The Tea Party movement has endorsed Idaho’s own and only Democratic Representative Walt Minnick, apparently in an attempt to assert its nonpartisan credentials to a skeptical public. It also endorsed his front-running Republican opponent Vaughn Ward, a former Senate aide currently supported by his wife, who works for Fannie Mae, currently supported by a taxpayer bailout opposed by her huysband.
DINO (Democrat in name only) Walt opposed the bailout, too along with health care reform and he is opposed in the Democratic primary this month. So it’s possible Idaho voters may have a real choice on the November ballot. If they do, the Republican candidate will certainly win, ending the Idaho Democratic Party’s brief stint in Washington.
It won’t be the first time the Democrats have tanked in the state where some suspected Sen. Joseph McCarthy of being a Communist fellow traveler. In 1950, the Democrats nominated an eighth-grade educated pretend cowboy for the vacant U.S. Senate seat handing the victory to Republican Herman Welker, once a lawyer for the John Birch Society.
Welker grew up in the upper country north of Weiser, which would later produce Sen. Larry Craig, and practiced law there until Wallace Beery wooed him to Hollywood to be a lawyer for himself and other stars. After the war, he returned to live in Payette, Idaho’s most conservative town, just 10 miles south of Weiser.
The John Birch Society was not considered an aberrant movement in those days. Like the Tea Party today, it was the refuge of people terrified of change, especially change initiated by socialists infiltrating the federal government. They were called communists in those days, of course.
Lloyd McGrath was in charge of the John Birch Society’s unofficial youth league at Weiser High School. He may have been the only member for all I know, but he was in demand as a speaker at the Kiwanis and Lions clubs and other community organizations. He also lectured high school classes.
Lloyd hardly ever mentioned the Soviet Union or Red China. The real Communist menace, we were told, came from within. Communists were secretly infiltrating every facet of American life. Sen. Joe McCarthy was a plant charged with undermining The House Unamerican Activities Committee.
We learned to our horror that most of the Russian war machine was being financed by foreign aid supplied by none other than President Dwight D. Eisenhower himself. In the hushed tones of a camp counselor telling ghost stories, Lloyd told how a Communist teacher could spread subversion.
“He would take the flag and say something like, ‘This is such an important symbol it should be shared by everyone equally.’ Then he’d cut it up and give every student a little piece. Our flag would be desecrated. (Pause for effect) And no one would know.”
My best friend Barry Wright, who read fellow traveler Walter Lipman each week in godless Newsweek, said, “So, what difference does it make if no one knows.” I am the only one who laughed. We were put in our place by icy stares from Lloyd that made it clear our patriotism was in question.
Barry, who had once provocatively stenciled CCCP one of his sweatshirts, snorted another derisive laugh and rolled his eyes. I wasn’t so sure. We read god fearing Time magazine at our house and Barry and I argued continually about politics. Still, silly was silly regardless of the politics. I couldn't help myself; I laughed along with Barry and became a fellow traveler.
So cute! I already like you on FB and also get your posts on Google Reader. :)
Posted by: Mulberry Alexa | October 18, 2011 at 07:27 PM