No, Harry Truman Would Not Be a Republican

I am only 24 years old, but I have heard a lot of stupid things in my lifetime. Perhaps none of them is as stupid as when I was told that "Harry Truman would be a Republican if he were alive today."

Most Americans would recognize Truman to be the president who succeeded his predecessor Franklin D. Roosevelt upon Roosevelt's death, dropped the bombs on Japan and ended World War II, and led the United States into the Korean War. Since the latter two events center on war, perhaps that is why we are told Truman would be a Republican: Truman was hawkish on war issues, ready to fight the Communists in Korea as well as provide Marshall Plan aid to countries like Turkey, Greece, and Germany after World War II. And Truman was so hawkish that he dropped the atomic bombs on Japan and never apologized for it.

It's true that Truman risked his legacy and arguably his soul by his war actions, but he was also thought of as considerably soft on Communism. He was a frequent target of Joseph McCarthy, and in 1949 when the Communists took over China (even though there was absolutely nothing Truman could do about it), Truman was blamed for "losing China."

Conservatives frequently lecture us on how the president (who happens to be the Commander-in-Chief) must always follow the advice of his generals. It was Truman who fired General MacArthur, and as one newspaper put it, never before had a man so popular been fired by a man so unpopular. But historians have vindicated Truman for this, noting that it was at the very least a reminder to the military that control over it rests in the Oval Office, and Truman watched MacArthur, whom he referred to as a "dumb son of a bitch" and who disobeyed his orders during the Korean War, destroy his mythical status in front of Congressional committees. (The situation all sounds similar to President Obama firing General McCrystal.)

On domestic issues as well, Truman was very un-Republican. As a senator he voted for Roosevelt's New Deal programs completely, even supporting FDR during the controversial "Court-packing" debate. In the Senate and as President, he repeatedly and viciously attacked corporate greed and special interests. President Truman tried to pass his own socialistic programs, called the Fair Deal, which were opposed by Republicans, who overrode his veto to curtail the power of unions. Only one of his programs was adopted by Congress. Truman was even the first president to propose (wait for it...) universal health care, which Republicans labeled "socialized medicine." So if modern-day Republicans have finally adopted a pro-health care platform by embracing Truman, then that's fine with me.

Truman famously was projected to lose the 1948 election to Thomas Dewey. Remember that famous "Dewey Defeats Truman" headline? Truman raced around the country to "give 'em hell" and rally against the "do nothing" Republican Congress. Congressional Republicans were so shocked and angry at Truman's surprise victory that they were determined to ruin the remainder of Truman's presidency, and they did. Truman left office with an approval rating in the 20s, which was, until George W. Bush, the lowest Gallup approval rating for a president.

Truman was born and raised a Democrat, as most Missourians were, but he was a liberal one as well. He risked numerous elections by supporting black issues, was the first president to speak before the NAACP, and desegregated the military. I am not suggesting that Republicans are racist, but they certainly are opposed to the modern-day civil rights issue: queer rights. They cling to whatever religious or traditional opposition to not only same-sex marriage but most Congressional Republicans also opposed Obama's move to end the banning of gays, lesbians and bisexuals from serving in the military.

Hell, Truman even blamed the failing of his clothes store before he became a politician on the economic policies of the Harding administration.

So if any Republican could explain to me exactly why they firmly believe that this socialist hippy of a President is their kind of Democrat, so much so that by today's standards he's a Republican, I would love to hear it.