“Patriotism” is not and never should have been considered a dirty word.
One of the greatest failings of the Left in my lifetime was when leading movement figures, justifiably disgusted with Jim Crow, Vietnam, Watergate, COINTELPRO, and a host of other outrages and disappointments, lost faith in the promise of America and let go unchallenged a jingoist Rightist interpretation which equated “patriotism” with an unthinking “my country right or wrong” attitude. Outraged and enamored with street theater, desiring to shock the establishment, the student/”New Left” movement leaders of the 60s and 70s elected to put themselves at odds with the concept of “patriotism.” They ceded “patriotism” to an emerging conservative movement which had perverted the term (and shaped Trump’s childlike conception of MAGA).
It was a colossal mistake. It cleared the field for Reagan to build a bridge to northern Democrats and lay claim to the mantle of patriotism that rightfully had been worn by FDR and Truman in leading the free world based on a vision of upholding American ideals.
But now the Republicans have screwed that up. They’ve sided with Putin, the former Soviet spy now fascist/kleptocrat dictator, against peace, freedom, Western Europe, and , yes, American ideals and interests.
And it is time for the Democrats to drive the knife deep.
It’s time to turn the tables on “patriotism.” Anyone who is cheering for Putin and against Western Europe is also opposing American ideals and interests. They aren’t patriots. And its time to call a horse a horse. Over and over and over again. It’s time to reclaim the mantle of the party of patriots.
The only way Dems can expose the fake “patriots” on the right is to call the question and make the case. It is long overdue. And there has never been a better time.
So, President Biden (and everyone else), it’s time to take off the kid gloves and hit the Republicans where they will feel the hurt. It’s time to rightly question the patriotism of the Republican politicians and media members who are siding with Putin.
Putin is a war criminal. And the Republicans and media figures promoting Putin’s interest are unpatriotic enablers. It’s long overdue to make that case forcefully and repeatedly to the American people. Liz Cheney is doing so. The Dems, starting with Biden, should be doing much more forcefully.
There’s a war going on, and its not just in Ukraine.
Let’s fight it.