday morning! I served fifteen years in the United States Navy, and would do so again if called upon; and yes my eyes still well up whenever I see an American flag.
The American free enterprise system of commerce is good, but not great, I certainly do not hate it, after all it has afforded me the American Dream But every process invented by humans could stand to be improved, and improved some more. The fact is the American system of free-enterprise could use some doctoring.
As for gun ownership: I am of the opinion that the second amendment DOES NOT give citizens an unfettered right to own fire arm outside the confines of a well-regulated militia; you see unlike those who espouse the unfettered ownership—oh lets say the IRA and it members, I know how to read and interpret the federal constitution, and not bend it to mean what I want it to mean.
Yes, there is no doubt the G.W. Bush loves American that’s why he fought if Vietnam, oh wait a minute that was the other Presidential candidate John Kerry. And yes he loves America and Americans so much that he sends some of our best and brightest off to die in an unjustified war against a sovereign nation; less we misinterpret what I mean, I am speaking of Iraq. And why is it that only Republicans can disagree with the war and still love America?
Yes Reagan was a good President, and he HELPED end the Cold War; hey I was in East Berlin when the wall fell, but he was no where near the Saint Republicans are holding his up to be. He ignored the AIDS crisis, homeless sky-rocketed under his tenure, minorities as a group faired worse under his Administration, and let us not forget the lies and scandal of Iran/Contra—I know, I know you’d like to.
In the end, I’d lie to think all Americans love America, some perhaps a little more then others and the ones with more money and privilege tend to love America more, not for her principles, but for how much richer all of us can make them. Republican do not have the corner on patriotism and it is insulting to suggest they do, and only plays to the sort of hatred you just accused the Left of…
“I do not hate anyone; and while I do think religion is a club for the weak minded, I do not dismiss lightly the moral message it imparts”
Edward, I think you should consider your mind weaker for this pathetic cop out comment. One way to heaven, and its not up for debate, now matter how smart you may be.
and yes im Republican, so bring on your “narrow minded Republican” comments…
Posted by: Chris at June 12, 2004 07:54 PMChris—
There is a debate among learned individuals as to whether or not there is a heaven let alone the “way” in as it were. Even some of those who believe in a higher being have doubts about the heaven theory; indeed I do believe there is significant portion of the population of the U.S. and the world who do not believe in heaven…Perhaps there is no debate in your mind, but in many other minds there is…
Wow! This is an amazing discussion. Who loves America and who doesn’t. It’s amazing that people have the power to get into other peoples heads and even begin to make that determination. I personally can’t think of an American that I can determine does not love their country. What happens is that love of America is twisted when attempts are made to redefine America. George Bush would have us believe that he is America and therefore if you criticize Bush or his policies you must not love America. Here is a news flash. Neither George Bush, John Kerry, I, or any other American citizen you can think of is more of an American than an immigrant who just received their citizenship this morning. That is the beauty of this country.
Posted by: William Flynn at June 13, 2004 06:05 PMIsn’t love of America supposed to mean love of the constitution and the bill of rights?
Isn’t there a definite danger to substituting a particular politician for love of country?
Isn’t it likely that if you unquestionably support a candidate that you risk becomimg a cult of personality member?
Many say they love America yet they can’t seem to rouse themselves to study the history of how this country was formed (with all its squabbling and back biting).
When you say you love this country do you just love the individuals who agree with you?
When you say love, do you mean you love the country so much that you will throw a dissenting member in jail with out due process to “save” the country? Or do you just love being powerful and feared by other countries? At Kent State who loved the country more the protesters or the guardsmen who shot them?
I have never considered adrenaline charged flag waving “love of country”. I consider love of country being willing to stand up to an anger lynch mob, the civil war era “underground railroad”, and martin Luther King. Love of country is not a 4th of July parade. It’s a willingness to stand up for the constitution when all others are against you.
These are dangerous time for the constitution and the bill of rights. If you really loved the country you would be outraged at the current assault on its foundation in the name of political expediency and power.
http://www.wired.com/news/privacy/0,1848,63800,00.html?tw=wn_tophead_1
