[lbo-talk] Why Richard Hofstadter Is Still Worth Reading

[Jesse Lemisch]

There's a strange mode of argument on this list, in which criticism of Hofstadter is seen as synonymous with romanticizing movements from below. This is a logical leap that I don't see anybody on this list making. This is a little like saying that criticism of Beard constitutes admiration of fascist rule. Get hold of yourself, Mike.

Jesse Lemisch

  ----- Original Message ----- 

  From: mike larkin 

  To: lbo-talk at lbo-talk.org 

  Sent: Tuesday, October 10, 2006 5:32 PM

  Subject: Re: [lbo-talk] Why Richard Hofstadter Is Still Worth Reading

  Jesse Lemisch <utopia1 at attglobal.net> wrote: 

    Fair enough, Doug, but continuing the discussion of Hofstadter, the point of

    Rogin et al is that the orgins of "McCarthyism" (note the quotation marks)

    were not with what you call the "toiling masses." This offers the

    possibility that mass movements from below might be seen more optimistically

    than Hofstadter and his gang saw them. Relate to Daniel Bell's "pluralism,"

    which is explicitly agreement among LEGITIMATE interests, rejecting popular

    participation.

    Man, I used to buy this lefty line. But I've come to realize that even if McCarthyism and other right wing phenomena originated with elites, they never would have taken hold without active and energetic popular support. Wasn't it Thomas Ferguson who said that lefty celebrations of historical "movements from below" suffer from a colossal inability to get to the point?

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