[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 9]
[Senate]
[Page 12442]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                  HONORING MY CHILDREN ON FATHER'S DAY

  Mr. CRAIG. Mr. President, though the origin of Father's Day is not 
clear, fathers throughout the United States are made to feel special by 
their children every year, on the third Sunday in June.
  Sunday, June 15, marks my 24th year as Dad to Mike, Jay and Shae. And 
in recent years, their seven children have made me a doting granddad to 
boot, doubling the joy of our celebration.
  Throughout these years, I have never taken a Father's Day remembrance 
for granted--perhaps because I adopted my children when I had the 
wisdom and maturity to appreciate the pure joy of having them in my 
life. I have treasured the handmade trinkets, the interesting ties and 
the simple melody of their voices greeting me on that Sunday morning 
every year, ``Happy Father's Day, Dad! We love you.''
  Father's Day always has been a time of reflection for Suzanne and 
me--to look back fondly on our kids' achievements and to take pride in 
how they handled life's disappointments. I remember Shae's first date 
and her first breakup, Mike's first car and Jay's first soccer game.
  But nothing affected me as emotionally as my children's love and 
loyalty during the dark days of last August.
  When I was under siege by the media, by my political opponents and 
even by some I thought were my friends, it was my three children who 
surrendered their privacy and risked being tarred by those demanding my 
head to take on their Dad's critics.
  They were relentless in correcting the record--in television 
interviews and in doggedly responding to newspaper reporters' endless 
questions. And when I appeared before the media to respond to 
unspeakable accusations, my kids stood with me, looking my accusers 
squarely in the eye. In the privacy of our home, when I would despair, 
they were there to lift up their Dad.
  Someone once said, ``If there is anything better than to be loved, it 
is loving.''
  No father in America is prouder of his children than I. So this 
Sunday, the luckiest Dad in Idaho won't be just waiting around for his 
annual Father's Day calls and visits. This Father's Day, Dad is 
honoring the three who chose me to be their father--Shae, Mike and Jay.

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