Editorial: That non-partisan plank
Since it was first proposed some months ago that foreign policy be taken out of the political campaign by Republicans and Democrats accepting the same foreign plank in their platforms, more and more politicians have shied away from the idea.
It is not orthodox. Anyway, the old-line bosses cannot make up their minds which party it would help most – and, as usual, they put partisan considerations first.
The people are more intelligent; they are thinking about the country first. At least that is the indication of the recent Gallup Poll of Republican voters.
They were asked:
Do you think that both Republicans and Democrats should take exactly the same stand for an active part in world affairs in their party platforms in 1944?
With 21% undecided, 58% answered Yes and only 21% No.
The reasons given by the majority were as significant as the vote:
First, world affairs should be treated by a complete nation, not by political parties;
Second, if our political parties squabble among themselves over foreign policy, other nations may take advantage of the disunity in such a way as to harm American interests.
What can the politicians say to that?