Harry Truman, accidental President extraordinaire, became famous for his 1948 whistle-stop campaign for the Presidency. Truman, who had been derided and dismissed by virtually every pundit, went on to win a clear victory in a campaign with four major candidates.
The style of his campaign was fiery and even blunt, yet somehow never mean. When the cards seemed stacked against him, Harry Truman came out swinging. What was surprising was he didn't swing wildly, and against expectations he kept his tongue under control. He kept it under control but certainly not under wraps. For here was a master of the common touch, an exemplar of plain speaking. Harry Truman "gave 'em @#!*% ," and the people loved it. Crowd size exceeded all expectations and was truly amazing.
When we look back on Truman's campaign we see it was based on a program of fairness and justice to the average American, including African-Americans. When challenged to enact it, and even encouraged by their candidate, Dewey, to enact at least part of it -- the Congress under Republican control balked, thus earning the moniker "do-nothing Congress."
In the end, the people did vote for their own interests, just as Truman had urged.
I cite this example of a great American campaign to encourage more honesty in the current fight. The press and media are fence-straddlers at best, and enablers of log-jam, at worst. Why can't the pundits simply be honest about the Republican agenda, an agenda favoring the powerful monied interests, just as in 1948? The press only stands to have egg on its face as in 1948, either through out-right election results or the fall-out of stalemate and even government shut-down in the worst-case scenario.
In short, media be accurate; media, be fair. Justice demands it and it is surely in your own best interest. The stability and health of the Republic are very much at stake.
The style of his campaign was fiery and even blunt, yet somehow never mean. When the cards seemed stacked against him, Harry Truman came out swinging. What was surprising was he didn't swing wildly, and against expectations he kept his tongue under control. He kept it under control but certainly not under wraps. For here was a master of the common touch, an exemplar of plain speaking. Harry Truman "gave 'em @#!*% ," and the people loved it. Crowd size exceeded all expectations and was truly amazing.
When we look back on Truman's campaign we see it was based on a program of fairness and justice to the average American, including African-Americans. When challenged to enact it, and even encouraged by their candidate, Dewey, to enact at least part of it -- the Congress under Republican control balked, thus earning the moniker "do-nothing Congress."
In the end, the people did vote for their own interests, just as Truman had urged.
I cite this example of a great American campaign to encourage more honesty in the current fight. The press and media are fence-straddlers at best, and enablers of log-jam, at worst. Why can't the pundits simply be honest about the Republican agenda, an agenda favoring the powerful monied interests, just as in 1948? The press only stands to have egg on its face as in 1948, either through out-right election results or the fall-out of stalemate and even government shut-down in the worst-case scenario.
In short, media be accurate; media, be fair. Justice demands it and it is surely in your own best interest. The stability and health of the Republic are very much at stake.
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