In 1954 Papa thought this was a catchy slogan. Not sure I knew at eleven years of age what it fully meant, other than it was negative. About a guy named Joe. That part of it didn’t sit well as A Guy Named Joe was a favorite movie. Again starring that actor from Milwaukee. The Joe must go political campaign at that time referred to one of Wisconsin’s US senators. Senator Joe McCarthy was an overly zealous communist hunter looking for the guilty within the ranks of the government.
After World War Two it was an easy sell to be on the watch for communists in light of Stalin’s aggression and oppression of Eastern Europe. There really were Soviet spies out there. However, as I wrote in a book about one of your great-grandmothers, there were all kinds of young people in the 1930’s who never met an “ism” they didn’t like. Perhaps dabbing in the intellectual byways of life. In the 1940’s many past card carrying party members or associates were caught up in the initial House investigations. Most of what is described as blacklists came before 1950 and McCarthy’s rise. He actually led a small subcommittee on investigations. That work did not provide the headlines. It may be that his work never led to any convictions. Rather, it was his manner and bombast that caused news waves. He was loud and crude and wildly over the top. See the original version of the movie “Manchurian Candidate” for a good spin on such a loutish commie hunter.
That was then. McCarthy has been demonized for decades. As with Trump today there was real hate in the heart for McCarthyism. Now it’s time for another Joe to go. Four years past time by my calculation. Didn’t think he was very sharp in 2020. Hid out. Overly protected inside the party/campaign/press corps. Suddenly, all his pals are shocked, completely shocked that he got old without telling anyone. Panic time for the loyalists who are left holding a bag that seemed so predictable to others four years ago. It’ll be interesting fun to the watch how they turn and twist possible failure into a shiny new object. They won’t say the words Joe must go. That is reserved for the hated McCarthy, he of Grand Chute. No, there will be compassion when they seek to ease/nudge/force old Joe out to pasture. Then everyone can get on with the most existential/important/critical election of ever and ever.