The thing about the demagogues is that they have their hour and pass away, because the essential character of Americans is optimism, not fearfulness. That is why Franklin Roosevelt was able to rally the country during the Depression. That optimism about the country was equally characteristic of Ronald Reagan, and, I think, it goes a long way toward explaining his remarkable success in politics.
It distresses me to see people who like to call themselves Jeffersonians and Constitutionalists exploiting fear of Muslims for short-term political gain. It distresses me to see so many Democrats so pusillanimous in standing up for the First Amendment—for its spirit as well as its letter. Permit me to add timorous and craven to the inventory.
The time will come when we will be optimists again, and embarrassed at ourselves once more.
