I’ve taken selective quotes from a well known American political party’s platform from a previous election, and am quoting them below. As you read them, try to guess which party, and when. Giveaways have been redacted, in the honorable (heh!) tradition of the current administration. Spoiler at the bottom.
Our great President [redacted] has counseled us further: “In all those things which deal with people, be liberal, be human. In all those things which deal with people’s money, or their economy, or their form of government, be conservative.”
…
We shall ever build anew, that our children and their children, without distinction because of race, creed or color, may know the blessings of our free land.
We believe that basic to governmental integrity are unimpeachable ethical standards and irreproachable personal conduct by all people in government. We shall continue our insistence on honesty as an indispensable requirement of public service. We shall continue to root out corruption whenever and wherever it appears.
We are proud of and shall continue our far-reaching and sound advances in matters of basic human needs—expansion of social security—broadened coverage in unemployment insurance —improved housing—and better health protection for all our people. We are determined that our government remain warmly responsive to the urgent social and economic problems of our people.
…
We shall continue vigorously to support the United Nations.
…
The [redacted] Administration will continue to fight for dynamic and progressive programs which, among other things, will:
Stimulate improved job safety of our workers, through assistance to the States, employees and employers;
Continue and further perfect its programs of assistance to the millions of workers with special employment problems, such as older workers, handicapped workers, members of minority groups, and migratory workers;
Strengthen and improve the Federal-State Employment Service and improve the effectiveness of the unemployment insurance system;
Protect by law, the assets of employee welfare and benefit plans so that workers who are the beneficiaries can be assured of their rightful benefits;
Assure equal pay for equal work regardless of Sex;
…
Continue to fight for the elimination of discrimination in employment because of race, creed, color, national origin, ancestry or sex;
Provide assistance to improve the economic conditions of areas faced with persistent and substantial unemployment;
…
The protection of the right of workers to organize into unions and to bargain collectively is the firm and permanent policy of the [redacted] Administration.
Hmm. Anti-discrimination, pro-unions, pro-UN, socially liberal while fiscally conservative, wanting to broaden social security and unemployement, etc. Sounds a lot like Howard Dean, when you think about it.
Except it’s the Republicans, in 1954.
Read the whole thing. Compare it to the actions of the current administration- or of Bush Sr. or Reagan. Or the Clinton Administration. Or Howard Dean’s rhetoric.
The one thing the Paleocon’s, aka the Eisenhower Republicans, need to realize is that the Republican party is no longer their party in any detail, and hasn’t been for many decades now. That, in fact, the whole political dynamic has shifted so far that at this point they are not conservatives at all- they’re radical fringe leftists. They’re Deaniacs.
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