Truman Says

There's an episode of The West Wing where the Republican Speaker of the House, an admirer of Harry Truman, says (apparently seriously) "If Truman were alive today, he'd be a Republican." Now I imagine they put that in there because that's just one of those stupid, indefensible things people say (you know, suggestions of the form "if ___ were alive today, he'd be a ____) but I still get steamed when I think about it. I want to climb into the TV and slap that fictional character upside the head--how can anyone who claims to know anything about Truman think he would be a Republican today?

For fun, here's a slice of a great campaign speech he gave during the 1948 presidential campaign:

Well, I have been studying the Republican Party for over 12 years at close hand in the Capital of the United States. And by this time, I have discovered where the Republicans stand on most of the major issues.

Since they won't tell you themselves, I am going to tell you.

They approve of the American farmer-but they are willing to help him go broke.

They stand four-square for the American home--but not for housing.

They are strong for labor--but they are stronger for restricting labor's rights.

They favor a minimum wage--the smaller the minimum the better.

They endorse educational opportunity for all--but they won't spend money for teachers or for schools.

They think modern medical care and hospitals are fine--for people who can afford them.

They approve of social security benefits-so much so that they took them away from almost a million people.

They believe in international trade--so much so that they crippled our reciprocal trade program, and killed our International Wheat Agreement.

They favor the admission of displaced persons--but only within shameful racial and religious limitations.

They consider electric power a great blessing-but only when the private power companies get their rake-off.

They say TVA is wonderful--but we ought never to try it again.

They condemn "cruelly high prices"--but fight to the death every effort to bring them down.

They think the American standard of living is a fine thing--so long as it doesn't spread to all the people.

And they admire the Government of the United States so much that they would like to buy it.

He had that fiery style that makes you laugh at the same time you're nodding your approval. And, given the political events going on right now, we shouldn't forget that Truman is more relevant today than ever. He is, after all, the President who first set for us the goal that only now, some 60 years later, may come to fruition: the goal of ensuring that every American has access to decent health care. Tonight, President Obama will address a joint session of Congress and, more importantly, the American public to lay out the goals of health care reform as he sees it. As he faces down Republicans raving about death panels and socialism, he might do well to consider something else Truman said in that speech:

True liberalism is more than a matter of words. It demands more than sound effects. It cannot hide behind the catch phrases of the Republican candidate for President-catch phrases like "unity" and "efficiency." Unity for what cause? Efficiency for what Purpose, I wonder ?

The American people, in this critical year, are entitled to a full and open discussion of the issues. They are not getting it from the Republican candidate for President.

It is no service to the country to refuse, in the name of unity, to discuss the issues. It is no service to democracy to conceal the difference between the major parties.

Unity in a democracy cannot be produced by mealymouthed political speeches.

Unity on great issues comes only when the voice of the people has been heard so clearly, so strongly, so unmistakably, that no one--not even the second guessers--can doubt what the people mean.

Thomas Jefferson did not seek unity by concealing the real issues between himself and Alexander Hamilton. He made the issues clear, so that the people could reach a decision. And their decision determined that democracy rather than autocracy should prevail in this great country of ours.

Andrew Jackson did not seek unity with the moneymakers in Philadelphia. He made the issues so clear that the people decided to place the control of the money in the Government of the United States, and not in a few private banks.

Abraham Lincoln did not seek unity with Stephen A. Douglas. He made it clear that this Nation could not continue to exist half slave and half free.

Franklin D. Roosevelt, in 1933, did not seek unity with the economic royalists. He proposed the New Deal.

And today, I do not seek unity by concealing the issues between me and the special privilege groups that control the Republican Party.

I never will seek that sort of unity.

Real unity is behind basic principles and concrete programs. Real unity cannot be achieved without a definition of the issues, and a decision by the American people.

As Truman himself once pointed out, key to the Republican playbook is the principle "If you can't convince them, confuse them." It's time to stand up and bring the public on board with Democratic principles. We need to see the right combination of forcefulness, strength, and inspiration tonight. We need to see Obama channeling some Truman. Don't give them hell, Mr. President, just tell the truth and the Republicans will think it's hell. And remember, in still more words from Truman, "Always be sincere, even if you don't mean it. "