By TIM BARTO
Leo Durocher was a fiercely competitive baseball lifer whose autobiography was titled, Nice Guys Finish Last. Despite being dubbed “the All American Out” by Yankee roommate Babe Ruth, Durocher had a decent career as a Major Leaguer and was a key member of the fiery and bawdry St. Louis Cardinals’ world championship team known as “The Gashouse Gang.” His passion for the game and determination to win at all costs earned him a promotion to player-manager of the Brooklyn Dodgers at the age of 33, after which he went on to manage in the big leagues for 24 seasons.
When repeatedly asked to give an example of how badly he wanted to win, Leo “The Lip” finally produced a very Durocheresque example: If he was playing third base and his mother was a baserunner rounding third with the winning run, he would trip her. Critics be damned. The important thing was to come out on top.
In today’s political climate there is one group of people who seem to adhere to Leo’s mantra that nice guys finish last: the political left. Their manifesto dictates an unalterable dedication to passing and promoting their agenda; whether it’s redistributing wealth, demanding abortion at any time for any reason, or promoting genital mutilation in the name of gender identity, the left plays to win. And they’re really good at it.
Just look at the current legislative session. Promises were made by the left side of the aisle that they would not introduce controversial social legislation, but those promises were broken early on when the following bills were filed during the 33rd Legislature:
- SB43 would mandate sex education for public school students beginning in kindergarten and give schools a way to bypass parental notification when it comes to teaching children highly divisive sex education topics like how to “safely” engage in both heterosexual and homosexual sexual activities.
- HB17 opens the door for abortion pills to be made available to minors and dismisses the conscious protections of faith-based business owners who would be opposed to providing abortifacients to their employees.
- HB43 would prevent individuals with unwanted same sex or gender identity issues from seeking the counseling they are wanting.
What of the Republicans – those who allege to be conservative in their values? Firstly, they ceded power to the Democrats in the Senate, forming a coalition majority despite having won a majority of Republican seats (11 of 20). The House Republicans, also having won a majority of seats (21 of 40), withstood a similar attempt at control but elected a true conservative in Cathy Tilton as speaker.
But what has happened to conservative bills being introduced in the Senate, or far left bills being introduced in the House? The Senate conservatives abided by the “no controversial social bills” agreement and have not introduced any socially conservative legislation, despite the actions taken by liberal senators to introduce very contentious, socially charged legislation. The House has allowed the contraceptive bill (HB17) to be heard and referred out of committee.
An argument can certainly be made that the Republicans are maintaining their integrity by allowing socially liberal bills to be heard while not introducing socially conservative bills, but being the nice guys in this scenario ignores the damage being done by the left. When in charge, the Democrats do not allow conservative bills to be forwarded. When the Republicans allow liberal bills to be heard and referred out of committee, it takes time away from hearing legislation that advances the cause of Faith, family, and freedom.
The left is knowingly, willfully, and quite intentionally taking advantage of the nice guys. Does this mean the right needs to be mean-spirited and vengeful? Absolutely not, but it does mean they must be tough and stand their ground. Democrat Senators Tobi Loken, Jesse Kiehl, and Elvi Gray-Jackson are some of the most congenial people you could meet. They comport themselves with good manners and kindness. We can do the same while advancing the causes of parental rights, common sense, and moral decency.
It’s a constant source of frustration, and at times a dilemma, but the price of being too nice and allowing the win-at-all-costs Left the courtesies they would never grant conservatives is a losing strategy. Jim Minnery at Alaska Family Council shares this dilemma.
Jim, his lovely wife, Kim, and other part time staff over the years have been working determinedly for a decade and a half to advance Christian values in Alaska. They want to win for common sense, parental rights, family values, and moral decency. And while they do not condone tripping mothers on the basepaths, they stand their ground and seek wins for what is right. It is my honor to have been asked to come alongside them in this task.
Tim Barto is the new Vice President of Operations for Alaska Family Council, and a fan of Leo Durocher . . . which, he believes, are not mutually exclusive.
