From an email:
Did the Progressives Destroy America?
Speakers:
Thomas G. West, Ph.D.The University of Dallas
William A. Schambra, The Hudson Institute
Will Marshall, The Progressive Policy Institute
Host:
Matthew C. Spalding, Ph.D. Director,
B. Kenneth Simon Center for American Studies, The Heritage Foundation
Date: Wednesday, August 31, 2005
Time: 12:00 noon
Location: The Heritage Foundation's Lehrman Auditorium
A new book of essays, The Progressive Revolution in Politics and Political Science, argues that the thinkers and political leaders of the early twentieth century Progressive Era launched a successful revolt against the principles of the American Founding, debunking natural rights, limited government, the separation of powers and constitutionalism in favor of historical development, centralized power and unlimited government. The book posits that this shift marks the beginnings of modern liberalism and was, according to contributor Thomas West, "as radical as was the American Revolution in 1776," vastly transforming
American government, and America, for the worse. West will defend this thesis, with comments and criticisms provided by two experts on the history and politics of progressive thought. Dr. West is a contributor to The Progressive Revolution in Politics and Political Science, published by Rowman & Littlefield in cooperation with
The Claremont Institute, where he is a Senior Fellow. William A. Schambra is the Director of the Bradley Center for Philanthropy and Civic Renewal at the Hudson Institute in Washington, DC, and Will Marshall is President and Founder of the Progressive Policy Institute (PPI), also in Washington, DC.
Now, this won't be a knee-jerk criticism of the DLC, but actually part of a broader question. The Heritage Foundation is the flagship think tank of the VRWC. It is staging a panel discussion on a book that argues that progressives "destroyed America" (and who knows, maybe even funded the author who wrote it).
The DLC's Will Marshall is attending, I'll assume, to push back on the book's thesis and its author. Yet the audience will be a Heritage audience, and the framing of the event is really -- "Progressives screwed up America". By showing up, Marshall is giving the event the appearance of a "debate", when the title of the event itself has already cast progressives in a bad light.
So my instinct is to say, "he screwed up by attending the event. Why legitimize it?" It's the way I instinctively feel about any Democrat going on Fox News. Personally, I refuse to go on or speak to any right-wing media outlet.
But, a persuasive counter-argument can be made -- why cede that territory to the Right? We should show up and contest, whether it's places like Heritage, or Fox News, or wingnut radio, if only to give our side of the story. Otherwise, we surrender that territory (regardless of who the audience might be) to the other side.
I'm conflicted. I'm curious as to what you guys think.