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sgtclub 11-21-2005 11:21 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Gattigap
I may well do that. Soon as I can figure out which of Amazon, the local Border's, or the local library I'm most comfortable having the knowledge that I would possess anything written by Coulter.
Remember, that if you go to the library, the G will KNOW what you are reading.

bilmore 11-21-2005 11:22 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Gattigap
I may well do that. Soon as I can figure out which of Amazon, the local Border's, or the local library I'm most comfortable having the knowledge that I would possess anything written by Coulter.
When we start denouncing the people who have supported Kerry, and you face losing your job, home, and iPods, you'll thank me as you whip out your Coulter book and prove you're clean.

Come the Revolution . . .

Not Bob 11-21-2005 11:26 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by bilmore
You should read the Nizer book and the Coulter book. In that order. They're not that long, and they're both entertaining, in a weird sort of way, and there is really no contradiction between them. Just coverage of different facets, all of which you should have if you want to know about this.
I'd suggest that William F. Buckley's "McCarthy and His Enemies" is probably a more intellectually honest defense of Tail-Gunner Joe that Ann Coulter's book, but whatever.

Nizer's book is more about what a wonderful trial lawyer he was than about McCarthyism per se. The Faulk case is simply one of several cases Nizer talks about, and the Faulk case was really about what might be called "private sector" McCarthyism. The only connection to McCarthy himself is that Roy Cohn took over as the lawyer for AWARE (a group that screened actors on behalf of producers and sponsors for any political taint) in the middle of the case.

I understand that there are some more recent books out on McCarthy that are good, and which take into account the Venona materials. I can't think of any particular title now, but I think that the Atlantic Monthly (?) may have mentioned some of them when they reviewed Coulter's book.

bilmore 11-21-2005 11:32 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Not Bob
Nizer's book is more about what a wonderful trial lawyer he was than about McCarthyism per se.
Oops. Then I'm thinking of another book entirely.

Spanky 11-21-2005 02:32 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Spanky
I was under the impression that people were wrongly accussed of being communists during the McCarthy era. As a student I was told that it was similar to the Salem Witch trials because people were wrongfullly accused and lives were ruined. The people in Salem were not witches and the people accused by McCarthy were not communists.

It is now my understanding that no one was wrongfully accused. It was simply exposed as to who were members of the communist party.

If someone was falsly accused of being a communist or former communist and was ostracized then that would be wrong. But it is now my understanding that did not happen.

If someone had been a member of the communist party but stated that they had made a mistake but were still ostracized that would be wrong. It also my understanding this did not happen.

But if someone had been or currently was a member, and they refused to say that was a mistake, and they couldn't find work in Hollywood. That is a good thing. Or if someone refused to critisize the communist party and couldn't get a job in Hollywood, what is wrong with that?

Did McCarthy finger anyone that wasn't a communist?
Did anyone read this post of mine? I am at a loss here. Ann Coulter made a claim that McCarthy didn't falsly accuse anyone and no one has been able to contradict that. That blows me away.

Fisher was brought up but it turns out that all McCarthy did was point out that he was a member of the Lawyers Guild and that the Lawyers Guild was labelled the legal arm of the communist party by the Attorney General. He didn't just donate to the group but was a member for a long time. He just stated facts didn't he? McCarthy didn't have him jailed or anything, he just stated the facts.

If McCarthy stated facts that what the hell did he do wrong?

If all McCarthy did was investigate and bring facts to light what the hell did he do wrong?

Spanky 11-21-2005 02:33 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Spanky
Would anyone on this board care if the US Congresss did an investigation into Neo-Nazis and other racist parties in the United States?

What about an investigation as to whether members of Neo-Nazi groups were working in the United States government?

What if they held hearings and interviewed the leaders about their activities?

If a lawyer defending ones of these Neo - Nazis was shown to be member of a Neo-Nazi party would people consider digging up such information as "smear tactics"?

And what if it turned out that some Hollywood writers, directors and producers may have been members of or were currently members of Neo-Nazi parties?

Would anyone have a problem with Congress investigating that?

If there was a suspicion considering whether a Hollywood writer producer or director was either a current or former member of a neo-nazi party and they refused to answer whether they were a current or former member of a Neo Nazi organization would anyone care if the studios decided not to hire them?

Would it be out of line for a studio to ask before they hire someone that they state that they are not, nor have ever been a member of a Neo Nazi group, and if they had been to disavow that membership?

Really. Who would have a problem with that?
I got no answer to this. Why not? And how is the above example any different than what happened to the communists during the 1950s.

Hank Chinaski 11-21-2005 02:34 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Spanky
Did anyone read this post of mine? I am at a loss here. Ann Coulter made a claim that McCarthy didn't falsly accuse anyone and no one has been able to contradict that. That blows me away.

Fisher was brought up but it turns out that all McCarthy did was point out that he was a member of the Lawyers Guild and that the Lawyers Guild was labelled the legal arm of the communist party by the Attorney General. He didn't just donate to the group but was a member for a long time. He just stated facts didn't he? McCarthy didn't have him jailed or anything, he just stated the facts.

If McCarthy stated facts that what the hell did he do wrong?

If all McCarthy did was investigate and bring facts to light what the hell did he do wrong?
2. I'm sure Ty will have a blog cite to argue with you though.

Spanky 11-21-2005 02:40 PM

Is this true: Ann Coulter claims.....
 
Quote:

Originally posted by Not Bob
Yes, I recall that.

No (Republican) and no (Texan). That's why I listed them. Seriously, you should read the Nizer book (I just finished it -- saw it in a used bookstore on vacation, and since I am always looking for slick trial lawyer techniques to assist me in denying compensation to the injured, I grabbed it). I'd be happy to send it to you.

But let's assume that you run a law firm in 1955. You find out that one of your 45 year old partners contributed to a fund set up for the legal fees of the Scottsboro Boys when he was in law school in the 1930s. It turns out that the fund was administered by the CPUSA (who liked to make propaganda points against the capitalists by using lynchings and the like to make a point). Does he get fired? Or the bookkeeper who, in the depths of the Great Depression, thought that communism might work?

These are the type of people that lost their jobs, spouses, etc. during this time. People who had made the mistake of signing the wrong petition, attending the wrong rally, or working for Henry Wallace. It wasn't like most of them were ever communists, and that the ones who were actually in the party were still involved after the war.
As I stated before, if someone said that they had made a mistake, and didn't support the communist party then it would be wrong if they got fired. Do you have an actual example of this?

But it seems to me the only people that got nailed were people that refused to critisize the communist party. Here is a party that is being financed by the Soviet Union and is trying to overthrow the US government.

Now if people were still getting fired and other bad things were happening to them because they unknowingly donated to a group they did not know was communist and pointed out it was a mistake. That would suck. But so far no one has shown me this has happened.

Not Bob 11-21-2005 02:42 PM

Jesus Christ
 
Quote:

Originally posted by Spanky
As I stated before, if someone said that they had made a mistake, and didn't support the communist party then it would be wrong if they got fired. Do you have an actual example of this?
JOHN HENRY FAULK!!

bilmore 11-21-2005 02:48 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Spanky
I got no answer to this. Why not? And how is the above example any different than what happened to the communists during the 1950s.
The basic problem was that, as Hank said, some (not all, not even most, but some) of the people snagged were truly the clueless, "oh look at me, it's fashionable to be communist" types - the shallow ones who were able to look beyond the millions of deaths and think (wrong word, probably) of that system as being trendy and cute and avant-garde. Which is why so many Hollywood types went for it, I suppose.

McCarthy rightly took no pity on the knowledgable participants, but he also took none on the idiots. He purposefully built a crescendo of frantic public fear that was unjustified in its immediacy, and used that fear effectively enough so that the simple "he's a member of the Guild" said much more to the public - "he's a pedophile!" would have been a gentler accusation.

He also did a lot of his investigating work right there, in the public room, and there was a lot of collateral damage that came out in the process that had nothing to do with what he was looking for. He may have been correct in picking his targets, but he was an asshole.

Spanky 11-21-2005 02:50 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Hank Chinaski
Say last week I gave money to an organization that says it rebuilds orphanages. It turns out it really buys bombs. You think I should be branded a terrorist and ran out of any public positions?

Shut down the organization, sure. If someone gives money and notes in the memo line that want the money used to buy bombs, not orpanages, pick him up too.

But not every hypo donor is a bad guy B.
I agree with this but from my current understanding that no one is able to refute, nothing like this happened.

What if a donor refused to critisize the bombing or critisize the group? Should I have to hire them? Should the government hire them? If they have a government job should they keep it?

If it is pointed out that you donated, all you have to do is say it was a mistake.

Why didn't fisher say it was a mistake to be part of the Lawyers Guild. Or claim that the Lawyers Guild is not a communist organization and if it was he would not be a member.

Not Bob 11-21-2005 02:53 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Spanky
I agree with this but from my current understanding that no one is able to refute, nothing like this happened.
JOHN HENRY FAULK!!

Mmmm, Burger (C.J.) 11-21-2005 02:54 PM

Is this true: Ann Coulter claims.....
 
Quote:

Originally posted by Spanky

But it seems to me the only people that got nailed were people that refused to critisize the communist party. Here is a party that is being financed by the Soviet Union and is trying to overthrow the US government.

You're missing the forest for the trees, Spank (as is Coulter).

The evil of McCarthyism was not limited to false accusations. Rather, it was the method he employed, like the one you are using to defend it. He cited tenuous connections between people and organizations, when certain other people also members of those organizations may have had ties to communism or communist thinking. It was the classic smear campaign. (For the modern-day equivalent, think of liberals lumping all members of the Federalist Society into some sort of uber-con group.) McCarthy's objective was not solely the "outing" of those with sympathies to others with left-thinking views, it rather was to chill both speech and association, two values of greater importance to citizens of this country than any other.

If you remember The Crucible the issue wasn't whether the people were or were not witches, is was the method by which they were accused, tried, and ultimately sentenced to death. It had nothing to do with facts and process, and everything to do with rumors and mob rule.

You ask if anyone was falsely accused. I ask in response whether a single person was convicted of a crime of treason (or similar) arising out of his investigations? I think the answer is no, which also tells you something.

Not Bob 11-21-2005 02:57 PM

I guess I will keep talking about McCarthy after all.
 
Quote:

Originally posted by Spanky
Why didn't fisher say it was a mistake to be part of the Lawyers Guild. Or claim that the Lawyers Guild is not a communist organization and if it was he would not be a member.
Fisher wasn't a witness, and wasn't even present for the exchange (he apparently had been rejected from working on the case with Welch because of the NLG issue).

The exchange came up when Welch was questioning Roy Cohn about whether Cohn had given the FBI a list of communists working at defense plants, and McCarthy interrupted the questioning to point out that a member of Welch's law firm (Hale & Dorr) was a communist because he had been a NLG volunteer.

Hank Chinaski 11-21-2005 02:59 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Spanky
I agree with this but from my current understanding that no one is able to refute, nothing like this happened.

What if a donor refused to critisize the bombing or critisize the group? Should I have to hire them? Should the government hire them? If they have a government job should they keep it?

If it is pointed out that you donated, all you have to do is say it was a mistake.

Why didn't fisher say it was a mistake to be part of the Lawyers Guild. Or claim that the Lawyers Guild is not a communist organization and if it was he would not be a member.
Google the TV of what Welch said in response. It's quite compelling video.

Fisher wasn't brought into the hearing because Welch was afraid McCarthy would slam him and attempt to destroy him. McCarthy going out of his way to "name" someone unrelated to the hearings was seen at the time as a very clear example of what a shitty guy he was. His power died that moment. Within a month he was censured on the Senate floor.
  • MR. WELCH - Senator, you won't need anything in the record when I
    finish telling you this. Until this moment, Senator, I think I never really
    gauged your cruelty or your recklessness.
    Fred Fisher is a young man who went to the Harvard Law School and came
    into my firm and is starting what looks to be a brilliant career with us.
    When I decided to work for this committee I asked Jim St. Clair, who sits
    on my right, to be my first assistant. I said to Jim: "Pick somebody in
    the firm to work under you that you would like."
    He chose Fred Fisher and they came down on an afternoon plane. That
    night when we had taken a little stab at trying to see what the case was
    about, Fred Fisher and Jim St. Clair and I went to dinner together.
    I then said to these two young men: "Boys, I don't know anything about
    you except I've always liked you, but if there's anything funny in the life
    of either one of you that would hurt anybody in this case, you speak up
    quick."
    And Fred Fisher said: "Mr. Welch, when I was in the law school and for
    a period of months after I belonged to the Lawyer's Guild" as you have
    suggested, Senator.
    He went on to say, "I am the secretary of the Young Republicans' League
    with the son of the Massachusetts Governor and I have the respect and
    admiration of my community and I'm sure I have the respect and admiration of
    the twenty-five lawyers or so in Hale & Dorr [Mr. Welch's law firm.]"
    And I said, "Fred, I just don't think I'm going to ask you to work on
    the case. If I do, one of these days that will come out and go over
    national television and it will hurt like the dickens."
    So, Senator, I asked him to go back to Boston. Little did I dream
    you could be so reckless and so cruel as to do an injury to that lad. It
    is true he is still with Hale & Dorr. It is true that he will continue to
    be with Hale & Dorr.
    It is, I regret to say, equally true that I fear he shall always bear
    a scar, needlessly inflicted by you. If it were in my power to forgive you
    for your reckless cruelty, I would do so. I like to think I'm a gentle man,
    but your forgiveness will have to come from someone other than me.
    SENATOR MCCARTHY - May I say that Mr. Welch talks about this being
    cruel and reckless. He was just baiting -- he has been baiting Mr. Cohn
    here for hours, requesting that Mr. Cohn before sundown get out of any
    department of the Government anyone who was serving the Communist cause.
    Now, I just give this man's record, and I want to say, Mr. Welch, that
    it has been labeled long before he became a member as early as 1944.
    MR. WELCH - Senator, may we not drop this? We know he belonged to the
    Lawyer's Guild.
    SENATOR MCCARTHY - Let me finish this.
    MR. WELCH - And Mr. Cohn nods his head at me. I did you, I think, no
    personal injury, Mr. Cohn.
    MR. COHN - No, sir.
    MR. WELCH - I meant to do you no personal injury and if I did, I beg
    your pardon. Let us not assassinate this lad further, Senator. You've done
    enough. Have you no sense of decency, sir? At long last, have you left no
    sense of decency?
    SENATOR MCCARTHY - I know this hurts you, Mr. Welch.
    MR. WELCH - I'll say it hurts.
    SENATOR MCCARTHY - May I say, Mr. Chairman, as a point of personal
    privilege, that I'd like to finish this.
    MR. WELCH - Senator, I think it hurts you too, sir.

Spanky 11-21-2005 03:20 PM

I guess I will keep talking about McCarthy after all.
 
Quote:

Originally posted by Not Bob
Fisher wasn't a witness, and wasn't even present for the exchange (he apparently had been rejected from working on the case with Welch because of the NLG issue).

The exchange came up when Welch was questioning Roy Cohn about whether Cohn had given the FBI a list of communists working at defense plants, and McCarthy interrupted the questioning to point out that a member of Welch's law firm (Hale & Dorr) was a communist because he had been a NLG volunteer.
If you missed it I already posted the exact exchange that took place. He didn't interrupt the questioning he was answering a direct question from Welch. See my earlier post.

Spanky 11-21-2005 03:24 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Hank Chinaski
Google the TV of what Welch said in response. It's quite compelling video.

Fisher wasn't brought into the hearing because Welch was afraid McCarthy would slam him and attempt to destroy him. McCarthy going out of his way to "name" someone unrelated to the hearings was seen at the time as a very clear example of what a shitty guy he was. His power died that moment. Within a month he was censured on the Senate floor.
  • MR. WELCH - Senator, you won't need anything in the record when I
    finish telling you this. Until this moment, Senator, I think I never really
    gauged your cruelty or your recklessness.
    Fred Fisher is a young man who went to the Harvard Law School and came
    into my firm and is starting what looks to be a brilliant career with us.
    When I decided to work for this committee I asked Jim St. Clair, who sits
    on my right, to be my first assistant. I said to Jim: "Pick somebody in
    the firm to work under you that you would like."
    He chose Fred Fisher and they came down on an afternoon plane. That
    night when we had taken a little stab at trying to see what the case was
    about, Fred Fisher and Jim St. Clair and I went to dinner together.
    I then said to these two young men: "Boys, I don't know anything about
    you except I've always liked you, but if there's anything funny in the life
    of either one of you that would hurt anybody in this case, you speak up
    quick."
    And Fred Fisher said: "Mr. Welch, when I was in the law school and for
    a period of months after I belonged to the Lawyer's Guild" as you have
    suggested, Senator.
    He went on to say, "I am the secretary of the Young Republicans' League
    with the son of the Massachusetts Governor and I have the respect and
    admiration of my community and I'm sure I have the respect and admiration of
    the twenty-five lawyers or so in Hale & Dorr [Mr. Welch's law firm.]"
    And I said, "Fred, I just don't think I'm going to ask you to work on
    the case. If I do, one of these days that will come out and go over
    national television and it will hurt like the dickens."
    So, Senator, I asked him to go back to Boston. Little did I dream
    you could be so reckless and so cruel as to do an injury to that lad. It
    is true he is still with Hale & Dorr. It is true that he will continue to
    be with Hale & Dorr.
    It is, I regret to say, equally true that I fear he shall always bear
    a scar, needlessly inflicted by you. If it were in my power to forgive you
    for your reckless cruelty, I would do so. I like to think I'm a gentle man,
    but your forgiveness will have to come from someone other than me.
    SENATOR MCCARTHY - May I say that Mr. Welch talks about this being
    cruel and reckless. He was just baiting -- he has been baiting Mr. Cohn
    here for hours, requesting that Mr. Cohn before sundown get out of any
    department of the Government anyone who was serving the Communist cause.
    Now, I just give this man's record, and I want to say, Mr. Welch, that
    it has been labeled long before he became a member as early as 1944.
    MR. WELCH - Senator, may we not drop this? We know he belonged to the
    Lawyer's Guild.
    SENATOR MCCARTHY - Let me finish this.
    MR. WELCH - And Mr. Cohn nods his head at me. I did you, I think, no
    personal injury, Mr. Cohn.
    MR. COHN - No, sir.
    MR. WELCH - I meant to do you no personal injury and if I did, I beg
    your pardon. Let us not assassinate this lad further, Senator. You've done
    enough. Have you no sense of decency, sir? At long last, have you left no
    sense of decency?
    SENATOR MCCARTHY - I know this hurts you, Mr. Welch.
    MR. WELCH - I'll say it hurts.
    SENATOR MCCARTHY - May I say, Mr. Chairman, as a point of personal
    privilege, that I'd like to finish this.
    MR. WELCH - Senator, I think it hurts you too, sir.

Why didn't you list what McCarthy actually said. All we have here is Welch's response. This is nice theatrics but what did the Senator say and why did he say it.

Nut Penske 11-21-2005 03:26 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Spanky
I agree with this but from my current understanding that no one is able to refute, nothing like this happened.

What if a donor refused to critisize the bombing or critisize the group? Should I have to hire them? Should the government hire them? If they have a government job should they keep it?

If it is pointed out that you donated, all you have to do is say it was a mistake.

Why didn't fisher say it was a mistake to be part of the Lawyers Guild. Or claim that the Lawyers Guild is not a communist organization and if it was he would not be a member.
Based on the Spanky-approved method of guilt by association, each of Spanky, Chinaski, Penske, Slave, Soiuthern Patriot, Not Me and Bilmore are now all responsible for statements and associations of the others (including all Penske socks). You have 10 minutes to deny those statements with which you disagree, after which you will be held responsible.

And since we know Slave and Ty both are part of management of a certain legal discussion website, and Ty once was a member of the National Lawyer's Guild, we intend to hold you, Spanky, responsible for your fraternization with known communist sympathizers.

Not Bob 11-21-2005 03:29 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Spanky
Why didn't you list what McCarthy actually said. All we have here is Welch's response. This is nice theatrics but what did the Senator say and why did he say it.
Mr. WELCH. Mr. Cohn, what is the exact number of Communists or subversives that are loose today in these defense plants?

Mr. COHN. The exact number that is loose, sir?

Mr. WELCH. Yes, sir.

Mr. COHN. I don’t know.

Mr. WELCH. Roughly how many?

Mr. COHN. I can only tell you, sir, what we know about it.

Mr. WELCH. That is 130, is that right?

Mr. COHN. Yes, sir. I am going to try to particularize for you, if I can.

Mr. WELCH. I am in a hurry. I don’t want the sun to go down while they are still in there, if we can get them out.

Mr. COHN. I am afraid we won’t be able to work that fast, sir.

Mr. WELCH. I have a suggestion about it, sir. How many are there?

Mr. COHN. I believe the figure is approximately 130.

Mr. WELCH. Approximately one-two-three?

Mr. COHN. Yes, sir. Those are people, Mr. Welch—

Mr. WELCH. I don’t care. You told us who they are. In how many plants are they?

Mr. COHN. How many plants?

Mr. WELCH. How many plants.

Mr. COHN. Yes, sir; just I minute, sir. I see 16 offhand, sir.

Mr. WELCH. Sixteen plants?

Mr. COHN. Yes, sir.

Mr. WELCH. Where are they, sir?

Mr. COHN. Senator McCarthy—

Mr. WELCH. Reel off the cities.

Mr. COHN. Would you stop me if I am going too far?

Mr. WELCH. You can’t go too far revealing Communists, Mr. Cohn. Reel off the cities for us.

Mr. COHN. Schenectady, N.Y.; Syracuse, N.Y.; Rome, N.Y.; Quincy, Mass.; Fitchburg, Mass.; Buffalo, N.Y.; Dunkirk, N.Y.; another at Buffalo, N.Y.; Cambridge, Mass.; New Bedford, Mass.; Boston, Mass.; Quincy, Mass.; Lynn, Mass.; Pittsfield Mass.; Boston, Mass.

Mr. WELCH. Mr. Cohn, you not only frighten me, you make me ashamed when there are so many in Massachusetts. [Laughter.] This is not a laughing matter, believe me. Are you alarmed at that situation, Mr. Cohn?

Mr. COHN. Yes, sir; I am.

Mr. WELCH. Nothing could be more alarming, could it?

Mr. COHN. It certainly is a very alarming thing.

Mr. WELCH. Will you not, before the sun goes down, give those names to the FBI and at least have those men put under surveillance.

Mr. COHN. Mr. Welch, the FBI—

Senator MCCARTHY. Mr. Chairman.

Mr. WELCH. That is a fair question.

Senator MCCARTHY. Mr. Chairman, let’s not be ridiculous. Mr. Welch knows, as I have told him a dozen times, that the FBI has all of this information. The defense plants have the information. The only thing we can do is to try and publicly expose these individuals and hope that they will be gotten rid of. And you know that, Mr. Welch.

Mr. WELCH. I do not know that. . . .

Cannot the FBI put these 130 men under surveillance before sundown tomorrow?

Mr. COHN. Sir, if there is need for surveillance in the case of espionage or anything like that, I can well assure you that Mr. John Edgar Hoover and his men know a lot better than I, and I quite respectfully suggest, sir, than probably a lot of us, just who should be put under surveillance. I do not propose to tell the FBI how to run its shop. It does it very well.

Mr. WELCH. And they do it, don’t they, Mr. Cohn?

Mr. COHN. When the need arises, of course.

Mr. WELCH. And will you tell them tonight, Mr. Cohn, that here is a case where the need has arisen, so that it can be done by sundown tomorrow night?

Mr. COHN. No, sir; there is no need for my telling the FBI what to do about this or anything else. . . .

Mr. WELCH. Mr. Cohn, tell me once more: Every time you learn of a Communist or a spy anywhere, is it your policy to get them out as fast as possible?

Mr. COHN. Surely, we want them out as fast as possible, sir.

Mr. WELCH. And whenever you learn of one from now on, Mr. Cohn, I beg of you, will you tell somebody about them quick?

Mr. COHN. Mr. Welch, with great respect, I work for the committee here. They know how we go about handling situations of Communist infiltration and failure to act on FBI information about Communist infiltration. If they are displeased with the speed with which I and the group of men who work with me proceed, if they are displeased with the order in which we move, I am sure they will give me appropriate instructions along those lines, and I will follow any which they give me.

Mr. WELCH. May I add my small voice, sir, and say whenever you know about a subversive or a Communist spy, please hurry. Will you remember those words?

Senator MCCARTHY. Mr. Chairman.

Mr. COHN. Mr. Welch, I can assure you, sir, as far as I am concerned, and certainly as far as the chairman of this committee and the members, and the members of the staff, are concerned, we are a small group, but we proceed as expeditiously as is humanly possible to get out Communists and traitors and to bring to light the mechanism by which they have been permitted to remain where they were for so long a period of time.

Senator MCCARTHY. Mr. Chairman, in view of that question—

Senator MUNDT. Have you a point of order?

Senator MCCARTHY. Not exactly, Mr. Chairman, but in view of Mr. Welch’s request that the information be given once we know of anyone who might be performing any work for the Communist Party, I think we should tell him that he has in his law firm a young man named Fisher whom he recommended, incidentally, to do work on this committee, who has been for a number of years a member of an organization which was named, oh, years and years ago, as the legal bulwark of the Communist Party, an organization which always swings to the defense of anyone who dares to expose Communists. I certainly assume that Mr. Welch did not know of this young man at the time he recommended him as the assistant counsel for this committee, but he has such terror and such a great desire to know where anyone is located who may be serving the Communist cause, Mr. Welch, that I thought we should just call to your attention the fact that your Mr. Fisher, who is still in your law firm today, whom you asked to have down here looking over the secret and classified material, is a member of an organization, not named by me but named by various committees, named by the Attorney General, as I recall, and I think I quote this verbatim, as “the legal bulwark of the Communist Party.” He belonged to that for a sizable number of years, according to his own admission, and he belonged to it long after it had been exposed as the legal arm of the Communist Party.

Knowing that, Mr. Welch, I just felt that I had a duty to respond to your urgent request that before sundown, when we know of anyone serving the Communist cause, we let the agency know. We are now letting you know that your man did belong to this organization for, either 3 or 4 years, belonged to it long after he was out of law school.

I don’t think you can find anyplace, anywhere, an organization which has done more to defend Communists—I am again quoting the report—to defend Communists, to defend espionage agents, and to aid the Communist cause, than the man whom you originally wanted down here at your right hand instead of Mr. St. Clair.

I have hesitated bringing that up, but I have been rather bored with your phony requests to Mr. Cohn here that he personally get every Communist out of government before sundown. Therefore, we will give you information about the young man in your own organization.

I am not asking you at this time to explain why you tried to foist him on this committee. Whether you knew he was a member of that Communist organization or not, I don’t know. I assume you did not, Mr. Welch, because I get the impression that, while you are quite an actor, you play for a laugh, I don’t think you have any conception of the danger of the Communist Party. I don’t think you yourself would ever knowingly aid the Communist cause. I think you are unknowingly aiding it when you try to burlesque this hearing in which we are attempting to bring out the facts, however.

Mr. WELCH. Mr. Chairman.

Senator MUNDT. Mr. Welch, the Chair should say he has no recognition or no memory of Mr. Welch’s recommending either Mr. Fisher or anybody else as counsel for this committee.

I will recognize Mr. Welch.

Senator MCCARTHY. Mr. Chairman, I will give you the news story on that.

Mr. WELCH. Mr. Chairman, under these circumstances I must have something approaching a personal privilege.

Senator MUNDT. You may have it, sir. It will not be taken out of your time.

Mr. WELCH. Senator McCarthy, I did not know—Senator, sometimes you say “May I have your attention?”

Senator MCCARTHY. I am listening to you. I can listen with one ear.

Mr. WELCH. This time I want you to listen with both.

Senator MCCARTHY. Yes.

Mr. WELCH. Senator McCarthy, I think until this moment—

Senator MCCARTHY. Jim, will you get the news story to the effect that this man belonged to this Communist-front organization? Will you get the citations showing that this was the legal arm of the Communist Party, and the length of time that he belonged, and the fact that he was recommended by Mr. Welch? I think that should be in the record.

Mr. WELCH. You won’t need anything in the record when I have finished telling you this.

[hank's post picks up here]

eta: Oops. Forgot the cite. http://historymatters.gmu.edu/d/6444/

Spanky 11-21-2005 03:29 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Not Bob
JOHN HENRY FAULK!!
Is this what qualified as a cite these days? I read a book and it said something?

Can you cite me a specific person that unknowingly gave money to an organization, found out later it was communist affiliated, said that it was a mistake, that they were not a communist but still lost their job.

Southern Patriot 11-21-2005 03:29 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Nut Penske
Based on the Spanky-approved method of guilt by association, each of Spanky, Chinaski, Penske, Slave, Soiuthern Patriot, Not Me and Bilmore are now all responsible for statements and associations of the others (including all Penske socks). You have 10 minutes to deny those statements with which you disagree, after which you will be held responsible.

And since we know Slave and Ty both are part of management of a certain legal discussion website, and Ty once was a member of the National Lawyer's Guild, we intend to hold you, Spanky, responsible for your fraternization with known communist sympathizers.
Nice of you to remember me, boy, and I have no problem standing with Spanky, Chinaski, Penske or Slave. They are fine, upstanding Americans who I know would not hire communists, yankees, or liberals. And just as Spanky stands up for Senator McCarthy, I am sure he will stand up for the leaders of the Confederacy and of those grand organizations that continue the great traditions of the Confederacy.

bilmore 11-21-2005 03:37 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Not Bob
JOHN HENRY FAULK!!
Stop yelling.

Faulk wasn't touched by McCarthy. Faulk made public statements against AWARE, the private security company that was claiming to be commie-uncoverers, and from whence a lot of the private entertainment-folk blacklists were generated. (No, McCarthy wasn't making those lists.) AWARE called Faulk a Commie in retribution, and stuck him on their lists. Faulk sued AWARE, and won.

Not Bob 11-21-2005 03:47 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Spanky
Is this what qualified as a cite these days? I read a book and it said something?

Can you cite me a specific person that unknowingly gave money to an organization, found out later it was communist affiliated, said that it was a mistake, that they were not a communist but still lost their job.
You stated that you had no sympathy for any communist who lost his or her job because of being a communist. I responded that it wasn't as simple as that, that McCarthyism swept broadly, and that non-communists, former communists, and people who unknowingly participated in organizarions that were communist-funded were dragged through the mud.

You asked for examples of people who were falsely accused of being communists. I answered with John Henry Faulk's name, and Fred Fisher. Faulk proved that he wasn't a communist at trial. Fisher was a person who had volunteered for the National Lawyers Guild as a young man, and was later a Republican.

You don't like the fact that I gave you Faulk's name because it destroys your pet theory (based upon Ann Coulter) that no Not Commie was harmed by McCarthyism. Like it or not, Fault is a specific person who was accused of being a communist, and because of the false accusation, he lost his job. You don't have to read the book. I gave you another cite, but since you didn't click on it, here is the text.

I suggested that you read Nizer's book because it talks about other people who were smeared unjustly, and the climate of fear that AWARE created in the industry. But it is clear that you really don't care about facts, so forget it.

Oh, and your little Nazi analogy? Before his Wheeling speech, your hero McCarthy was best known as the apologist for and defender of the SS troops sentenced to death for their role in the massacre of US POWs at Malmedy during the Battle of the Bulge.
  • FAULK, JOHN HENRY (1913-1990). John Henry Faulk, humorist and author, fourth of five children of Henry and Martha (Miner) Faulk, was born in Austin, Texas, on August 21, 1913. His parents were staunch yet freethinking Methodists who taught him to detest racism. He entered the University of Texas in 1932. Under the guidance of J. Frank Dobie, Walter P. Webb, and Roy Bedichek,qqv he developed his considerable abilities as a collector of folklore. For his master's degree thesis, Faulk recorded and analyzed ten African-American sermons from churches along the Brazos River. His research convinced him that members of minorities, particularly African Americans,qv faced grave limitations of their civil rights. Between 1940 and 1942, Faulk taught an English I course at the University, using mimicry and storytelling to illustrate the best and worst of Texas societal customs. Often made to feel inferior at faculty gatherings, Faulk increasingly told unbelievable tales and bawdy jokes. His ability both to parody and to praise human behavior led to his entertainment and literary career. Early in World War IIqv the army refused to admit him because of a bad eye. In 1942 he joined the United States Merchant Marine for a year of trans-Atlantic duty, followed by a year with the Red Cross in Cairo, Egypt. By 1944 relaxed standards allowed the army to admit him for limited duty as a medic; he served the rest of the war at Camp Swift, Texas.

    Radio provided Faulk the audience he, as a storyteller, craved. Through his friend Alan Lomax, who worked at the CBS network in New York, Faulk became acquainted with industry officials. During Christmas 1945, Lomax hosted a series of parties to showcase Faulk's yarn-spinning abilities. When discharged from the army in April 1946, CBS gave Faulk his own weekly radio program, entitled "Johnny's Front Porch"; it lasted a year. Faulk began a new program on suburban station WOV in 1947 and the next year moved to another New Jersey station, WPAT, where he established himself as a raconteur while hosting "Hi-Neighbor," "Keep 'em Smiling," and "North New Jersey Datebook." WCBS Radio debuted the "John Henry Faulk Show" on December 17, 1951. The program, which featured music, political humor, and listener participation, ran for six years.

    Faulk's radio career ended in 1957, a victim of the Cold War and the blacklisting of the 1950s. Inspired by Wisconsin Senator Joseph McCarthy, AWARE, Incorporated, a New York-based, for-profit, corporation, offered "clearance" services to major media advertisers and radio and television networks. For a fee, AWARE would investigate the backgrounds of entertainers for signs of Communist sympathy or affiliation. In 1955 Faulk earned the enmity of the blacklist organization when he and other members wrested control of their union, the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists from officers under the aegis of AWARE. In retaliation, AWARE branded Faulk a Communist. When he discovered that the AWARE bulletin prevented a radio station from making him an employment offer, Faulk sought redress. Several prominent radio personalities and CBS News vice president Edward R. Murrow supported Faulk's effort to end blacklisting. With financial backing from Murrow, Faulk engaged New York attorney Louis Nizer. Attorneys for AWARE, including McCarthy-committee counsel Roy Cohn, managed to stall the suit, which was originally filed in 1957, for five years. When the trial finally concluded in a New York courtroom, the jury had determined that Faulk should receive more compensation than he sought in his original petition. On June 28, 1962, the jury awarded him the largest libel judgment in history to that date—$3.5 million. An appeals court subsequently reduced the amount to $500,000. Legal fees and accumulated debts erased the balance of the award.
(emphasis from me)

http://www.tsha.utexas.edu/handbook/...a36_print.html

eta to make a sentence out of a sentence fragment


Not Bob 11-21-2005 03:54 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by bilmore
Stop yelling.

Faulk wasn't touched by McCarthy. Faulk made public statements against AWARE, the private security company that was claiming to be commie-uncoverers, and from whence a lot of the private entertainment-folk blacklists were generated. (No, McCarthy wasn't making those lists.) AWARE called Faulk a Commie in retribution, and stuck him on their lists. Faulk sued AWARE, and won.
Perhaps you should read what I was replying to, and which I had already answered (twice). Apparently, spanky doesn't read my answers. Or he's willfully obtuse on this issue.

Here's his post:
  • As I stated before, if someone said that they had made a mistake, and didn't support the communist party then it would be wrong if they got fired. Do you have an actual example of this?

    But it seems to me the only people that got nailed were people that refused to critisize the communist party. Here is a party that is being financed by the Soviet Union and is trying to overthrow the US government.

    Now if people were still getting fired and other bad things were happening to them because they unknowingly donated to a group they did not know was communist and pointed out it was a mistake. That would suck. But so far no one has shown me this has happened.

Spanky 11-21-2005 03:59 PM

Is this true: Ann Coulter claims.....
 
Quote:

Originally posted by Mmmm, Burger (C.J.)
You're missing the forest for the trees, Spank (as is Coulter).

The evil of McCarthyism was not limited to false accusations. Rather, it was the method he employed, like the one you are using to defend it. He cited tenuous connections between people and organizations, when certain other people also members of those organizations may have had ties to communism or communist thinking. It was the classic smear campaign. (For the modern-day equivalent, think of liberals lumping all members of the Federalist Society into some sort of uber-con group.) McCarthy's objective was not solely the "outing" of those with sympathies to others with left-thinking views, it rather was to chill both speech and association, two values of greater importance to citizens of this country than any other.
I use to think that but now I am not so sure, and everyones responses on this board is now convincing me everything I have ever heard is B.S. In this country you can be a communist and you can associated with communists. You could do that during the fifties. No one was ever jailed for being a communist and no one was every denied their constitutional right to free speech or association. What happend was that a certain social stigma was attached with being a communist or communist affiliated. Just like being called a racist carries a certain social stigma today. Today if you are called a racist then you just deny it. If someone calls you a racist, or shows that you have relations with racist organizations, this is not questioned. You just simply deny you are a racist.

What is the difference between being a racist today and communist back in the fities. Should communists be treated any different from racists?

Quote:

Originally posted by Mmmm, Burger (C.J.) If you remember The Crucible the issue wasn't whether the people were or were not witches, is was the method by which they were accused, tried, and ultimately sentenced to death. It had nothing to do with facts and process, and everything to do with rumors and mob rule.
But no one was convicted or sentenced for exercising their first amandment rights. The communist party was being financed by the Soviet Union to subert and overthrow the government of the United States. This same group was supporting the North Korean government with arms that were being used to kill our soldiers. What is wrong with trying to see who is affiliated with the communist party.

Quote:

Originally posted by Mmmm, Burger (C.J.) You ask if anyone was falsely accused. I ask in response whether a single person was convicted of a crime of treason (or similar) arising out of his investigations? I think the answer is no, which also tells you something.
It tells me we didn't investigate them enough. It is now clear from the KGB archives that there spied throughout the US government and their activities did a great deal of damage to national security.

Why won't anyone answer these questions. If someone would say that the following is wrong, then I wouldn't think most of the people on this board are not totally hyporcritical:

Post #686


quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Originally posted by Spanky
Would anyone on this board care if the US Congresss did an investigation into Neo-Nazis and other racist parties in the United States?

What about an investigation as to whether members of Neo-Nazi groups were working in the United States government?

What if they held hearings and interviewed the leaders about their activities?

If a lawyer defending ones of these Neo - Nazis was shown to be member of a Neo-Nazi party would people consider digging up such information as "smear tactics"?

And what if it turned out that some Hollywood writers, directors and producers may have been members of or were currently members of Neo-Nazi parties?

Would anyone have a problem with Congress investigating that?

If there was a suspicion considering whether a Hollywood writer producer or director was either a current or former member of a neo-nazi party and they refused to answer whether they were a current or former member of a Neo Nazi organization would anyone care if the studios decided not to hire them?

Would it be out of line for a studio to ask before they hire someone that they state that they are not, nor have ever been a member of a Neo Nazi group, and if they had been to disavow that membership?

Really. Who would have a problem with that?

bilmore 11-21-2005 04:01 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Not Bob
Perhaps you should read what I was replying to, and which I had already answered (twice). Apparently, spanky doesn't read my answers. Or he's willfully obtuse on this issue.
Well, in defense, we were speaking of McCarthy, and not the general red-scare. There was plenty of red-scare independent of McCarthy. He just capitalized upon it. In a conversation alternately excoriating and sanctifying McCarthy, I think Faulk lies outside.

Spanky 11-21-2005 04:14 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by bilmore
Well, in defense, we were speaking of McCarthy, and not the general red-scare. There was plenty of red-scare independent of McCarthy. He just capitalized upon it. In a conversation alternately excoriating and sanctifying McCarthy, I think Faulk lies outside.
2. I was looking for someone who had been falsly accused by McCarthy. Faulk is not such a person.

Faulk is a person that in general was accused of being a communist by a nongovernment entity.


Not Bob 11-21-2005 04:17 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by bilmore
Well, in defense, we were speaking of McCarthy, and not the general red-scare. There was plenty of red-scare independent of McCarthy. He just capitalized upon it. In a conversation alternately excoriating and sanctifying McCarthy, I think Faulk lies outside.
Perhaps, but in the actual conversation we were having (about a lack of sympathy for communists who lost their jobs due to the red-scare during the time period), Faulk is relevant.

Others are too, I'm sure. I just happened to read Nizer's "The Jury Returns" not too long ago, so Faulk is on my mind.

That being said, I am done with McCarthy. No, really.

eta: "My last one" -- hahahahahahahaha! I'm such a kidder. It's my penultimate one, though. Scout's honor.

Not Bob 11-21-2005 04:21 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Spanky
2. I was looking for someone who had been falsly accused by McCarthy. Faulk is not such a person.

Faulk is a person that in general was accused of being a communist by a nongovernment entity.
So, is he the answer to this question?
  • As I stated before, if someone said that they had made a mistake, and didn't support the communist party then it would be wrong if they got fired. Do you have an actual example of this?

We can agree to disagree on Fred Fisher, I suppose. And on Acheson, Truman, Marshall, FDR, et al (who were all accused by McCarthy of actively covering up the communist infiltration of the government).

Mmmm, Burger (C.J.) 11-21-2005 04:27 PM

Is this true: Ann Coulter claims.....
 
Quote:

Originally posted by Spanky
Just like being called a racist carries a certain social stigma today. Today if you are called a racist then you just deny it. If someone calls you a racist, or shows that you have relations with racist organizations, this is not questioned. You just simply deny you are a racist.
Sure. That's worked for all the members of golf clubs that have come under fire. Did Augusta National terminate advertising because the sponsors decided to back out? No, it was because they were worried that the club's membership policies would taint the sponsors.

bilmore 11-21-2005 04:27 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Not Bob
And on Acheson, Truman, Marshall, FDR, et al (who were all accused by McCarthy of actively covering up the communist infiltration of the government).
Well, not to protect communists, but because the number of people implicated under them was making them look pretty bad.

IIRC.

taxwonk 11-21-2005 04:36 PM

Is this true: Ann Coulter claims.....
 
Quote:

Originally posted by Spanky
Boy you are slow. I did not say they were committing treason by being a member of the communist party. However, if they did take funds from the Soviet Union to spy on the United States, which almost the entire leadership of the communist party did, or if I take any affirmative steps to overthrow the government, then yes that is treason.

You can be a part of a group that wants to overthrow the government, just like you can talk about murdering someone. Nothing illegal. But the minute you go out and attempt to murder someone, or attempt the violent overthrow of the US government, then that is a crime.

Someone who wants to overthrow the US government, or end our democracy is an enemy of the state. You make it sound like being a communist is like being a member of the Green party or a socialist party. The goal of communism is to end democracy. There is a huge difference.
You keep on saying that these people who may have flirted with communism as an intellectual exercise in the 20s and 30s (which is when the bulk of the people brought before the HUAC were involved) was 'attempting the violent overthrow of the U.S. government. That's a load of bullshit. These were people who engaged in one of the fads of the day popular among intellectuals, generally from privileged backgrounds.

The other group of people who were involved with groups later determined to have been secretly funded by the Soviets were labor organizations. These labor organizations were not advocating the violent overthrow of the U.S. government either. They were attempting to win the right to collectively bargain for a living wage, decent hours, and a modicum of safety in the workplace.

Your take on U.S. history in this area sounds like it was taken directly from McCarthy's speeches. The fact of the matter is that McCarthy was an opportunist thug, looking for publicity and using a cynical and twisted political attack to get it. That's why he was latched on to by people like Nixon and Roy Cohn.

Notwithstanding the fact that you have called me both stupid and slow, I am trying to avoid getting in to ad hominem attacks. Therefore, I will suggest merely that your view of this era is perhaps a bit slanted, and that you might want to look at a few other sources to even out your understanding of McCarthy and the HUAC.

taxwonk 11-21-2005 04:42 PM

Is this true: Ann Coulter claims.....
 
Quote:

Originally posted by Spanky
Another one of the more stupid statements. That other one was a doozy - "Demonizing people for exercising their First Amendment rights does make McCarthy and Coulter enemies of America." (and I don't see you trying to defend it) but this one is up there. Communists by definition want to tear up teh consitution. Ever hear of the dictatorship of the proletariate?

If you are communist you are against the constitution. You do get that correct?
Dictatorship of the Proletariat is a concept that is far from universally accepted among the various factions of communist adherents. More directly to the point, the people in the U.S. who have run for office as communists have not generally run on a platform in favor of tearing up the Constitution.

If you really want to sound like you are doing more than merely puppeting the screaching of other banshees, you would do well to look at what the people you are attacking have actually said and done, rather than what Ann Coulter says they did.

Not Bob 11-21-2005 04:45 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by bilmore
Well, not to protect communists, but because the number of people implicated under them was making them look pretty bad.
If I were to post another McCarthy comment (which I won't), I might refer you to the good senator's speech in Wheeling, and in particular to the reference to Secretary Acheson in that speech.

Shape Shifter 11-21-2005 04:53 PM

Watch Out for the Flying Pigs
 
Quote:

Originally posted by Spanky
There is no doubt whether he lied misses any relevent point at all. It is just something Dems like to focus on to so they can complain when it is completely irrelevent.
How is this irrelevant? If they are asking us to pay for the war, and soldiers to die for the war, shouldn't the administration be required to give an honest answer about why we're at war in the first place?

bilmore 11-21-2005 04:53 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Not Bob
If I were to post another McCarthy comment (which I won't), I might refer you to the good senator's speech in Wheeling, and in particular to the reference to Secretary Acheson in that speech.
Well, true as to Acheson, but then everybody to the right of Levrenti hated him. Law partner to Alger Hiss's brother, head of State at a time when State was shown to be full of communists, weak on Korea - heck, I even hate him just through osmosis.

taxwonk 11-21-2005 04:54 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by bilmore
Dissent.

Remember, this all happened long ago and far away, in a time when communism wasn't just a whacko fringe party with bad hair and unemployed people wanting to share more. Communism represented the very worst of Russia and Co., the only real huge and viable threats to this country that we've ever actually faced. (Well, beyond disco.) This wasn't a witchhunt to ferret out lefties - this was a fight against an active and ongoing and well-financed attempt at hostile spying on the USA. People had real fears of annihilation. Paranoid? Maybe. But, with at least a tinge of realism? Yeah. It's not paranoia if they're really out to get you, and they were.

Speaking of this in today's context is misleading at best. Look at it more like, we've found these people who have been contributing to Zarqawi. Personally, I'm not concerned at that point about their right to free speech and assembly. They're helping an org which is actively looking to kill me. A defense of, they do such nice work in Jordanian daycare centers, doesn't go far in changing my outlook.
I disagree. It was a witchhunt. It was undertaken by McCarthy in order to try and boost a moribund political career, and it was undertaken with a minimal respect for truth or context.

Nut Penske 11-21-2005 04:59 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by bilmore
Well, true as to Acheson, but then everybody to the right of Levrenti hated him. Law partner to Alger Hiss's brother, head of State at a time when State was shown to be full of communists, weak on Korea - heck, I even hate him just through osmosis.
"law partner to Alger Hiss's brother" - is this three or four degrees of separation? Let's see. Hiss. Brother. Law Partner. Acheson. Three degrees, four people.

What a steeltrap mind! Justifying Hatred of everyone within three degrees of Alger Hiss!

Now, why should we hate the other 100 million Americans?

Hank Chinaski 11-21-2005 05:02 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Not Bob
If I were to post another McCarthy comment (which I won't), I might refer you to the good senator's speech in Wheeling, and in particular to the reference to Secretary Acheson in that speech.
2. I've only been on the Dems side for 1/2 a day and I've already gotten to hate these pig-headed fuck Republicans.

bilmore 11-21-2005 05:04 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by taxwonk
I disagree. It was a witchhunt. It was undertaken by McCarthy in order to try and boost a moribund political career, and it was undertaken with a minimal respect for truth or context.
"Undertaken"? You mean, like, "started"?

He didn't start it. It was going full bore from the Rosenbergs, China's fall, and the like. He just grabbed the train and walked up to the front.


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