Organizing for America | Linnaeus Journal: I Like Ike

I Like Ike

By Paul from Magnolia, AR - Aug 18th, 2008 at 2:22 pm EDT

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Dwight D. Eisenhower (1890-1969), five star general, supreme allied commander, and 34th president of the United States, famously said, "I hate war as only a soldier who has lived it can, only as one who has seen its brutality, its futility, its stupidity." Recently, a presidential candidate from the modern incarnation of Eisenhower's party also made the claim "I hate war" in a political advertisement. But does this statement carry the same weight from these two individuals?

During a trip to Office Depot to buy a few last minute school supplies for my daughter, I noticed a rack of videos for sale. Prominently displayed, side by side, were two DVDs relating to our current election.

One was a docudrama made from John McCain's book, "Faith of our Fathers". Although I suppose this movie portrays with some accuracy and some exaggeration positive contributions that John McCain has made to the world, I doubt that it adds anything substantial to the discussion of which candidate would begin to heal or further harm our nation.

Next to this was the documentary "Why We Fight".

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Unlike the docudrama, this film has much to say about what is wrong with American foreign and fiscal policy, and should be required viewing for anyone planning to vote in the upcoming election. The central theme of the film revolves around the farewell address of Dwight D. Eisenhower, in which he famously warns the nation against the impending excesses of the "military-industrial complex".

It is clear that Eisenhower was the last great Republican president. He opposed the disastrous use of the atomic bomb in Japan; he successfully extricated our country from the Korean War; he bucked his party to slow down the excessive defense spending that had escalated during the Truman administration. He understood that every bomber we built cost dozens of modern school buildings and other domestic necessities. By keeping the income tax code progressive, Eisenhower oversaw enormous economic prosperity within the United States. In short, his policies were almost diametrically opposed to the destructive geopolitical forces ushered in by the Johnson and Nixon administrations, and the fiscally irresponsible "trickle-down" economics of the Reagan administration.

When Eisenhower said "I hate war", he was believable.

That Ike would have a strong preference with respect to our upcoming election is evidenced both by his understanding of war and peace, and the views of those who carry his name.

"Why We Fight" contains extensive footage of interviews with Eisenhower's son and granddaughter, who make clear that the wise five star general would not and could not approve of the unwarranted invasion of Iraq. It also discusses how the military-industrial complex has distorted and manipulated our democracy, in ways that are clear to the descendents of the great man.

Thus, it is no surprise that these representatives of the previously great Republican party would strongly endorse Barack Obama.

Susan Eisenhower (Granddaughter of Dwight D. Eisenhower) endorses Barack Obama.

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"The biggest barrier to rolling up our sleeves and preparing for a better future is our own apathy, fear or immobility. We have been living in a zero-sum political environment where all heads have been lowered to avert being lopped off by angry, noisy extremists. I am convinced that Barack Obama is the one presidential candidate today who can encourage ordinary Americans to stand straight again; he is a man who can salve our national wounds and both inspire and pursue genuine bipartisan cooperation. Just as important, Obama can assure the world and Americans that this great nation's impulses are still free, open, fair and broad-minded."

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"[My grandfather's] administration stood for multilateral engagement, balancing the budget. They were the party of civil rights, they were the party of environmental progress. That was the Republican Party of the 1950s. I think you can make the case that doesn't sound like the Republican Party we know today."

David Eisenhower (Grandson of Dwight D. Eisenhower), and his wife Julie Nixon Eisenhower (Daughter of Richard Nixon), endorse Barack Obama.

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