Quote of the Day (Alfred E. Smith, on Intolerance)

"The best way to kill anything un-American is to drag it out into the open, because anything un-American cannot live in the sunlight."—New York Gov. and Democratic Presidential candidate Alfred E. Smith, campaign address in Oklahoma City, OK, September 20, 1928

As I mentioned in my post last month on Smith's acceptance speech as Democratic candidate, the vituperation, exaggerations and just plain bigotry he was forced to endure in his campaign are not unlike—at least in degree—what Barack Obama is facing this year. How Smith responded said much about his strengths as a man. The same, hopefully, will turn out to be the case for Obama.

Smith's nomination brought anti-Catholic bigots out from everywhere, like ants running out from under a rock just turned over. Even Midwestern editor William Allen White, revered as a symbol of Progressivism, fell victim to this malady, claiming that "The whole Puritan civilization which has built a sturdy, orderly nation is threatened by Smith."

Hmm…I think that "sturdy, orderly nation" was about to be threatened more by the 1929 stock-market crash than by Smith's religion, his ethnicity, his "wet" (i.e., anti-Prohibition) views, or even by his connection to the Tammany Hall political machine.

Those who ascend what Winston Churchill called "the greasy pole" of politics have problematic or troubling elements in their background. This year, Obama --with his connection to the Rev. Jeremiah Wright and to former Weatherman William Ayres, and the unusual real estate deal that allowed him to purchase his home—is no different in this respect from Smith. And, I might add, from Senators McCain and Biden and Governor Palin.

Preposterous rumors about Smith's drunkenness—most often revolving around two aides who had to, invariably, help him up—wildly exaggerated his drinking habits. Though people made more than they should have of his connection to Tammany Hall, they ignored his close and growing friendship with moneyman John J. Raskob, whom he had named head of the Democratic National Committee—and who, after the election, employed him to head up the building of the Empire State Building and steered his political views rightward.

But, as Smith noted in his 1929 autobiography, Up to Now, when he stepped off his campaign train in Oklahoma City, "it was quite apparent to me that the foremost issue so far as that part of the country was concerned was religion." And well he might think so: the infamous large burning cross of the Ku Klux Klan was there to greet him upon his arrival, and an urban legend created by the KKK had sprung up to the effect that the New York governor was building the Holland Tunnel all the way to the Vatican!

His campaign entourage realized they had a problem on their hands, but they split over how to confront it. Some were in favor of ignoring it, but Smith felt that the forces of hatred needed to be confronted. And so he did.

One of the best extemporaneous speakers, Smith left no definitive written record of one of his best addresses. All we have left are subsequent newspaper accounts. But it’s clear that he charged the Republicans with introducing religion as a factor into the race; castigated the Ku Klux Klan; and denounced voting for or against him solely on the basis of his religious beliefs rather than his qualifications for the job.

At one point, Smith poured scorn on the attempt to “ inject bigotry, hatred, intolerance and un-American sectarian division into a campaign.” “There is no greater mockery in the world today,” he continued, “than the burning of the Cross by these people who are spreading this propaganda . . . while the Christ that they are supposed to adore, love and venerate . . . taught the holy, sacred writ of brotherly love.”

Barack Obama’s record in public life and his ideology are fair game for discussion—as are John McCain’s. What is not are Internet-spread fictions about Obama being a crypto-Muslim; about moving back his birthdate to when Hawaii had become a state so he could qualify as a U.S. citizen; about actually being born in Kenya; and about not reciting the Pledge of Allegiance.

Al Smith’s point—made in the midst of a frustrating, losing election—bears repeating and elaboration: there must be no place for religious or racial intolerance in American elections. We’ve been through that. That way lies peril to our system. Let’s drag the perpetrators of the lies into the spotlight, Smith-style, and expose them for the un-American frauds they are.)