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“...Clinton ...strained to observe courtesies in the midst of warfare, but even he expressed shock at the disinterest in the political motives of Timothy McVeigh. Early profiles revealed the bomb suspect to be a survivalist from the militia movement, who demonized Washington as the tyrannical promoter of secularism, Jews, and racial minorities. ...Of course, the bomb triggered horror and revulsion instead. Americans were aghast over the terrorist carnage at home, and baffled by McVeigh, but commentators reacted shrilly against reasonable inquiry, and scorned even the president's appeals for civil discourse. ...The president said this was only the start. Within a week of discovering that Oklahoma City was the handiwork of anti-government zealots, his opponents decided the real issue was Waco, and they crusaded to extend investigations of the disastrous 1993 raid. ...Republican leaders scheduled new congressional hearings on Waco – not Oklahoma City.” --Taylor Branch; The Clinton Tapes; 2009; pages 253-254.
I consider Taylor Branch's “The Clinton Tapes: Wrestling History with the President” to be one of the most important books published this year. And, as a bonus, it is an enjoyable read.
In 1992, I had organized a grass roots group, consisting primarily of human service workers, to engage in a voter education/registration campaign. A large part of that effort was to get out the vote for candidate Bill Clinton. But, it was also intended to benefit the poor neighborhoods that we focused our attention on. Having a group of psychiatrists, psychologists, and social workers coming into their homes had the potential to both engage and empower them, as voters, on a number of levels. I suspect that was why the county attempted to put stumbling blocks in our way.
We engaged in a similar campaign in 1996. By this time, my view of Bill Clinton had changed, and although I rank him near the top in his ability to get many positive things accomplished, I passed up an opportunity to meet him when he passed through our area. Reading this book, I kind of wish that I had taken advantage of the opportunity to meet and talk with him, along with the others from our group, even though I know that he met many thousands of individuals who wanted to impress their special messages upon him.
Taylor Branch is the author of the three-part series of books on “America in the King Years.” They are each important books, and are helpful in documenting many of the lesser-known episodes of the civil rights era. And although there are numerous points where I disagree on his interpretation of those episodes, I'd strongly recommend those three books to anyone who loves history.
Perhaps my strongest “issue” with Branch is rooted in his relationship with Bernard Barker in the 1970s. Branch and George Crile, of “Charlie Wilson's War” fame, worked with Barker on the still unpublished 240-page book, “Cuban Terror and the CIA in the mid-70s. When pressure from Barker's former employer, the CIA, caused the project to end, Branch authored an August 1975 article for Harper's Magazine, that was supposed to be on the same topic, but avoided even mentioning Barker's curious role in those Bay of Pigs days, much less Watergate. Thus, when on page 379 of the new book on Clinton, Branch notes that he had become disillusioned in the '70s, due to “Vietnam, assassination plots, and constitutional scandals,” I'm reminded that he has still to fulfill his obligations as a historian.
I'm reminded of some of the most important information in his new book, such as the quote I used to open this essay, when I've read some of the debates on the approach that progressive and liberal democrats should take with the Obama administration. In particular, I'm thinking of the issue of the woman from FireDogLake, who is apparently uniting with a character I consider to be as morally bankrupt as Bernard Barker, in calling for investigations of one of President Obama's top aides. While I recognize that everyone has the same right and responsibility to identify what is right for them to do, I cannot support any effort that I believe could only be abused in a way that harms the Democratic Party's ability to advocate for positive change. I say this, without in any sense intending to express any support for the administration aide in question.
“The New Left has tried to create a sense of revolution by shouting slogans and marching up and down the streets. But when the hated establishment is left secure in its citadel, certain that it cannot be dislodged, then it has very little reason to pay attention to them and maintains the power to suppress them. The New Left should use the system to create uncertainty in the minds of Congressmen it dislikes so that all would change lest lightening strike them in their next election. ….If the system is to be changed, then those who would change it should pinpoint its weakest spot, its blockage points, and place all the pressure on that one point until the blockage is cleared.” --Vine Deloria, Jr.; We Talk, You Listen; 1970; pages 65-66.
Over the years that I've participated on this forum, I've quoted from this general section of Deloria's book several times. The reason is that Deloria, a Standing Rock Sioux who was both an attorney and a progressive activist, was communicating a basic truth about grass roots political action. And, what was true in 1970 is just as true today.
Again, I do understand and appreciate the reasons that some members of the progressive and liberal left-wing of the Democratic Party would like to see a challenger in the 2012 democratic primary, even if it was to make a symbolic statement to express their strong opposition to President Obama's domestic and international policies. However, I believe that we should be focusing our attention on the 2010 democratic primaries. We need to be creating an awareness among those democrats in congress that not only can they ill afford to take our support for granted, but that lightening can strike them. That is the most promising blockage that we should be applying our pressure on today.
By selecting the appropriate targets in 2010, we send a much clearer message than if we instead opt to think of potential activities in 2012. We increase our options for tomorrow, by taking action today.
In peace, H2O Man Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party
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