Can GOP Keep Up?

Republicans are acting like a drowning man, flailing about, wildly attempting to grab on to anything that will lift them up and keep them from sinking into total irrelevance, as a large rock must surely feel as it falls to the bottom of an ocean. It was sad to see Rep. John Boehner, Senator Jon Kyl and others gathered around a microphone yesterday complaining about President Obama’s trip to the west coast where he held two town hall meetings and appeared on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. President Obama’s effective use of all media to communicate with the people and most importantly, listen to the people, has the GOP spinning like a top. They act like they have never met a President who could handle more than one issue at a time.

Wait, and there’s more.

Today, President Obama has sent some of the biggest names in U.S. foreign policy to meet with Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and President Dmitry Medvedev in an effort to improve frosty relations. Included in the group are former Secretaries of State, Henry Kissinger, George Shultz, James Baker and former US Senator Sam Nunn. No doubt, the results of that meeting will help set the stage for a private meeting of the current heads of state next month (G-20 meeting in London).

All Americans need to give President Obama some room to lead. Be slow to judge, slower still to anger, and resolute in our support of the only President we have. But I recognize that is probably too much to ask of what’s left of GOP leadership, and I am under no illusion that the right wing media voices will give him anything short of hell every day he is in office. So be it. They will soon find there are few ears for their partisan side show.

Sense of Entitlement Erodes Public Trust

Earlier this week, as the tax problems of President Obama’s cabinet picks were the buzz in Washington, I exchanged e-mail with a friend in Georgia who expressed a view shared, I'm sure, by a great many Americans:

“I have held a very cynical view of DC politicians for years. Democrat or Republican, I think the process and the bubble of DC makes it, over time, a game to be played. The sense of entitlement becomes pervasive (why pay taxes, that’s what regular people do). With very few exceptions I think that is true.”

I responded that, yes, I’m sure there are those who come to DC wearing an ermine mantle of entitlement. I have known some. However, there are exceptions, and I worked with one: Sam Nunn.

In early 1973, a Gulf Oil lobbyist by the name of Claude Wild claimed in court, during his trial for making illegal campaign contributions, that he had made a cash contribution of $5,000 to each of several candidates in 1972, including US Senate candidate, Sam Nunn. Nunn's campaign had no record of it, nor could anyone associated with the campaign recall the name of the supposed donor. Although there was no record of a contribution from Claude Wild, Sam Nunn incurred $30,000 in legal fees to have a team of lawyers go over every last nickel of campaign contributions in an attempt to find the so-called contribution. It didn't exist, of course, but Nunn was going to make sure it didn't exist...and that the record would show he was willing to take every step to avoid even the appearance of impropriety. He did that, not because he had to, but because it was the right thing to do.

And that’s what public service demands. In order to enjoy the trust of your constituents, one must take every step, even those unpleasant or costly, to avoid even the appearance of impropriety.

I thought “DC politicians” were all like Sam Nunn, but they were not..........and are not today.

A person of substance, experience and depth

I have followed Joe Biden’s career since he came to the Senate with my friend, Sam Nunn, both elected in the fall of 1972. Joe Biden was the youngest member of the 13-member class that year, just 29 years of age when elected but 30 by the time he took the oath of office in January, 1973 -- and thus "legal."

The tragic death of Joe's first wife in December 1972 shocked his colleagues. All of us working in the Senate – staff as well as senators – admired Joe Biden for his resolve to commute by train back home every night to be with his family in Wilmington. That was tough for a young guy working hard all day to learn the ropes in the Senate. Putting family above all else when setting priorities spoke volumes to me. Today, he enjoys an international reputation as a serious, thoughtful senator who does his homework and knows his stuff. He enjoys longstanding relationships with practically all of the major leaders in the world. I could not say that about any of the other potential nominees for VP except Sam Nunn.

Most importantly, Obama chose someone who is ready to step into the job of President if needed on a moment’s notice, bringing with him the substance, experience and depth that the Nation expects in its Commander-in-Chief.

For Obama/Biden, it's full speed ahead! The country awaits your leadership!