California Gov. Jerry Brown was in a feisty mood. A few days ago on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” he declared that presidential candidate Sen. Ted Cruz was “absolutely unfit to be running for office.”
What was the Texas senator’s crime? Cruz challenged the science of global warming alarmism. And as we are told repeatedly by progressives, on the issue of global warming “the science is settled.” There can be no toleration for dissenters, whether you are Ted Cruz, Charles Krauthammer, or anyone else with the nerve to challenge the scientific models favored by those on the left.
So what can we make of Gov. Brown’s assessment of Cruz’s place in politics? Perhaps we can learn from what Jerry Brown’s father said about another conservative Republican decades ago.
In 1966, Ronald Reagan ran for governor of California against liberal incumbent Gov. Pat Brown, a formidable opponent. When Reagan won the Republican nomination, Gov. Brown was ecstatic. He later wrote, “We … rubbed our hands in gleeful anticipation of beating this politically inexperienced, right-wing extremist.” Brown and the Democrats had a short celebration.
The California people had something to say. In a landslide (58 percent to 42 percent), the “right-wing extremist” beat Brown at the polls. Brown’s political life was over and Reagan experienced two successful terms as governor.
Yes, we can understand why Gov. Jerry Brown is a tad sensitive when it comes to genuine conservatives.
The Bayview Review 