Jack Kemp, RIP

Submitted by Patrick Ruffini on Sat, 05/02/2009 - 23:41

Jack Kemp

For those of us who came of age politically after Reagan was President, Jack Kemp was, if not Reagan, then the next best thing. He was arguably the most consequential and electric conservative between Reagan and Newt. Had Kemp run for President in 1996, I would have been his first volunteer (I missed '88). Of course, Kemp's contributions to the cause of freedom long predated that time, having helped Reagan break the grip of an oppressive marginal tax regime.

What made Kemp different is that he had an original idea of what conservatism could be. The post-Reagan period leading up to the Contract with America was a period of intellectual ferment for the movement. Kemp led the way in advancing a conservative idea that could appeal to non-traditional Republicans, with enterprise zones and school choice lifting more of the poor into the middle class. It was compassionate conservatism -- but actually conservative.

The Republican Party in the '90s then faced many of the demographic problems it does now. Perhaps in contrast to today, there was an actual good-faith attempt made to solve those problems, led by Kemp. Building a GOP that could appeal to urban areas may not have been the most logical next step politically, but it created an ambitiousness in the realm of ideas that we lack today. In the '90s, we were electing Republican mayors in big cities like Rudy Giuliani, Steve Goldsmith, and Bret Schundler who created a model for how conservatives could govern deep in Democratic terrain.

With the battle in the GOP today being between no change and cosmetic change, we would do well to look to Jack Kemp, who was a big part of the sea-change that transformed the party in the late '70s and was never afraid to advance unorthodox ideas in the years that followed.

RIP.

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I had to break this news

Submitted by Ironman on Sun, 05/03/2009 - 00:36.

to one of Jack's old staffers at a wedding reception at the TPC River Highlands tonight

It is a sad moment

Jack made clear that conservative principles applied not just to the intellectual and economic elite. Sometimes I wonder if we have forgotten this lesson

I dont think so

Submitted by milesoftrials on Thu, 06/25/2009 - 18:05.

I don't think we've forgotten this. - Banks

RIP

Submitted by Chris Palko on Sun, 05/03/2009 - 11:02.

Kemp was a visionary political mind. He was one of the few Republicans who actually would care about going into the inner cities and talking with those who have never voted Republican. He came up with ideas that spoke to average Americans, not just economic elites. In retrospect, I wish he had been Reagan's successor.

Oh, and he also was a great quarterback as well.

Jack Kemp RIP

Submitted by timamac on Sun, 05/03/2009 - 12:19.

This is a very sad day for me and for Conservatives.I'm in my mid-40's now,and I was very enthused about Kemp when I was in my 20's. I thought he should've succeeded Reagon;but the GOP went for Bush 1.I think the GOP would be much better off today if they would have nominated Kemp-in fact the GOP needs to go his way now.RIP Mr. Kemp

if you can't say something nice ...

Submitted by Mark on Sun, 05/03/2009 - 22:14.

I'll offer condolences to those who cared about Jack Kemp. And he certainly worked hard for his beliefs. He was a powerful spokesman for his point of view.

But supply-side economics was a disaster for this country. The Reagan tax cuts tripled the deficit in two years and quadrupled the national debt in eight years. We haven't recovered from that because so many people actually believe that "tax revenue doubled" after those tax cuts. Ridiculous.

Kemp was an instinctual political leader

Submitted by Michigan-Matt on Mon, 05/04/2009 - 09:01.

Jack Kemp, like Gerald Ford and Ronald Reagan and Teddy Roosevelt, could expect the respect of his peers and opponents because he was an instinctual leader --like them. Despite what the revisionists of the LeftNow have to offer on supply-side economics, Kemp's legacy isn't in his advocacy of those guiding economic and prudent fiscal policies.

His legacy, rightly, is in the hands and hearts and minds of those he infected with his love of politics and govt service (which he saw as honorable and noble --a lesson today's soc-cons could stand to study for a bit), his championing of the civil public square for seeking solutions to our common problems, his instinctual connection with political activists and those outside governance who sought to perfect our societal good, and his legacy will most probably be felt inside the GOP where a battle for "message" is getting lost in the poor subsituting battle of personalities and ego (Palin, Toomey, et al).

Kemp leaves a grieving family of millions of formerly young, once-impressionable political activists on both sides of the aisle. His service to Country before self ought to be instructive to all --but his good natured ribbing of opponents, respect for them and their opinion, and ready handshake after the debate ended will be remembered by me as true tests of why the public square will miss him far, far more.

God speed Jack Kemp to his divine reward. He earned it fairly.

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It is interesting on the

Submitted by In between on Sat, 05/30/2009 - 05:51.

It is interesting on the adoration of Jack Kemp. On another website a few years ago, people speculated on who should run for president, and most republicans thought Jack was too liberal. He had some good ideas, but evidently the neocons and the religious right ruled the day. Anyway, he was a good guy, and I have one of those signed small footballs of his when I went to a Dole/Kemp rally.

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A great politician and sports man

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He will be well remembered not only for his stand in politics, low taxes and the abortion but for his love of American Football where he served 13 years in the NFL as a professional quarterback playing. Swarovski beads

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Kemp

Submitted by imsi (not verified) on Thu, 09/10/2009 - 12:35.

Kemp was the one who actually would care about going into the inner cities and talking with those who have never voted and he had an original idea of what conservatism could be.

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