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McCarthy never sent a single “subversive” to jail, but, decades later, the spirit of his conspiracy-mongering endures.
to a certain extent, McCarthy is a scapegoat. His excesses and his political vulgarity have made him a convenient symbol of Cold War anti-Communism—its ideological intolerance, its disregard for civil liberties, its exaggerated warnings about Communist infiltration and expansion. But McCarthy was responsible for none of those things.
McCarthy can be blamed for continuing the official practice of witch-hunting long past the point it made any sense, but he cannot be blamed for creating it. https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2...cal-falsehoods
McCarthy can be blamed for continuing the official practice of witch-hunting long past the point it made any sense, but he cannot be blamed for creating it.
He didn't create it, but along with others, he did all that he could to exploit it. McCarthy at all times was in the self promotion business, ideological concerns were subordinate to that. He was a sham from start to finish.
His nickname, "Tail Gunner Joe", was not the product of any war heroics. McCarthy was an intelligence officer who debriefed pilots when they returned from missions. He saw no combat personally. During his free time, he liked to sit in the rear seat of a torpedo bomber and fire the machine guns at the surrounding coconut trees. He of course ran for Congress with the slogan "Congress Needs A Tail Gunner." Why Congress needed this particular tail gunner, short of a sudden surfeit of coconut trees in the DC area, was never explained in his campaign.
McCarthy's insincerity wasn't even well hidden. Often, after blistering some accused innocent in front of his committee hearings, he would afterward invite his victim to come have a drink with him and was affronted when refused. It was all a big game to McCarthy and he didn't understand those who took it seriously.
He didn't create it, but along with others, he did all that he could to exploit it. McCarthy at all times was in the self promotion business, ideological concerns were subordinate to that. He was a sham from start to finish.
His nickname, "Tail Gunner Joe", was not the product of any war heroics. McCarthy was an intelligence officer who debriefed pilots when they returned from missions. He saw no combat personally. During his free time, he liked to sit in the rear seat of a torpedo bomber and fire the machine guns at the surrounding coconut trees. He of course ran for Congress with the slogan "Congress Needs A Tail Gunner." Why Congress needed this particular tail gunner, short of a sudden surfeit of coconut trees in the DC area, was never explained in his campaign.
McCarthy's insincerity wasn't even well hidden. Often, after blistering some accused innocent in front of his committee hearings, he would afterward invite his victim to come have a drink with him and was affronted when refused. It was all a big game to McCarthy and he didn't understand those who took it seriously.
Oh, thanks. The article mentions the "Tail Gunner," as you saw, but didn't explain the reference.
I was just re-reading it. and enjoying the present-day parallels:
He plainly had no ethical or ideological compass, and most of his colleagues regarded him as a troublemaker, a loudmouth, and a fellow entirely lacking in senatorial politesse.
What distinguished McCarthy’s claims was their outlandishness... The important thing was that he had said something that was manifestly preposterous and had got away with it. He must have realized that he could get away with anything.
McCarthy was right. It has been proven by Russian records we obtained after the Berlin Wall came down and after the Soviet Union broke up. McCarthy was compeletly, totally, and absolutely correct. The US had been infiltrated at all levels in various governmental and non-governmental institutions by communists.
Government, Hollywood, the print and TV media, music, schools, Universities, churches, the US military.
McCarthy was dead on right. 100%.
We are paying the price for it today. Moderator cut: No current politicians allowed.
His lasting legacy consists of the residual fear of those dreaded commies. His strategy was to pander to the not so bright citizens and then exploit that fear into a secure political future as the guy who would save us from the commies. A truly despicable person, he ruined many lives during his witch hunt.
McCarthy was right. It has been proven by Russian records we obtained after the Berlin Wall came down and after the Soviet Union broke up. McCarthy was compeletly, totally, and absolutely correct. The US had been infiltrated at all levels in various governmental and non-governmental institutions by communists.
Government, Hollywood, the print and TV media, music, schools, Universities, churches, the US military.
McCarthy was dead on right. 100%.
We are paying the price for it today. Moderator cut: No current politicians allowed.
From an older bio I read of him, some years ago, he was finally pressured into marrying a woman just before he died, to dispel the rumors he was gay. He was caught having sex with a soldier, I believe, and was spotted in some Adult bookstores in NYC having relations with men.
As the saying goes, Point a finger at someone, and you're sitting there with 3 fingers pointed at yourself, in reference to his attacks on Pinko's.
And I don't think we've seen the last of Joe McCarthy types. It will happen again.
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