The U.S.S. Barry M. Goldwater?

Rep. Tom Tancredo (R-Colo.) and four other House Republicans have introduced a resolution calling on the U.S. Navy to name a future aircraft carrier after the late Sen. Barry M. Goldwater (R-Ariz.).

Tancredo, joined by GOP Reps. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.), Connie Mack (R-Fla.), John Shaddeg (R-Ariz.) and Lee Terry (R-Neb.), introduced the non-binding resolution on Tuesday. It calls for the Navy to name an as-yet-unbuilt nuclear carrier (CVN-79 or 80) after Goldwater. The firsdt next generation of American carriers, to br nsmrf

Goldwater, a big defense hawk, served 30 years in the Senate, and he led the GOP to a disastrous showing in the 1964 presidential race as their nominee against the late President Lyndon Baines Johnson.

Tancredo called Goldwater a "really significant figure in American history," adding that without Goldwater "there would have been no Ronald Reagan." Reagan first rose to national political prominence as a Goldwater surrogate in the '64 campaign.

Recent carriers have been named after presidents, including the Truman, Reagan, and the George H.W. Bush (CVN-78) , which is expected to join the fleet sometime this year.

But the "John C. Stennis," named after the Missouri Democratic senator, was commissioned in 1995, and the "Nimitz," named after legendary World War II leader, Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, joined the fleet in 1975.

Interestingly, Rep. Harry Mitchell (D-Ariz.) has proposed that the Navy name CVN-79 "The Arizona," in honor of the U.S. battleship sunk in the Pearl Harbor attack of Dec. 7, 1941. Mitchell made the suggestion this past December, the 60-year anniversary of the Arizona's loss.

Here's the text of Tancredo's resolution (H.Con.Res.359):

"Expressing the sense of Congress on naming an aircraft carrier as the U.S.S. Barry M. Goldwater.

Whereas Barry M. Goldwater was born in the Arizona Territory in 1909 to Baron and Josephine Goldwater;

Whereas Barry M. Goldwater served as a pilot in the United States Army Air Corps during World War II and was later a Major General in the Air Force Reserve;

Whereas Barry M. Goldwater was an avid pilot throughout his military career and after his retirement;

Whereas Barry M. Goldwater was elected to the City Council in Phoenix in 1949, and served as United States Senator from Arizona from 1953-1965 and again from 1969-1987;
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