The Ben Times

Archive for December 7th, 2012

Mr. Speaker,

I am writing as a life-long Republican who recently voted Democrat for President for the first time in my life. I would like to share with you some of my key reasons for my decision and my disappointment with the Republican Party and your leadership.

Quite frankly, if the party cannot do better than Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan as national candidates, I don’t think I will ever vote Republican for a national office again. The sheer lack of integrity, experience, and personal characteristics of these two gentlemen were appalling. Here are just three examples. It was reprehensible for Mr. Romney to personally profit from the auto bail out only to condemn it later during the campaign. Additionally, Mr. Romney’s overseas trip during the campaign was an embarrassment to our great country and demonstrated that he was in no way prepared to handle the demands of foreign diplomacy. As to Representative Ryan, his relationship with the Koch Brothers was enough in and of itself to dissuade me from voting for Mr. Romney. The fact that politicians can be bought and paid for by the wealthiest in our country is inexplicable.

These are just a few of the reasons I have lost faith in the party that I once believed in. I now consider myself a staunch independent with one objective: to simply see that we all do what we can to make decisions that are correct and just. Included in this definition is a presumption that we work together to solve the important issues of our day. Please trust me when I say that I am not pointing my finger only at you and the Republican Party. I can find many similar examples across the aisle.

The fact of the matter is, however, that you personally set the tone for the current work (note I did not say debate) on resolving the spending issues related to the debt cap that is being done at the moment. Your comment on election night about the fiscal cliff and your immediate reaction to draw a firm line in the sand is the antithesis of what great leadership can be. I do not wish for a return to some illusory Golden Days in politics, for I don’t think one ever existed. I do, however, hope for a day when we can collectively work together to solve the issues facing our country.

Unfortunately, your current posturing prevents this from happening. These actions have a direct impact on our economy, the lives of all Americans, and our international stature. It is my sincerest desire that we put aside political and personal agendas. Honesty, sincerity, respect, and collaboration should take their place.

Only then, I believe, will our great nation begin to move forward in a way that truly benefits all Americans.

Very respectfully yours,
Dr. Scott Cunningham, PhD