At long last, have Trumpists no sense of decency?

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

By Sid Schwab / Herald columnist

Ten years old during the “Army-McCarthy” hearings, I think I remember watching them live on TV. Could have been reruns. Similar uncertainty applies to my recollection of watching Army counsel Joseph Welch, later to play the judge in the movie “Anatomy of a Murder,” demand of red baiting, lying, fearmongering (sound familiar?) Sen. Joe McCarthy, R-Wis), “Have you no sense of decency, sir? At long last, have you left no sense of decency?”

I hope the memory I have of McCarthy looking abashed is accurate. Maybe even Roy Cohn, McCarthy’s chief counsel. When Welch finished, the audience cheered; thus beginning the end of the horror. Also dispositive was President Eisenhower’s calling out a member of his own party; in addition, several senators of that party joined the vote to censure him. Those were the days, now almost impossible to believe: two conscientious parties, recognizing the role of Congress and the importance of democracy, disinclined to lie. If memory serves. It might have been another country.

Memories of the Watergate hearings are firmer. Again, justice was served by the conscience of conservatives, including some working within the Nixon White House.

Today’s ethical reversal of that party is staggering.

https://www.heraldnet.com/opinion/schwab-at-long-last-have-trumpists-no-sense-of-decency/

[wryter2000]

1. If you were to say that to one of them today

They'd just whine about how mean you were, and the others would support them.

[Ocelot II]

2. Nope.

[smb]

3. They Never Did nt

[rsdsharp]

4. Your memory is a little faulty. The issue at that moment was an agreement

between Welch and Cohn that Cohn’s lack of military service, and the communist ties of a Welch associate, wouldn’t be mentioned. They had been arguing, and McCarthy got pissed. Welch apologized to Cohn, but McCarthy went ahead and outed the associate.

Cohn did look abashed (and worried Welch would out him). McCarthy just looked puzzled that anyone would call out his schtick. There was no cheering.

https://m.

As an aside, Welch was an Iowa boy.

[billh58]

5. Have you left no sense of decency?

The most famous incident in the hearings was an exchange between McCarthy and the army's chief legal representative, Joseph Nye Welch. On June 9, 1954, the 30th day of the hearings, Welch challenged Roy Cohn to provide U.S. Attorney General Herbert Brownell Jr. with McCarthy's list of 130 Communists or subversives in defense plants "before the sun goes down". McCarthy stepped in and said that if Welch was so concerned about persons aiding the Communist Party, he should check on a man in his Boston law office named Fred Fisher, who had once belonged to the National Lawyers Guild, a progressive lawyers' association. In an impassioned defense of Fisher, Welch responded, "Until this moment, Senator, I think I never really gauged your cruelty or your recklessness ..." When McCarthy resumed his attack, Welch interrupted him: "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?" When McCarthy once again persisted, Welch cut him off and demanded the chairman "call the next witness". At that point, the gallery erupted in applause and a recess was called.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_McCarthy

[rsdsharp]

6. You're quite correct. There was applause. There was no cheering.

See 3:52.

https://m.

Are you asking if I have no decency?

[billh58]

8. No, I am not asking

if you have no decency, and I was just pointing out that the OP is a quote from the author cited (and other sources) and not directly from Yo Mama. The difference between applause and cheering is minor, but you are defintely entitled to your opinion.

Cheers...

[Karadeniz]

7. They're referring to Roy Cohen, aren't they? Also, Donald Trump's lawyer.

[Skittles]

9. ......The penchant of so many millions of Americans for authoritarianism

INDEED