Today's MOZEN: Have You No Decency?

F LoBuono

It was a dark time in our Nation that came to be known as The McCarthy Era (1946-1957). Named after Republican Senator Joseph McCarthy, who, in an effort to gain political power, led a series of congressional hearings aimed at routing out Communists and other subversives that he believed had infiltrated the highest offices of the Federal Government. In addition, he saw Communist sympathizers in every corner of Hollywood and, through his hearings, subsequently destroyed many a creative career. This, too, bears its own shameful moniker: The Blacklist. McCarthy capitalized on the almost irrational fear of Communism, a.k.a. The Cold War, created by the rise of China and the Soviet Union in the years immediately after WWII.

He was all about FEAR AND LOATHING.

McCarthy's rise was meteoric and unexpected. His power was unquestioned - to do so was to be labeled a COMMUNIST - at that time, the kiss of death for anyone's career. He badgered and blustered. He ran roughshod over anyone who opposed him. The Senator from Wisconsin was feared but also respected by many - until he wasn't.

On June 4th, 1954, the Senator was holding one of his infamous hearings, this time attacking the integrity of the US Army. The hearings were being broadcast LIVE in front of a national TV audience. McCarthy, along with his lawyer, the later disgraced Roy Cohn, claimed to have a list of over 130 people in the highest positions in the Army whom were either Communists or Subversives. During questioning, the Chief Counsel for the Army, Joseph N. Welch, challenged them to produce the list. They could not. In a heated exchange, McCarthy then attacked the integrity of one of Mr. Welch's legal associates. That claim also had no merit. That's when Welch, in frustration and disgust, lost it and uttered these famous words:

You've done enough. Have you no sense of decency, sir? At long last, have you left no sense of decency?

After the exchange, the gallery erupted in applause. The audience watching at home had a similar reaction - joy that the tables had been turned - no longer would Mr. McCarthy intimidate innocent people with the tactics of a boorish bully bent solely on advancing his own career and fame at the expense of others. His grip was broken. In a bit of irony, McCarthy died of throat cancer in 1957.

I see an awful lot of Joe McCarthy in our current President, Donald J; Trump. He blusters and he bullies. In fact, he is the ultimate ruffian with the World's Most Powerful Bully Pulpit at his disposal. He destroys others for his own gain. He makes false claims that he cannot prove. In my mind, he has absolutely NO redeeming values at all.

So, the question remains, who will be OUR Joseph N. Welch? Who will have the courage - and, the position - to say, Mr. President, You've done enough. Have you no sense of decency, sir? At long last, have you left no sense of decency?