The Moderate Republican

Durenbruger Unbound

Former US Senator David Durenburger is somewhat of an oddity in Minnesota these days, a moderate Republican. In a no-holds-barred interview with the Twin City alternative weekly, City Pages, he lets loose on how he feels the current GOP has lost its traditional moorings and steered towards a policy that doesn't believe in representative government. Durenburger believes the party is focused on the exurbanites who tend to, in Durenburger's view, have a rather limited scope (he also manages to praise Democrat and fellow Minnesotan, Garrison Keillor as well:

"David Brooks writes about exurbanites, the people beyond the suburbs, using the analogy of golf. Their life needs to be like a golf course, where all the grass is clean, and cut to the same size, and the sand traps are all edged appropriately. That's the way they live, that's the way of a growing number of Americans. They want to go to churches where people are just like them, and go to malls that serve people and lifestyles just like them. This is Brooks's characterization, not mine. Increasingly, people want to vote for people who look like them, talk like them, and think like them. They go to church on Sunday, and they want to vote for somebody who talks to them the way the preacher does.

And what Keillor is saying is, "You know, you guys wouldn't have those opportunities. Your girls wouldn't be playing for national basketball championships and things like that. You wouldn't have 911 to call to save your kids' life or your own life, if there hadn't been Democrats or liberals fighting for those things." Those are some of the examples he uses. And he's right.

He's really saying, Give credit where credit is due. And there's a value in universities, there is a value to big old cities. There's a value to the Hmong or whomever. Here they are. And there's a value in that that doesn't exist in the golf course community, where everybody is the same. You can't possibly say you can represent everybody in your district, everybody in your state, everybody in your nation if have this golf course community mentality. '

I tend think Keillor can be quite boorish and overhypes the Dems a bit too much, but he and Durenburger are on the right track. The GOP of today seems obbessed with conformity and is scared of diversity. There is also a rancid individualism that is corrupting the party. Republicans have always championed the individual over the group, and I think that is one of the values that makes me a Republican. But there's a difference in an indivualism which celebrates the uniqueness of every individual, to empower that individual to be a good and productive citizen in society, and one that celebrates the self to the exclusion of your fellow man or woman.

Take for example Minnesota governor Tim Pawlenty, who is a Republican. About a week ago, there was a gangland-style shooting a few blocks from my house. Minneapolis, especially the North side, where I live, wants something done. The majorityof the homicides this year have been in this area. When there was a flare up of violence in 1996, then-Republican governor Arne Carlson sent the state troopers in to help out. Today, we have not heard one thing from Pawlenty. Nothing. I guess since it's Minneapolis and most of those who live in the North Side are African American, it's not that important.

He does find time to introduce a a plan that would give property owners the power to block city or country tax increases. So, people who may not live in Minneapolis or St. Paul , can decide on whether or not citizens like me can have more police protection or not.

You don't have to be a raving Socialist to think this is grossly unfair. So, renters who live in the Cities and may want more police to make their communities safer, are out of the loop. Tough cookies if you don't own property.

As a homeowner, and property owner who lives in the city, I am outraged. This is an example of the cancerous type of individualism I'm talking about. Who cares if people in the large cities are dealing with gang violence? As long as I have low taxes, I'm fine.

Such a philosophy has no place in politics and especially Republican politics. This is not the individualism of Lincoln or Roosevelt which was tied to helping others. This is nothing more than selfishness and speaking as a minister, it is sinful. A lot of Republican leaders who say they love God need to be confessing some sins.

Durenburger think the theocon platform is not a keeper:

"It won't last. It can't last. It's not foundational as far as America is concerned; it's not foundational as far as representative democracy is concerned. You can bring your faith to your life and your work, but that should also include respect for other people and respect for other opinions. You know, love your fellow man and all of that. But what you see [from religious conservatives in politics] are the dictates, and the things those same people are doing to people they consider to be their opponents."

I hope he's right. It might have to take a crisis, but at some point people will realize that we have to work together and help others. That, gives me hope.

Posted by Dennis at March 9, 2005 11:53 PM