The new silent majority
Back in the turbulent 60’s, all of the loudmouths and agitators were hippies, druggies, women, and african-Americans clamouring for various rights and freedoms. In 1969, President Richard Nixon appealed to the “great silent majority of my fellow Americans.” Nixon was right and his appeal to America worked.
Forty years later, it is the right that has become the loud (reactionary) fringe. The right may scream the loudest right now, but polls continue to show liberal ideas to garner a majority of support. From health care (including the public option) to bank reform, the silent majority is clearly on the side of the Democrats.
Thus, it is with great joy when I see the GOP move to the right. The latest example is in Florida where Florida Governor Charlie Crist is running for the Senate. Many hard-core conservatives are pushing for Marco Rubio - a conservative former Florida Speaker of the House - to get the nomination. I hope he wins. While I think Crist would probably be the better Senator, I think Democrats have a better chance against Rubio.
The best part about the new silent majority is that they agree with the liberal rabble rousers of the 1960s. Equal rights for women and minorities. Against the war (though this is closer than the equal rights issue). The arguments really haven’t changed, but the silent majority has shifted.
