As the old saying goes, if you want a friend in Washington, get a dog. Perhaps that's why the Frum household now has three.
I've been married to David Frum for nearly 22 years -- or just under half my lifetime -- and have lived through numerous controversies that have resulted from his speaking out for the ideas he believes in, regardless of the personal consequences to himself. Right after we met, when he was a budding journalist in Toronto, I watched him challenge Canada's then-ruling Liberal establishment on the issue of Free Trade. It was a huge and hysterical issue back then -- as big as health care is here today -- but at that time the hysteria was entirely on the left. Nerdy girl that I was (and am), my head was quite turned by this young man who quite literally waded into throngs of hostile crowds and patiently debated with them as to why the North American Free Trade Act would be good for Canada. And at the end of these debates, even those who remained unpersuaded (and of course there were many), expressed grudging respect for David's willingness to engage them in a discussion, and not a shout fest.
So fast forward to this week, when conservative hell erupted over David's now infamous "Waterloo" column on the GOP health care defeat. For days I've been sitting here in the bunker beside him (and our three dogs), watching the whizzbangs land all around. What is distressing is not the predictable hate mail he has been receiving -- and thanks to the internet, he's been receiving it in hundredfold; we've both seen that before. What is distressing (to me, anyway) are the dishonest slurs on his character and integrity by people who know him, and in some cases have known him for many years -- truly ugly suggestions that David is motivated by cynicism or sycophancy, or both. (If he were, maybe he'd still be employed...)
We have both been part of the conservative movement for, as mentioned, the better part of half of our lives. And I can categorically state I've never seen such a hostile environment towards free thought and debate -- once the hallmarks of Reaganism, the politics with which we grew up -- prevail in our movement as it does today. The thuggish demagoguery of the Limbaughs and Becks is a trait we once derided in the old socialist Left. Well boys, take a look in the mirror. It is us now.
David of course doesn't need my defense -- and a defense coming from his wife probably isn't worth much (although I can categorically state this has been posted without his authorization, approval or even, um, knowledge -- he's flying somewhere over the country right now). My role right now is to pass him the flask in the trench.
But to return to Washington and dogs: Along with the bile, there has been an equally considerable outpouring of support and defense, from friends and foes alike, who -- whether they agree with David or not -- are horrified by the guillotine that is being set up in the public square of democratic debate. They understand that nothing good can come of this, for anyone of any political stripe.
For this support, we are both very grateful. And while I wouldn't have thought it possible to admire David more than I do, I have to say he is still turning this old girl's head.
Follow Danielle Crittenden on Twitter: www.twitter.com/dcrittenden1
If the tea baggers ever figure this out they will be point all of those guns at Beck and Limbaugh.
http://www.torontosun.com/news/columnists/peter_worthington/2010/03/27/13378596.html
With an open jaw, I say: REALLY? Obviously, Ms Crittenden was busy not paying attention during the Bush/Cheney years!
A hostile environment towards free thought and debate? She must be joking! Or is that 'satire' (wink wink)
That comment alone should give the reader pause and ask: While your head was turned, what were you watching? Those of us whose eyes and hears were firmly focused in the 'here and now' during the previous Administration saw very little OTHER than a hostile environment towards free thought and debate.
The 'demagogary of Limbaugh' and Beck and Hannity was NOT demagogary when it was/is directed away from YOU???? It was WELCOMED when, as David said, the Conservative party thought FOX worked FOR the Conservative party ....
That 'guillotine that is being set up in the public square of democratic debate." horrifies you? You are just noticing it when you are facing it?? Sorry to burst your bubble, here, but .... it's been there awhile, set up during the Bush years .... I can't imagine how far one's head must be 'turned' to have missed that!
People in this forum shouldn't trash Frum and Crittenden for their conservative views. I've encountered tons of diehard right-wing extremists on this site who just want to troll. I don't think that it's wise to troll some decent, polite conservatives.
Sure, it's true that there are a lot of hard feelings against Frum for his participation in the lead-up to Iraq. Even then, however, Frum was an outsider at the White House. For example I recall Frum saying that he didn't feel comfortable as a Jewish person in a bevy of evangelist Christians, when the main clique met for Christian prayer. I think that Frum and my fellow liberals would STILL disagree about foreign policy.
I'm just thrilled to meet some folks on the right who can discuss things in a rational manner, rather than Tea Partiers who express bigotry and hate.
Who is moderating this thread? There is a rich irony here; a thread about being 'punished' for telling the truth doesn't allow some of my comments because ......... well, I don't know why! None were rude or abusive or contained 'banned words' . This has never happened to me on Huffpost before now!
Lol, boy she sure yada yada yada'd through a lot. "so after some war and death yada yada yada financial meltdown blah blah blah... let's get back to us..."
I say this because you would have been barely out of your teen, living in another country at the time he was President.
The myth of Reagan grows daily; his name is dropped by people like Sarah Palin -- who we know didn't pay attention to current events as an adult, and certainly not as a teenager! --- so I suspect that you have a rosy, revionist view of the Reagan years.
Where's the free thinking? Where's the debate?
I'd consider being personas non grata a badge of honor
given the toxic political pool in DC at the moment.
We all need our country back where people are able to deal with issues in a civil manner. As you mentioned, this is not a conservative or liberal issue. It is about respect for one another where we can agree to disagree.
THIS ISN'T ABOUT RIGHT OR LEFT. IT IS ABOUT RIGHT AND WRONG. I'M NOT SPEAKING ABOUT THE HEALTH CARE OR WALL STREET. I AM UPSET ABOUT THE PATRIOT ACT BEING RENEWED WITHOUT ANY PUBLIC INPUT. OR BEING PROMISED THE MILITARY COMMISSIONS ACT BEING REPEALED. AND IT NEVER HAPPENED. WITHOUT OUR LIBERTY? WHAT DOES OUR COUNTRY REALLY STAND FOR?
and second - by saying this "is about right and wrong" makes it impossible to discuss anything rationally with someone with a different view point. I may disagree vehemently with someone, but if I tell them they are wrong, bam - discussion over.
just my opinion - neither right nor wrong.....in my opinion....