Another split in the Republican right wing

By Gus Hall

This article was reprinted from the April 11, 1998 issue of the People's Weekly World. For subscription information see below. All rights reserved - may be used with PWW credits.

There is, once again, a split in the Republican Party. This time it is an unusual, even unique, kind of split. It is a split between the right wing and those who are more extreme and fascist-leaning. It is a deep split that is creating an anti-fascist backlash.

Most of the top Republican leaders fit into the more extreme group, although Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich recently made what I would call a calculated "liberal" speech to counter the adverse public image.

Independent Special Prosecutor Kenneth Starr's methods in the Monica Lewinsky case have heightened concerns among millions about a rising fascist danger. That is the main reason moderate Republicans are becoming increasingly concerned.

The fascist-leaning elements like the Christian Coalition tend to coalesce around Kenneth Starr, whose politics, tactics and methods have increasingly provoked a negative public reaction. People are extremely sensitive about, and object to, what some are calling "The Starr Chamber's" fascist-like methods.

Starr indiscriminately uses his subpoena powers to force people before the closed-door grand jury inquisition. He tramples on people's basic rights and has total disregard for human relationships.

An example is his treatment of Monica Lewinsky and his forcing her mother to testify. But his demands for records of Lewinsky's bookstore purchases are nothing but outright thought control - a McCarthyite tactic and judicial terrorism.

The attempt to use books people read as evidence against them is frighteningly reminiscent of the McCarthyites' use of books to indict and prosecute Communists in the 1950s.

The office of the independent special prosecutor is inherently an anti-democratic structure. It has no place in a democratic setup. It should be abolished.

Under capitalism, which always moves away from democracy when the opportunity arises, such a structure provides openings for anti-democratic and fascist forces to gain a foothold.

From the beginning, Starr has been out to destroy the Democratic Party and the Clinton administration. He and his staff routinely violate people's democratic, civil and basic human rights and trample on democratic processes and laws.

Despite public opinion, he will continue to destroy people's lives, livelihoods and reputations, unless enough Republicans are concerned about democracy. Whitewater defendant and Clinton friend Susan MacDougall is serving a prison sentence because she refused to give Starr what he demanded - damaging testimony against the Clintons.

President Clinton's high public rating, in spite of everything, has to be seen as the people's reaction to the fascist danger.

It is not that they think Clinton is doing such a great job, but that they fear the "job" the extreme right will do if they gain even more power.

That is what the people are expressing in their stubborn refusal to give Starr approval or credibility. And the people are on the mark - once again.

The fascist-leaning forces gravitate toward and coalesce around Starr and his ultra-right staff because they think he can ultimately set the wheels in motion to bring down the Clinton administration, damage the Democratic Party and thus give the Republicans more power.

The split among Republicans is important because it will carry over into the elections. It opens up the possibilities of defeating the right wing in the November elections.

It opens up possibilities for much broader united front alliances between labor and people's forces because both the ultra-right and fascist-leaning Republican forces are mounting a particularly vicious anti-labor, union-busting campaign in Congress and several states.

The fascist-leaning forces in the Republican Party are misjudging the strength of public sensitivity, public reaction and public determination.

However, it will take mobilization and organization of those sentiments to mount the kind of political and electoral campaigns that can give a resounding defeat to the Republicans throughout the country and especially in Congress.

This new split is laying the groundwork for an electoral campaign that can sweep pro-labor, pro-union and Communist candidates into local, state and congressional office this November.