The state of Barry Goldwater? THIS Barry Goldwater?
1992: “Former Sen. Barry Goldwater, the father of modern conservatism and a Republican elder statesman, said Thursday that his party’s strict anti-abortion stance threatens to leave the GOP in shambles....”But abortion is not something the Republican Party should call for the abolition of, by legal means or by any other means.
“There is no way in the world that abortion is going to be abolished. It has been going on ever since man and woman lived together on this earth,” he said.”
As pointed out here:
Only in his final term did he adopt a pro-choice position, voting in 1983 against a constitutional amendment that would have reversed Roe v. Wade and returned legislative authority over abortion to the states. In 1984, he reversed his 1964 position by voting against a constitutional amendment to restore voluntary prayer to public schools. As late as 1985 he opposed “gay rights” legislation. Only in 1993, six years after leaving the Senate, did he change his view.
https://www.claremont.org/crb/article/the-goldwater-myth/
Goldwater led the way on making abortion acceptable to Arizonans! He turned pro-abortion when abortion wasn’t cool. And pro-homosexual rights!
“There has always been homosexuality ever since men and women were invented. I guess there were gay apes. So that’s not an issue. The Republican Party should stand for freedom and only freedom. Don’t raise hell about the gays, the blacks, and the Mexicans. Free people have a right to do as they damn well please. To see the party that fought communism and big government now fighting gays, well, that’s just plain dumb.” - 1993
https://www.deseretnews.com/article/306128/GOLDWATER-CALLS-OPPOSITION-TO-GAYS-IN-MILITARY-DUMB.html
Ought to add the Barry Goldwater conservatives admired in 1964 had little to do with the Barry Goldwater of 1984. He turned, and by turning, gave cover to Arizona liberals. He was McCain before McCain was McCain. And before McSally tried to be McCain.