Bravo, Sen. Tom Cotton, Gov. Asa Hutchinson and state Rep. Jeff Williams. Bravo also to all others who gave strong, swift rebukes to Nazis at a rally in Charlottesville, Va.
"I'm currently traveling in the Balkans, where the long, violent history of ethnic supremacism still stalks the land and is a reminder of how unique America is," Cotton said. "White supremacists who claim to 'take America back' only betray their own ignorance of what makes America so special: our country's founding recognition of the natural rights of all mankind and commitment to the defense of the rights of all Americans. These contemptible little men do not speak for what is just, noble, and best about America. They ought to face what they would deny their fellow citizens: the full extent of the law."
Cotton released that statement Sunday after Heather Heyer, 32, was killed the previous day while peacefully protesting the "Unite the Right" rally. Liberal friends call his statement lip service. They attribute it to Cotton's ambition to be president. That criticism is more proof, as if any was needed, that Cotton nailed this one.
What Cotton said, or something very much like it, is the first and only thing a president of the United States should say about a rally in which people carried Nazi flags and chanted Nazi slogans. That is not what came from the current president.
My disdain for the president's fitness for office is no secret. Like many, part of me would like to see his darkness cursed rather than watch his fellow party members light candles. But I have covered politics a long time. Scoldings from the press matter little. So do liberals berating conservatives or conservatives berating liberals. But when a respected conservative -- or liberal -- speaks the truth to fellow conservatives -- or liberals -- something might happen.
Moving toward the light is much easier when the light is looked for and seen. So today's column is dedicated to Republicans who see the light.
"White supremacy has no place in America. When it turned violent in the 80's, I prosecuted them as U.S. Attorney." Hutchinson tweeted that remark out on the day Heyer died. He spoke the truth. I covered some of the court proceedings against white supremacist militia members Hutchinson prosecuted when we were both much younger men.
Then there is Williams, a Springdale man who served in the U.S. Army Reserve in Iraq. His job there was to be the link between the troops and the Iraqis they were trying to protect. Here was someone on the bleeding edge of hate-based war. On last Saturday, he tweeted: "In the military I proudly served beside men/women of every creed and color. I would gladly stand against these cowards in Charlottesville."
The day before, Williams had tweeted out the famous picture of an African-American policeman protecting the Nazi-saluting goons behind him. Williams wrote: "This officer is my hero! Judging anyone based upon race ethnicity gender age etc is WRONG."
There are many others I could quote, but none more appropriately than then-Sen. Bob Dole of Kansas. He fought real Nazis in World War II. He said this during his acceptance speech at the GOP convention of 1996:
"If there is anyone who has mistakenly attached themselves to our party in the belief that we're not open to citizens of every race and religion, then let me remind you, tonight this hall belongs to the party of Lincoln and the exits, which are clearly marked, are for you to walk out of as I stand this ground without compromise."
The GOP was the party of Abraham Lincoln once. They can be so again. There is an old saying that someone's recovery begins when he or she hits bottom. I respectfully suggest that the party decide that the president has brought them to this level.
A common criticism is that even when Republicans say the right thing, they still support the president's agenda. That is true. Note, though, that when this president manages to offer a coherent agenda item, it is usually taken from the same GOP menu the Republicans have ordered from for the past couple of decades. Pardon the reflective logic, but yes, Republicans are Republican.
Speaking of history and gestures, consider the removal of Confederate monuments. I think that will happen whatever I write about it, but I do not believe it will make much difference. The framework of white privilege remains the real problem, not the statuary.
Commentary on 08/19/2017