by David Safier
The highly paid public faces of the Goldwater Institute usually strike quiet, thoughtful, think-tanky poses when they speak. "We're not politicians," their poses imply. "We are investigators and thinkers who reach conclusions based on careful analysis."
It's all garbage, of course. They're propagandists who never let a fact or a nuance get in the way of an ideological point they want to make. But they like to pretend. Up until now, they've thought that was good for their image.
But I think they sense a different kind of rhetoric is blowin' in the wind these days, and if they don't keep up, they'll lose their influence.
They've decided to do what all the Republicans are doing: talk like the Tea Party.
Clint Bolick, G.I's Director of the Scharf-Norton Center for Constitutional Litigation, spoke to the Republican Women of Prescott Tuesday, sounding like a rabble rousing street preacher at a Tea Party rally, or a Republican running for office — or both, since that's how most R pols sound these days.
"We are lucky enough to be living in the state that is the prime center of the freedom universe. The Reagan revolution did not start in Washington, it started in Sacramento and I believe the next Reagan revolution is going to be right here in Arizona," he told more than 100 people attending the luncheon at Prescott Resort.
"While Washington is showing what can be done in a socialist government, we are showing what can be done in a free state," he said. "The major issue in the Obama era is federalism. Will power continue to go to Washington, D.C., or will we keep it here, close to home?"
Arizona is the "prime center of the freedom universe." Washington is setting up "a socialist government." Not exactly thoughtful, measured phrases.
This next is a paraphrase by the reporter, but if Bolick said anything vaguely similar, he's joining Republican politicians in Non Sequitur Land.
He said the federal government cannot take away the rights of congressmen who swore an oath to serve their constituents or take away the right of the people to choose their own medical services.
Take away the rights of congressmen? Say what? Has Obama shackled their hands and taped their mouths so they can't speak or vote?
"I'm hoping Arizona will lead to the bringing down of Obamacare and to reintroducing freedom principles in the area of healthcare."
"Freedom principles in the area of healthcare." The freedom to have your insurance company deny care, refuse to cover you, . . .
This is not your father's Goldwater Institute. This is the new hip, happenin', rabble rousin' street version. Gotta keep up with the times.
This isn't Papa Goldwater's Goldwater Institute, and it hasn't been for a long, long time, if it ever was. Poor Barry. I didn't agree with a lot of what he said, but he was basically a decent, honest guy, unlike these scoundrels who pretend to carry on his legacy.