[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 77 (Tuesday, May 19, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1203-E1204]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    JACK KEMP'S LIFE PROVIDES IDEAS

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. TOM McCLINTOCK

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 19, 2009

  Mr. McCLINTOCK. Madam Speaker, in memory of Jack Kemp, I would like 
the following article included in the Congressional Record.

Republicans Looking for a modern inspiration? Jack Kemp's life provides 
                                 ideas

                             (By Jack Cox)

       There has been much press coverage these days about the 
     problems of the Republican Party seeking a new identity that 
     resonates with Americans. Too often, Republicans and 
     conservatives are criticized for lacking compassion and 
     concern for many social issues of interest to many Americans. 
     In the 1960's, Conservatives had little involvement in the 
     historic battle for civil rights. Most Republicans opposed 
     the civil rights act in 1964, including Presidential 
     candidate Barry Goldwater, and a great deal of resentment 
     grew within the African American community over this apparent 
     indifference.
       It was, of course, Republicans with President Lincoln that 
     led the battle to end slavery and liberate blacks from the 
     intolerable practice. Thirty two years earlier, William 
     Wilberforce, a noted Member of Parliament and British 
     Christian leader had led the battle to end slavery in 
     England. Unfortunately, during the last half of the 20th 
     Century too many conservatives, Republicans specifically, 
     were uninvolved in the battle. That disinterest was tied not 
     to bigotry but rather other priorities including a major 
     battle to oppose the spread of Communism from the Soviet 
     Union and ``Red China.'' Senator Goldwater, a charter member 
     of the Phoenix NAACP, opposed it on states' rights grounds.
       It was a warm summer day during the 1996 Presidential 
     Campaign that the National Association of Black Journalists 
     annual convention was held in Nashville. The organization, as 
     most journalism groups, invites Presidential candidates to 
     address their members. On that humid Tennessee day Republican 
     Presidential Candidate Robert Dole and Vice Presidential 
     Candidate Jack Kemp were slated to speak to the several 
     thousand African American journalists from around the nation. 
     Most Republicans would have described this group as anything 
     but a friendly organization to GOP candidates.
       Senator Dole was introduced with polite applause. Then Jack 
     Kemp was introduced and he received a standing ovation. I sat 
     in awe as these black Americans applauded a white Republican 
     leader. Jack stayed after his speech and shook the hand of 
     every young journalist who wanted to meet him. There was no 
     story about this incident and it has received no notice that 
     I have ever seen. Why did Jack get this reception? It is easy 
     to understand why -- Jack Kemp cared and he demonstrated that 
     care over a life time. He was committed to the wisdom of a 
     free market but he also saw that sometimes people fell 
     through the cracks and that government has the responsibility 
     to help them.
       However, Jack was committed to giving people opportunity, 
     not hand outs. He had the strong respect of millions of 
     Americans. In my many personal conversations with Jack and my 
     work with him, that caring attitude came through like a laser 
     beam! Jack, in the past decade, spoke strongly for a guest 
     worker program for illegal immigrants and a method for these 
     folks to become legal residents of the United States. Jack 
     saw these people as hard workers who were trying to achieve 
     the American dream, one sought by millions from throughout 
     the world.
       Jack observed one time ``Republicans many times can't get 
     the words `equality of opportunity' out of their mouths. 
     Their lips do not form that way.'' He also declared ``There 
     really has not been a strong Republican message to either the 
     poor or the African American community at large.''
       He also noted ``When people lack jobs, opportunity, and 
     ownership of property they have little or no stake in their 
     communities.''
       In 1964, Senator Barry Goldwater was defeated for the 
     presidency. Look Magazine, shortly after the solid defeat, 
     asked writer Richard Cornuelle to write a piece entitled a 
     ``Positive Agenda for the Republican Party.'' In 1965, 
     Cornuelle published a new book ``Reclaiming the American 
     Dream.'' Cornuelle, like Jack Kemp, called on Republicans to 
     have answers and a positive agenda instead of constant 
     opposition to government. He coined the phrase ``the 
     independent section'' which described the vital role that 
     associations, churches, and individuals play in meeting the 
     needs of society.
       Unfortunately, Dick Cornuelle's ideas, like Jack Kemp's, 
     were not seen as providing direction for the future of the 
     Republican Party by some leaders. Jack Kemp was a dynamic 
     individual who, like Ronald Reagan, always saw a glass half 
     full rather than half empty. If the Republican Party is to 
     begin

[[Page E1204]]

     carrying a positive banner of hope and leadership, it will 
     need to be like Jack Kemp's. Perhaps with the loss of Jack 
     Kemp, the time has come for the party and Conservatives in 
     general to reexamine their priorities and reach out to all 
     Americans.
       Indeed it is a time for all Americans to rekindle their 
     faith in an America of strong commitment to a free market 
     system which strives to reach all Americans, not with a hand 
     out but with a hand up. Kemp reminded us ``There are no 
     limits to our future if we don't put limits on our people.''
       At the same time, Jack never lost his commitment to the 
     idea that a growing economy is the only answer to enriching 
     more Americans instead of fewer. He saw redistribution of 
     wealth as a policy for failure. His vision for government was 
     simple: ``Every time in this century we've lowered the tax 
     rates across the board, on employment, on saving, investment 
     and risk-taking in this economy, revenues went up, not 
     down.'' It was interesting that another dynamic leader in the 
     Democratic Party held that same view, John F. Kennedy, 
     another inspirational leader.
       Finally, as the Republican Party thinks about is future and 
     the Democrats, now in power, contemplate how they responsibly 
     use their power, we should remember Jack Kemp's words 
     ``Democracy without morality is impossible.'' I, as so many 
     others Americans of all colors and all parties, will miss 
     Jack Kemp.

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