George McGovern's legacy
Posted: Monday, November 12, 2007
What do most people remember Bill Clinton for? The Monica Lewinsky scandal? How about NFL kicker Garo Yepremian? His much-replayed bobbled pass attempt during the Dolphins-Redskins Super Bowl? Paris Hilton? Who cares? George McGovern? The total rear-end kicking he received at the hands of presidential incumbent Richard Nixon. Quoting time-warped movie character Austin Powers - not far removed from that election year - "Ya, baby!"
Yes, I eagerly anticipated writing a column about the former sad-sack senator from South Dakota, George McGovern. Just days ago marked the 35th anniversary of the landslide defeat of a Democrat. McGovern received only 17 electoral votes in that presidential election. That's only a few more than I got and I didn’t even run. The lampoon possibilities were making me giddy. Then, I remembered an earlier column. It was very humbling.
In August, a Left vs. Right column focused on the resignation of embattled senior presidential adviser Karl Rove. Rove was a favorite punching bag of left-wing bloggers and the press and a routine target of satire and parody. In the closing comments of that column I wrote, "If we simply define someone by focusing on their faults (as some will do with Karl Rove) we blind ourselves to their strengths and what they have to offer." Perhaps I should take my own advice in regards to George McGovern’s legacy?
Hailing from my home state of South Dakota, George McGovern accomplished more than just a super-sized ’72 defeat. Of particular note, this being Veterans Day, is his service during WWII. His service is well known in South Dakota (which also has another decorated war vet n Joe Foss). McGovern flew 35 missions over enemy territory as a B-24 bomber pilot. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for saving his crew. He did so by crash landing his bomber on an island.
After returning from the war, he earned a divinity degree. Despite the sniping from those on the right that Democrats don’t know their Bible, earning a divinity degree might exclude McGovern from that allegation. However, some may have questioned his application of it. During the 1972 presidential campaign, his candidacy was perceived to support "Amnesty, Abortion and Acid." That perception was a bit unfair. Although he supported the legalization of marijuana, I don’t recall McGovern advocating the use of acid. However, he may have thought he was the victim of a bad acid trip while watching the election returns roll in 35 years ago. That night was not a groovy one for the senator or his party. The popular vote percentage was 60-38 in favor of Richard Nixon.
Apart from his wartime service and a failed presidential run, McGovern can be credited for starting a non-profit organization that helps those suffering from alcoholism and his efforts to combat child hunger. He currently serves as a global ambassador on hunger. Too bad it’s for the corrupt international body known as the United Nations.
George McGovern’s brand of politics was too liberal for our nation in 1972. Even he once remarked, "I opened the doors of the Democratic Party and 20 million people walked out." His brand of politics is still a bit radical as seen in March of this year when he called on Dick Cheney to resign and said that the president is guilty of impeachable offenses. A little more respect for the office he once aspired to would be more becoming of an elder statesman. That being said and putting partisanship aside, George McGovern has accomplished more than many of us will. And, like all of us, he should be remembered for his victories as well as his defeats.
Michael McNeil is a free-lance writer from Dakota City, Neb. You can write to him in care of The Journal or at
lvrcomments@hotmail.com.
Yes, I eagerly anticipated writing a column about the former sad-sack senator from South Dakota, George McGovern. Just days ago marked the 35th anniversary of the landslide defeat of a Democrat. McGovern received only 17 electoral votes in that presidential election. That's only a few more than I got and I didn’t even run. The lampoon possibilities were making me giddy. Then, I remembered an earlier column. It was very humbling.
In August, a Left vs. Right column focused on the resignation of embattled senior presidential adviser Karl Rove. Rove was a favorite punching bag of left-wing bloggers and the press and a routine target of satire and parody. In the closing comments of that column I wrote, "If we simply define someone by focusing on their faults (as some will do with Karl Rove) we blind ourselves to their strengths and what they have to offer." Perhaps I should take my own advice in regards to George McGovern’s legacy?
Hailing from my home state of South Dakota, George McGovern accomplished more than just a super-sized ’72 defeat. Of particular note, this being Veterans Day, is his service during WWII. His service is well known in South Dakota (which also has another decorated war vet n Joe Foss). McGovern flew 35 missions over enemy territory as a B-24 bomber pilot. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for saving his crew. He did so by crash landing his bomber on an island.
After returning from the war, he earned a divinity degree. Despite the sniping from those on the right that Democrats don’t know their Bible, earning a divinity degree might exclude McGovern from that allegation. However, some may have questioned his application of it. During the 1972 presidential campaign, his candidacy was perceived to support "Amnesty, Abortion and Acid." That perception was a bit unfair. Although he supported the legalization of marijuana, I don’t recall McGovern advocating the use of acid. However, he may have thought he was the victim of a bad acid trip while watching the election returns roll in 35 years ago. That night was not a groovy one for the senator or his party. The popular vote percentage was 60-38 in favor of Richard Nixon.
Apart from his wartime service and a failed presidential run, McGovern can be credited for starting a non-profit organization that helps those suffering from alcoholism and his efforts to combat child hunger. He currently serves as a global ambassador on hunger. Too bad it’s for the corrupt international body known as the United Nations.
George McGovern’s brand of politics was too liberal for our nation in 1972. Even he once remarked, "I opened the doors of the Democratic Party and 20 million people walked out." His brand of politics is still a bit radical as seen in March of this year when he called on Dick Cheney to resign and said that the president is guilty of impeachable offenses. A little more respect for the office he once aspired to would be more becoming of an elder statesman. That being said and putting partisanship aside, George McGovern has accomplished more than many of us will. And, like all of us, he should be remembered for his victories as well as his defeats.
Michael McNeil is a free-lance writer from Dakota City, Neb. You can write to him in care of The Journal or at
lvrcomments@hotmail.com.
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