IS THERE A PRESIDENT IN THE HOUSE? (PART X): Re: Bush & Civil Rights

» Mugwump53 - Re: Bush & Civil Rights

In response to message posted by BrianTubbs:

Hi, Brian. Thanks for your input on the Republican Party. While you are correct to point out that it has a long history of civil rights advocacy, there are some less than stellar moments.

Everyone thinks of Republicans supporting the freed slaves and working for civil rights for all blacks after the Civil War. I recall reading that while Republicans were enacting civil rights laws in the south, they were doing considerably less in the north. In at least one northern state after the Civil War, it was illegal for blacks to move into the state. Others had restrictive laws on black ownership of property or political rights. Fortunately, that kind of thing didn't last long.

Still, the Republican Party, despite some unfortunate deviations by a few, began the national civil rights movement. Unfortunately, the states' rights philosophy of the Republican Party inevitably comes into conflict with any federal program of civil rights.

This states' rights vs. civil rights conflict had led the Republican party away from civil rights by the time Bush (the Elder) made that speech in Texas. I do not say this to take anything away from the Republican party, quite the opposite. I give Bush all the more credit for making a speech that went against the stand of his national party, and against the views of the majority of his district. That is the kind of political and moral courage we have been discussing in the thread on John Adams. It shows a side of Bush for which he is not often given credit.

I agree with you that Barry Goldwater had a strong personal belief in states' rights, and his stand against civil rights legislation was not a result of racial bigotry on his part. I do not know how much of a reshaping he presided over. their was already a very strong conservative wing in the Republican Party. That is what got Goldwater the nomination. The old chicken-or-the-egg-question: Did Barry Goldwater create the conservative majority in the GOP, of did the conservative majority in the GOP win the nomination for Goldwater? At any rate, after the landslide loss in 1964, the conservatives lost control of the party. Nixon was not the most conservative candidate in 1968, and was portrayed as a moderate (as compared to other Republicans).

Thanks for your interesting comments. This, too, seems a discussion worth continuing.

-- posted by Mugwump53