Play the Henry Gatewood/Republican Debate drinking game

by David Safier

Tonight at 6, I'm going to be home watching the Republican Debate, playing the Henry Gatewood drinking game. Whenever someone utters a Gatewood-ism (explained below), I take a drink.

Full Disclosure: Though I may be sipping a glass of wine, I don't have the capacity to go full gonzo with a drinking game. The debate will be tough enough to stomach on its own. Instead, I'll have a checklist in my hand and make a mark for every Gatewood-like statement.

In case you missed my weekend post, Republican talking points, circa 1939, Henry Gatewood is the crooked banker in the 1939 John Ford/John Wayne film, "Stagecoach." As he's sitting in the stagecoach clutching his valise filled with $50,000 in stolen payroll money, he says,

"'America for Americans! The government must not interfere with business! Reduce taxes! Our national debt is something shocking!"

(You can see the clip and read the longer [even better] quote below.)

In those few seconds 72 years ago, Gatewood spit out every major Republican talking point like he was ready to be up on tonight's debate platform himself.

So, I've prepared a chart with all the candidates' names at the top and four topics down the side: (1) Fear of the foreigner/other; (2) Anti-business regulation; (3) Anti-tax; and (4) Fearmongering about the national debt.

We'll see which Gatewood-isms come out on the top from these debaters defenders of corporate crooks and the rich who refuse to shoulder their fair, patriotic share of the national burden. And we'll see which candidate earns tonight's Gatewood. If I'm feeling creative, I'll make a little statuette to present to the winner.

Here's the clip from Stagecoach, with the text below.

Here's the text:

"Why, they're even talking now about having bank examiners. As if we bankers don't know how to run our own banks. Why Boone, I actually have a letter from a popinjay official saying they were going to inspect my books. I have a slogan that should be emblazoned on every newspaper in the country. 'America for Americans.' The government must not interfere with business! Reduce taxes! Our national debt is something shocking! Over one billion dollars a year!"