I met Senator Howard Baker in the late 70s during the years I was active in the Republican Party. I was a state delegate at the time for George H.W. Bush and was at the state convention in Pontiac Michigan. Sen. Baker gave a short speech and was a very gracious man. He had been my first choice early in the primary season but he dropped out due to lack of support. Here is a key phrase about his political life: Known in Washington, D.C. as the Great Conciliator, Baker was often regarded as one of the most successful senators in terms of brokering compromises, enacting legislation, and maintaining civility. A story is sometimes told of a reporter telling a senior Democratic senator that privately, a plurality of his Democratic colleagues would vote for Baker for President of the United States. Though even at that time politics was a dirty game, he knew how to work with both sides and move forward with legislation. He didnt play the zero-sum games that so many Republicans play today to the detriment of our country. Even though I stopped identifying as someone aligned with the Republican Party many years ago, Ive always had a deep admiration for this man because he knew how serve his county and his party without demonizing and alienating people with opposing points of view. Back in those days, people didnt have a 7% approval rating of Congress. Will we ever have men and women who can lead again? Leaders who are looking for solutions and will work for the common good? Rest in peace, Mr. Baker.
Posted on: Fri, 27 Jun 2014 22:43:27 +0000
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