CC Goldwater, gran daughter of the late U.S. Senator Barry Goldwater of Arizona told tavis Smiley on the...?

Question

Public Broadcasting Station, how Senator Goldwater would be appalled if he saw how the religious right has taken over the Conservative Party. Smiley referred to Goldwater as an American icon and pointed to Goldwater's views in the book written by Goldwater, 'The Conscience of a Conservative'.

Was CC Goldwater right about the strong differences between the Goldwater concept of being a conservative and the modern day Conservative Party?

Are you a conservative and are you satisfied with the direction of the Conservative Party in matters of abortion, education, civil rights, President Bush, etc.?

Your thoughts as a conservative or a liberal, remembering U.S. Senator John Kennedy and U.S. Senator Goldwater served in the U.S. Senate at the same time and were friends and knew each other very well.

Answer 1

My father was a Goldwater Republican. I walked away from the Republican party when Ronald Reagon courted what was then called the Religious Right (not so religious, nor right) to get elected.

If the Republicans were the party of Goldwater, I would still vote for them. The neocons have taken it over and they scare me with all their hate and intolerance.

Answer 2

I saw the special on HBO last night, I enjoyed it immensley.
Goldwater was more of a Libertarian Republican. I am as well.
He did not believe for example, abortion should be a political issue.
He actually was still alive when the religious right was getting an influence in the Republican party and he hated it. He said he wanted to kick Falwell's a*s I believe, or something like that.
The current Repubs spend too much money and behave more like Democrats now. The current Dems are more like Socialists as far as I can see.
But, the fact that the Republicans adopted social issues, abortion (anti), moral issues, etc is what made them popular though. Before that, including Goldwater Repubs, the Repubs did not have mass appeal, so it is a double edged sword to a degree.
I despise the religious right. But do they control Bush, or does Bush use them for their votes? I say the later is more accurate!
Goldwater thought gvt should stay out of abortion, but the gvt does have a role to play. Should they enforce any laws? If abortion is indeed murder, shouldn't the government outlaw it?
I have mixed feelings on that issue and others, but I believe Goldwater and the more traditional Repubs are right on, that we should be free of government controlling our lives!
I have more respect for John Kennedy now than ever. He was not a wimp, like today's whining Dems are. He believed in a strong army and taking care of business. He and Goldwater were good friends and respected each other a lot. Despite any political differences.
Goldwater was a bull in a China shop and didn't have the political blarney to actually win a presidential election. Thats the kind of guy we need now! A true leader and not a poll taking slick Willy phoney. Bush is similar to Goldwater like that. A little bit.
Lastly, I want my Republican Party to build a wall immediately around Mexico and get tougher with the media. I see the liberals in this country to be a greater danger than terrorism. If we didn't have to fight them, it would be easier to then go after the Islamic wackos!

Answer 3

I'm a proud liberal Democrat and while I usually disagreed with Goldwater's policies, I had great respect for him, both as a person and as a politician.

He always said and did what he thought was right and had very little tolerance for ********. He told the truth, no matter what the politics of the situation. A d*mn good man, we could use some like him now.

I believe he would be absolutely appalled at the Republican Party of today and of course he'd have no use whatever for the Religious "Right".

BTW, his book, "Conscience of a Conservative" is a good read.

I still disagree with his policies but his granddaughter has every reason to be proud of the Goldwater name.

Answer 4

Give em hell Goldwater? The republicans used to be more outspoken and less caring about what people thought. Now they are called far right instead of just rep. I liked the far right better. Tough as nails. We went for years without anyone daring to **** with us in those days.

Answer 5

I remember back in the mid-90's when Barry Goldwater was a guest speaker at our college class in Phoenix. Basically, he thought the US should have killed a lot more Vietnamese during the war.

Answer 6

Goldwater also voted hostile to the 1964 Civil Rights Act, so the NAACP hostile him for President and suggested his vote appealed to "worry and bigotry". no longer all Republicans are racist, yet all racists are Republicans.