the rix mix

From an L.A. Times op ed by former Senator George S. McGovern:

In attacking my positions in 1972 as representative of "that old party of the early 1970s," Cheney seems oblivious to the realities of that time. Does he remember that the Democratic Party, with me in the lead, reformed the presidential nomination process to ensure that women, young people and minorities would be represented fairly? The so-called McGovern reform rules are still in effect and, indeed, have been largely copied by the Republicans.

The Democrats' 1972 platform was also in the forefront in pushing for affordable healthcare, full employment with better wages, a stronger environmental and energy effort, support for education at every level and a foreign policy with less confrontation and belligerence and more cooperation and conciliation.

Cheney also still has his eyes closed to the folly of the Vietnam War, in which 58,000 young Americans and more than 2 million Vietnamese died. Vietnam was no threat to the United States.

Impugning the patriotism & personal character of United States combat vets is hardly a recent Republican tactic. Long before John Murtha, John Kerry, & Max Cleland there was McGovern, who captained a B-24 Liberator in WWII, & won The Distinguished Flying Cross (as did George H. W. Bush & John McCain). George McGovern received the first vote I ever cast for President of the United States, the quoted paragraphs sum up why.