Tuesday, October 16, 2018

A Focal Point in Time that changed the course of history.

Before there was Newt Gingrich. Before there was Mitch McConnell. Before there was Karl Rove. Before there was Steve Bannon, there was Lee Atwater, a shrill political operator who thought nothing of resorting to despicable political tactics so his candidate could win. This was already known in 1988 when Atwater and others like Roger Ailes helped perpetuate the Willie Horton Ad that dealt a blow to the surging Dukakis campaign so the "honorable" George H.W. Bush could win the presidency.

What has now been revealed is that Atwater had a hand in setting up the events that led 1988  Democratic front-runner Gary Hart to withdraw after photos taken with his mistress were published.

What would have happened if this episode were not revealed is anyone's guess and the stuff that writers of alternative histories would relish. Would the "Bush Dynasty" have emerged? If Gary Hart became President, would Bill Clinton have even run for the Presidency in 1996 (instead of 1992 when he did run?). How would global events have been altered? We will never know.

What we do know is that when Mr. Atwater found out he only had a year to live, he realized he had done wrong and tried to make amends (like all villains) at the last minute by telling all the people he harmed he was sorry.

This writer for one does not value deathbed confessions. A person's life should be measured by the acts they committed and the intent they had in committing them. Trying to make amends by saying you are sorry because you know you are going to face judgment day does not "cut it."



https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2018/11/was-gary-hart-set-up/570802/?fbclid=IwAR3hhy2mVUmg-gKzsIBkR71--lGbuvqY78w2fQla73ddLqm8jEUWW-NDFQU

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