OCR Text |
Show A manof the people By James M. Schutz It seems to be the thing, these days, to attack ex-Gov. George Wallace. Not only do we find this apparent with the nationally famous syndicated columnists, but also with the local intelligensia. Despite the quantity of material scribbled about Mr. Wallace (and it probably comes to volumes), very rarely do we find an author expressing any respect for a man named George Wallace. Very rarely do we find any author who would dare compare Mr. Wallace to the canonized saint of participatory politics, the venerable Sen. Eugene McCarthy, D-Minn. Already, the great waves of indignation can be felt. Such an assertion can be an emotionally upsetting trauma, especially for those on the left (I can hear snickers from the right). But no matter how sacrilegious this may seem, the similarities are real and valid. Bucked Establishment Sen. McCarthy was a courageous man. He bucked the political establishment. Instead of relying on back room caucuses, he went straight to the people. Instead of making deals, conducting bargains and utilizing the system of structured power open to all politicians he appealed to the people for what he thought to be sanity. Now substitute Mr. Wallace's name for Sen. McCarthy's. Sen. McCarthy fought for a principle. He felt the people were fed up with the federal government's dishonesty. He felt the people were unable to influence the decisions of state. He felt the people were dissatisfied with the growing surging power the federal government was rapidly accumulating. Once again, substitute Mr. Wallace's name. Rallying Point For Dissenters Sen. McCarthy served as a rallying point for the dissident elements in our nation. Those who felt left out found a public figure with whom they could latch on to. Finally, there was someone who spoke their minds, and who didn't give a damn about what others said. There was finally someone the unrepresented, the indignant, the ignored could relate to. George Wallace? Finally, Sen. McCarthy was a man of the people. You often heard, "He is what the people want. He's their choice." He was weak because he didn't Have the power of the machine or the boss. He was strong because he was the people's man. Here too, Mr. Wallace's name can be substituted. Fear and Disgust Many people have looked at Wallace with a curious mixture of fear and disgust. Perhaps their feelings are warranted. But it must be remembered, if fair treatment is to be granted to both ends of the political spectrum, that Mr. Wallace is a brave man, a man of principle, a rallying point for the forgotten and a man of democracy (not concentration camps, as most emotionalists would have us believe). - If one looks upon Mr. Wallace's phenomena rationally, rather than injecting a whole bundle of confused, chaotic, exaggerated emotions, one will see the similarities and give credit where credit is due. |