Fear is the common denominator between Joe McCarthy and George Bush, between the original McCarthyism and its direct descendant, today's Republican Party, says Pulitzer Prize winning reporter Haynes Johnson. The difference: Joe McCarthy wanted to be President of the United States; George Bush is. Mr. Johnson reports that both knew full well -- when fear clouds hang over us, it's very easy for us to be exploited.
Another common denominator between the Age of McCarthy and the Age of Terrorism? These are all the same people. The censure that ended Joe McCarthy's rampage deeply split the Republican Party. Twenty-two progressive, mainstream, liberal Republicans voted for censure. Twenty-two Republicans stayed true to McCarthy and it was this 22, Mr. Johnson documents, who actually inherited the party -- the right-wing of the time.
Mr. Johnson is optimistic that we now have an opportunity to counter both fear and fearmongerers in America, to begin to repair the terrible damage that's been done. His optimism is enhanced because the cure -- to challenge! -- is so deeply American, challenging authority is part of our national character. In fact, we come from a long tradition in this country of being very, very critical of our leaders, and for good reason, he believes.
To challenge is also what Americans are supposed to do, say Mr. Johnson, who is an historian as well as a commentator and reporter. All of the institutions in our society are designed to challenge: politicians (he strongly faults the Democrats' failure to do so, still spooked by McCarthyism); the media (he blasts it for its miserable failure to act on its responsibility); regular citizens (who he says are confused but not divided).
It is also, he reminds us, in our own self-interest to protect ourselves, our children and our country from the excesses that can divide us and lead us into wars and other destructive conditions.
Understand the lessons of the past, he urges us. Be candid. Challenge the fearmongering. Wherever you have responsibility and/or influence -- in the media or politics or as a member of the larger public -- use it. It's incumbent on ALL of us to have a role, he insists, because politics and events change from the bottom up.
For more timely and trenchant insights from the much-honored Haynes Johnson, listen to him in Conversation with Paula Gordon and Bill Russell, at "The Paula Gordon Show" website