In 1936, when I was 8 years old, The Great Depression was at it’s worst and I was living in Brooklyn, NY, solid FDR territory. My father a lifelong Republican, and perhaps the only Republican in Brooklyn, (even my mother voted Democratic), gave me a beautiful campaign button. It had a brown center surrounded by yellow felt petals. It looked just like a sunflower, the state flower of Kansas, the home state of Republican presidential candidate, Alf Landon. In the center of the button, was inscribed, “Alf Landon for President”. I had seen a lot of campaign buttons, but nothing like this one! It was truly a magnificent gift! So I pinned it on and proudly wore it out to play. In that street, and later in my house, as my mother and father dried my tears, I learned some lessons that have lasted a lifetime. Allow me to share them with you.

1. Being a Republican can be a wonderful thing, but it can also cause you to get the crap beaten out of you when you least expect it.

2. As Americans we each have a right to express diverse views. However, we do not have the moral right to shirk our duty to vote our conscience, regardless of the fact that defeat or dire consequences or the disapproval of others, appear to be our only reward.

So with that uncommon insight into politics, I became a lifelong Republican -- not as devout as my father, who I used to joke, considered Ronald Reagan to be left of center – but a registered Republican nevertheless. At the same time I learned that all Democratic ideas were not inherently bad – nor were all Democrats. After all, my mother was a wonderful person and a very patriotic American -- even if she did vote for Democrats all too often. In spite of the political divergence, my parents stayed happily married until my father died at the age of 89. I suspect that the primary reason for whatever political accommodation and tolerance there was, stemmed from the shared belief that our country, and our duty to our country, came before everything else – including political affiliation.

I remember my mother reading something to me that contained the phrase. “My country – right or wrong – but my country…”. I don’t recall the source of that writing and that might not be a verbatim quote, but the idea and the philosophy are something I have carried with me for as long as I can remember.

The idea of duty and love of country transcending all political considerations was exemplified when in her waning years my mother, the Democrat, was stopped on the street by an inquiring photographer and asked what she thought of when she saw the American flag. Without hesitation she responded, “Long may it wave!” We were very proud of her. In that, at least, we had an issue in which both the Republicans and the Democrat in our family could agree.

I know that although they worried as most parents would, the Republican and the Democrat in my household were very proud when during the Korean War, I announced that I intended to join the military. I did that, and spent the next 22 years as an Air Force officer. Although they worried during my tour in Vietnam, the Republican and the Democrat spoke with equal conviction about the rightness of our cause and our country.

If Campaign Finance Reform were merely a political issue, it would be an easy call. Your duty would have been to vote along party lines. We are fortunate that you had the insight and the patriotism to see beyond that and to understand and accept the fact that this is an issue about the vital interests of your country and that your first duty is to your country. For the courage it took to stand up and be counted, there are thousands of us out here who like myself -- salute you!

Not only have you done the right thing for your country, you have also done the right thing for your party. As a lifelong Republican your actions make me very proud!

The media has characterized your action as defying the party leadership. I see it differently. I see you as taking the point and defining the party for all the world to see. Are we Republicans not people of integrity? Are we not about duty, honor and country? Your vote answered that question. I’m sure you will pay a price for your valiant efforts. But you knew that going in. That’s what heroes are all about.

Respectfully,

Alan M. Kaplan, Director
Attorneys’ Investigative Consultants
Box 43029-4500
Las Vegas, NV 89116
Phone – 702-453-4500
FAX – 702-438-8986
E-Mail – Akaplan@LasVegasPI.com
Web Site – http://www.LasVegasPI.com