George Will is assumed to be a Conservative columnist. In panel discussions on TV, he's always assumed to be on the Right. George Will is firmly planted in the Washington establishment. And he likes it that way. He's a good Republican, whatever that may mean at any time.
But if there is anyone who threatens to upset the go-along-to-get-along apple-cart you can be sure that George Will will be there defending the status quo.
In the Washington Post (Nov. 12, 1974) he wrote: “But Reagan is 63, and looks it. His hair is still remarkably free of gray, but around the mouth and neck he looks like an old man. He’s never demonstrated substantial national appeal. His hardcore support today consists primarily of the kamikaze conservatives who thought the 1964 Goldwater campaign was jolly fun. And there’s a reason to doubt that Reagan is well suited to appeal to the electorate that just produced a democratic landslide. If a Reagan third party would just lead the “Nixon was lynched” crowd away from the Republican party, and into outer darkness where there is a wailing and gnashing of teeth, it might be at worst a mixed course for the Republican party. It would cost the party some support, but it would make the party seem cleansed.”
This man - George Will - despite his mean-spirited and very personal attack on Ronald Reagan is still considered by many on the Right to be on their side. They could not be more wrong. He is the Establishment's hatchet man. He is a very comfortable member of the Ruling Class and he likes it that way.
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Something like 25 years ago, the then-CEO of American Airlines, and my ultimate boss, was pushing an idea to change labor law to shift the balance almost completely to the "company's" favor. Bob Crandall invited Will to his place for the weekend. Within a few days, he wrote a column which exactly followed Crandall's talking points. Asside from the merits of the issue, I lost all faith in Will's credibility and integrity after that.
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