Jack Kemp - R.I.P.

I am sad to note the passing of former Congressman Jack Kemp over the week-end. There is no doubt that he stood for what is best about this country and about the GOP. He recognized that there were problems in this country, but with some hard work and serious thought, we could reduce or eliminate those problems. He looked at a failing educational system and proposed vouchers to help parents remove their kids from bad schools. He saw crumbling public housing projects and worked on plans to turn these projects over to the residents that truly wanted a home, not the drug infested rat-holes they were forced to live in. He saw undeveloped areas with high unemployment and proposed empowerment zones to bring in private investment. He looked for ways to leverage the size and power of the government in order to help the private sector make this an even better country. Jack understood that it is the private sector that creates wealth and allows people the opportunity to reach for a higher station in live. In essence, he was what America (and the American Dream) is all about.

I laughed when I saw some commentary about Jack being for outreach to different "non-Republican" groups. I know the commentary was meant in a negative way (as if to say that the GOP must change to attracts different people, etc). Jack truly believed in reaching out to different non-traditional GOP voters and let them know that we believe in what they believe in- stronger families and communities, better opportunity for everyone that seeks it and more personal freedom. If telling people in the poorer neighborhoods that we believe in you and that you can better yourself is outreach, well then I guess I'm for outreach too.

Jack, may God bless you and your family.