Linda Valdez, columnist with The Arizona Republic, published an opinion piece Friday titled “Sorry Barry: Moderation really is the virtue.” It followed the unveiling
Of a bronze statue of the late senator that will be displayed in the U.S. Capitol.
“I would remind you that extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice,” Goldwater said when accepting the GOP nomination for president in 1964. “And let me remind you also that moderation in the pursuit of justice is no virtue.”
Valdez writes, “He got creamed in that election. But extremism really caught on with Republicans. How’s that working?”
George Seitts, who worked for years on Goldwater’s staff in Washington and who also is an energy consultant for Rose Law Group, takes issue with Valdez’s treatment of Goldwater’s convention quote.
“The great thing about Goldwater is that he still causes churn, like him or not. It’s a great quote,” Seitts said.
“It’s funny how she and so many have taken that quote, throw in a photo of him (or whomever) and run with it so many different directions. Goodness, Linda, get some extremism in your life and fight for something you believe no matter what political persuasion you come from.
Seitts adds, “Pundits fire a few shots and that’s it. That’s the difference between being a statesman or being like all the rest and toss a few balls in the air because you have no constituency, no staying power to see something through.
“If Sen. Carl Hayden and Congressman John Rhodes hadn’t bore down, seen the future of Arizona and the West and the fight over water coming, we’d have no Central Arizona Project {CAP) and be dry as a bone here. A CAP, Ms. Valdez, would never happen today with a bunch of moderates chugging along trying to be sweet.
