Looking beyond endorsements

Endorsements are letters of recommendation that “we the people” are entitled to when an individual comes to us for a job, the job of representing us. As any serious employer, we should study these assessments and draw valid points about the individual’s character and past performance.  

There are many letters of recommendation being paired out today in the Kansas Senate race.  

Todd Tiahrt has been endorsed by former presidential candidate and free enterprise champion Steve Forbes, Dr. James Dobson of Focus on the Family, Mark Levin and former Attorney General John Ashcroft.  

Jerry Moran has the support of Senator Tom Coburn of Oklahoma and Senator Jim Demint from South Carolina, both of whom are his personal, albeit conservative and respected, friends.  

However,  to gain a more accurate assessment of these Congressmen and what they have done to represent Kansans over the last decade we should also hear from former supervisors and peers who worked alongside them.

Jim Ryun, the legendary miler and former Congressman from the 2nd District of Kansas, served alongside both Tiahrt and Moran for a decade. He reserved little for imagination in a scathing review of Moran as he endorsed Tiahrt, “We have no use for another politician who fades into the background out of fear that he will offend someone and not win 80 percent of the vote in his next election against token opposition.”  

He went on to say, “Todd is also respected because he is consistent and loyal. If he gives you his word, you can take it to the bank.”

Strong praise. A politician, whose word you can take to the bank, is that
even possible today?  

Well, what did their former boss of a decade say?  

Dennis Hastert, former speaker of the House, who endorsed Todd from virtually day one, said this, “Todd is a man of his word, and you can be sure he will be there for you when the job gets difficult.”  

Hastert has strong misgivings on Moran’s loyalty and trustworthiness which he detailed in his book, "Speaker." In the book, he recalls the vote on Medicare prescription drug legislation, which passed by only five votes after the longest roll call in House history.

"Some members had assured me that they would be with us, but when the crunch came, they weren't," Hastert wrote.

"(Rep Jerry Moran), voted no, then ran and hid. I sent people to find him. They couldn't. Representative Tom Osborne, a Republican from Nebraska, went to look for him to no avail,” said Hastert.  

Regardless of where you stand on the issue of prescription drug benefits, there is no mistaking the lack of fortitude and conviction displayed by Rep. Moran in this anecdote.

Much has been made of the little policy differences between the two Senate candidates, and it’s true.  

Their voting records appear to be very similar, at least in recent years.  
Both candidates have proudly presented their conservative credentials and ratings, as they both court the large conservative base here in Kansas.  

Their voting records are obviously important, and are usually a reasonable assessment of a candidate’s political views and idealogy, but they don’t address the larger, and I’d argue more critical, issue of character.  

Now more than ever, we should appreciate the value of character in Washington and the rare politician who says what he means and means what he says. After all, what good is the mind of a conservative if it isn’t supported by a spine of character.  

Many of Tiahrt’s endorsements are remarkably centered around his character. I would argue that this may be the most salient difference between the two Republican candidates and how they conduct themselves as our representatives on Capitol Hill, and I for one would like to see the next Senator from Kansas have his word as his bond.  

The people of Kansas will have to make that choice, but the endorsements tell a story that needs to be heard.

Grant Moody,
Eureka