Let’s take a look at the progressive even by today’s standards political views of an American legend with some interesting ties to this year’s Republican National Convention.
Take a look at the 2012 Republican National Convention stage. Does it bring anything in particular to mind?
It should. According to Jim Fenhagen, lead production designer for the convention, Frank Lloyd Wright’s prairie style architecture served as an inspiration for the set. As Christopher Hawthorne of the Los Angeles Times notes this was an interesting choice.
For this particular ticket, the most obvious risk is the Ayn Rand connection. Wright was the chief inspiration for the headstrong architect Howard Roark, hero of Rand’s 1943 novel “The Fountainhead.”
Ryan has done his best to move away from Rand in the last couple of years. Explaining her atheism and support for abortion, in particular, began to seem like more trouble than it was worth for a rising star in the 21st century GOP….
As for Wright, let’s put it this way: He was no standard-bearer for conservative values. He grew his hair long and liked to wear a cape. His political views were far from consistent, but he leaned left and was accused of distrusting capitalism and even, on occasion, of having Communist ties. Romney’s running mate, Wisconsin Rep. Paul D. Ryan, was long a devotee of Rand’s Objectivist philosophy.
Let’s hear about those views from the man himself and draw our own conclusions regarding whether or not the homage was apropos.
