It’s not the kind of question I’d normally ask a Senate Democrat on my KSFO radio program as we talked politics and President Bush. But I did.
“Would you vote for him?”
Without a moments hesitation: “Oh yes. I plan to support President Bush. I like him and I respect his policies as commander in chief.”
No mincing words here! He continued: “I have looked over these nine Democrats who are running and, as I say, they all are just about the same. They’re kinda like polkas. They all sound alike, they just have different names!”
It wasn’t the answer I expected, but then again, U.S. Sen. Zell Miller from Georgia, isn’t your usual Democrat.
I take that back. He is the usual Democrat, the traditional version of what it used to mean. He’s a lifelong Democrat and says he won’t switch parties. He says he hasn’t changed, but the party has.
He not only talks the talk (and walks, it too) but he’s written about how his party’s been hijacked into leaning so far left that it simply doesn’t reflect the people of this country – nor even, in many cases, the country itself.
If you doubt the sincerity of his discontent, his book is titled “A National Party No More, The Conscience Of A Conservative Democrat.” He rips the party for becoming special-interest lackeys in everything from welfare, the environment, education immigration, and national security – to mention but a few.
He’s not certain whether his party can even field a serious presidential candidate. After one of the debates, he called the contenders “calamity howlers who don’t know what they don’t know.”
To hear a Democrat of his stature – he served as town mayor, state senator, four terms as lieutenant governor, two terms as governor and now U.S. senator – openly criticize his party and then, publicly admit he’ll vote for the sitting Republican president … well, it was refreshing honesty. “Refreshing” and “honesty” are two words not usually attributed to politicians.
As I spoke with Sen. Miller, the Democrat drumbeat against President Bush continued – about 9-11, the Iraq war, weapons of mass destruction, world opinion of the U.S., the budget, the tax cut and every domestic policy. Democrats don’t like him, don’t support him and their conclusion is that everything’s in terrible shape and it’s all Bush’s fault.
The effort to galvanize the money-people coalesced last weekend with the touted “Hate Bush Bash” in Los Angeles – a gathering of Hollywood names to come up with a plan to use their influence to rid us of the current administration.
These people are so out of touch that they will not see what’s positive about the man and how what he’s done – and continues to do – cements his connection with the heart of this country.
The Georgia Democrat has a different view – one the Hollywood elites and the party miss entirely.
What’s his opinion of President Bush?
I really like the man. I got to know him when we were governors. And I have a lot of respect for him as well. I like the fact that he is … I think he’s got a little Churchill in him. Down in the South, we call it “a little grit in the craw.” He showed that when he went over to Iraq, just this past Thanksgiving.
This is a man who can look at the American people and say “We’re not leaving” – talking about Iraq – and we know that he means it. I like that kind of force.
I also like the fact that he’s a tax cutter and he understands the fact that cutting taxes is more than just leaving money in people’s pockets where it ought to be. But it is also a way to keep that money from ever getting into the revenue stream where it can be spent. I mean, if it’s not on the table, then Congress can’t gobble it up.
What a concept! A Democrat who likes lower taxes and says that keeping money away from Congress is a pretty good idea.
It’s also nice to see a man with the courage to cross party lines to compliment a president with the courage to do what’s right at a time of war against an enemy with the desire and will to destroy us, our country and our way of life.
On top of all that, I’ll never be able to look at any of the Democrat candidates without thinking of Lawrence Welk’s polka band!
Make America Affordable Again!
Chuck Norris