Where Hillary Clinton and Joe Biden fail --- Gene McCarthy succeeded

Do the right thing
Where Hillary Clinton and Joe Biden fail — and Gene McCarthy succeeded

BIG SHOES Today's Democratic leaders could learn a thing or two about political principles from Eugene McCarthy

Politics can be a thankless business. Sometimes you’re damned if you do, other times you’re damned if you don’t. But we elect our leaders to, well, lead. And that means making choices, choosing sides.

Memo to Joe and Hillary: cut the crap. You are supposed to be on our side, the side that values free speech and political protest even if we object to the forms they take; the side that values the astringent spirit of the Constitution rather than the vague, even if sometimes laudable, emotionalism of patriotic fervor; the side that will protect the nation from the religious righteousness of fundamentalists. For God’s sake, act like Democrats. Be proud. Be determined. Tell the nation why it’s American, why it’s patriotic, to tolerate dissent. Explain, by all means. But don’t apologize. And that’s what you, in effect, are doing by playing this groveling game of footsie with red-state voters who wouldn’t give you their votes even if the Rapture depended on it.


THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING GENE

Former Democratic Senator Eugene McCarthy, a man who was temperamentally incapable of groveling, has died. He was 89.

McCarthy’s political career underscores the truth that while political principle may not always win, it always matters.
http://bostonphoenix.com/boston/news_features/editorial/documents/05146657.asp

McCarthy presidency or even McCarthy winning the nomination. I was just old enough to vote in 72 and Gene McCarthy was a fringe candidate. Tricky Dick won in a landslide. Maybe Hillary and Joe should emulate a winner instead.

...I've been a Democrat long enough to be goddamned sick of winning "moral" victories.