Goldwater on Goldwater: ‘Mr. Conservative’ on DVD
As I reflect back on the making the film Mr. Conservative: Goldwater on Goldwater, I think no one could have predicted the relevance of Barry Goldwater’s wisdom in today’s political climate. With the election right around the corner, I hope this movie inspires people to fight, like Barry, for their civil liberties and stand-up for their lifestyle choices and values.
This ninety minute documentary film (now available on DVD) is about the complexities of a man who did all he could for his country, in a truthful and honest way.
The 1964 election was the first time we got a real look at "electronic dirt." As the elections approach, the political camps are gearing up to sway the voters through negative ads, distortions of truth, manipulation of the media and, most sadly of all, through playing on our fears. The spinners and distorters who attacked my grandfather’s candidacy over 40 years ago have honed their tactics to an art form of negativity.
It’s so blatantly sad when political candidates cannot answer a simple yes or no question about any issue without having to resort to a long-winded avoidance of it. I know that if my grandfather had been a candidate in this era, what he said would have made for some very interesting sound bites.
This film points out what has happened to the Conservative movement of Goldwater’s years. Politicians have put themselves above the principles upon which this country was founded. Both the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution are considered philosophical documents, not political ones. Yet that hasn’t stopped political parties from claiming these principles as if they were the only ones who practice them.
The Constitution was Barry’s Bible. He felt strongly about what it represented and the guidance it gave to establishing our government.
There are immigrants who come to America from all over the world and are applying for US citizenship who must learn about our government and founding fathers. Most of them cherish this opportunity because when you learn about our struggle for freedom and the rights that go with that, it’s a truly inspiring story.
But all is not lost. We have an opportunity to re-gain confidence in our Nation, it’s just going to take some straight talk and honesty.
Throughout my life, I was encouraged to be honest and truthful to all I came in contact with. We need to encourage our youth to do the same. It will save us a lot of grief. That all begins with our leaders, the people we look up to our parents and government. We have to have something that we can trust and believe in with no fear. Trust and fear cannot co-exist at the same time. Anyone who motivates our decisions by fear cannot restore the principles of a country founded in freedom.
I hope you enjoy this movie and support the candidate of your choice. As long as they abide by those principles and will run our country and not our lives. Whether you believe in Jesus, Buddha, Mohammed or the whispering pine trees, we all are entitled to our belief and that’s our right.
As my grandfather would say, the government has no right in our personal lives and I will stand by that till the day I die.
Among those interviewed for this film include Hillary Clinton, Edward Kennedy, John McCain, John Warner, James Carville, Al Franken, John Dean, Ben Bradlee, Helen Thomas, Walter Cronkite, Andy Rooney, George Will, Bob Schieffer, Robert MacNeil, various Goldwater family members and members of Goldwater’s personal staff.
Mr. Conservative: Goldwater on Goldwater is available now through zeitgeistfilms.com, and other video retailers.
- CC GoldwaterLabels: arts, films, goldwater
-----07-30-07
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