Barry Goldwater - the last sane Republican

Some of my favourite quotes by the late Barry Goldwater (1909-1989) , five-term USA Senator of Arizona:

"There is no position on which people are so immovable as their religious beliefs. There is no more powerful ally one can claim in a debate that Jesus Christ, or God, or Allah, or whatever one calls this supreme being. But like any powerful weapon, the us of God's name on one's behalf should be used sparingly. The religious factions that are growing throughout our land are not using their religious clout with wisdom. They are trying to force government leaders into following their position 100 percent. If you disagree with these religious groups on a particular moral issue, they complain, they threaten you with a loss of money or votes or both. I'm frankly sick and tired of the political preachers across this country telling me as a citizen that if I want to be a moral person, U must believe in A, B, C, and D. Just who do they think they are? And from where do they presume to claim the right to dictate their moral beliefs to me? And I am even more angry as a legislator who must endure the threats of every religious group who thinks it has some God-granted right to control my vote on every roll call in the Senate. I am warning them today: I will fight them every step of the way if they try to dictate their moral convictions to all Americans in the name of conservatism."

"When you say “radical right” today, I think of these moneymaking ventures by fellows like Pat Robertson and others who are trying to take the Republican Party and make a religious organization out of it. If that ever happens, kiss politics goodbye."

"Do not associate my name with anything you do. You are extremists, and you've hurt the Republican Party much more than the Democrats have."