Get Well, Jack Kemp

Yesterday brought the sad news that former congressman and vice presidential candidate Jack Kemp was diagnosed with cancer, though the severity is uncertain. Let’s all wish him well.

If there is any such thing as my kind of Republican, it would be Jack Kemp. When I worked for the House Democratic leadership Kemp was with the House Republican leadership, so I saw firsthand that Kemp is a good guy, a serious idea person, a real thinker who cares deeply about real people.

Jack Kemp embodies creative thinking, looking for new ideas to solve problems, bringing civility and integrity to our politics. He is a champion of the poor and all working-class Americans. I hope he gets well soon and hope that President-elect Obama consults him in search of new thinking from the creative right and bipartisan solutions to national crises.