The Stakes Of Electoral Politics

[Doug Henwood]

Back in '96, I interviewed R. Emmett "Bob" Tyrell, the guiding light 
of the right-wing American Spectator, on the topic of conservatives' 
views of Dole. I brought up the issue that scared liberals always 
like to summon: a Republican president would mean turning the White 
House over to bible thumpers and brownshirts. Tyrell laughed, and 
said that Republicans use that right-wing rhetoric to energize their 
base, and then ignore them once in office. I said, you mean the same 
way Dems talk about civil rights and tne environment, and then govern 
in the interests of Wall Street and the Fortune 500 once in office? 
Tyrell said, "Yes."

Doug