Jack Kemp: Bleeding-Heart Conservative

Sadly, even Kemp at times was considered a sellout by his own party, but he demonstrated the possibilities of reaching across the ideological divide to address real problems. There's a reason blacks trusted him -- he actually talked to, not simply at or about, them.

Thanks Jim. jack kemp was so glad when Reagan was elected and his beliefs of opportunity for all gave way to one of the biggest economic booms in our history .
He was saddened at the sell out of the many principles you mentioned about recent republican methods in the Bush Administration making compassion sometimes just a word instead of an act . He was a good man who realized The Sword of the Spirit is never meant to chop anybody down.

Keep in mind, however, that such an "economic boom" had a steep price -- the 'hood became a more bleak place than it had been (and I found that somewhat ironic in this case). Wallis' opposed "supply-side" economics because it just couldn't work for those of lesser means, and we just can't always sweep those philosophical differences aside for the sake of "getting along."

Yes this was refreshing . I always liked Jack kemp also . A man of principle , but a man who would listen . He was very concerned in the end because he feared what was happening now was the opposite of what he believed in and has proven to work . But it was easy to see he was concerned for the sake of people , not power .

Thanks, Jim, for what I observe as a genuine attitude of goodwill toward a man with whom you found disagreement but could validate his life and passions. I hope you continue to think and write about others with whom you disagree in a favorable manner, even if there are points of disagreement.

Thanks Jim. jack kemp was so glad when Reagan was elected and his beliefs of opportunity for all gave way to one of the biggest economic booms in our history .
He was saddened at the sell out of the many principles you mentioned about recent republican methods in the Bush Administration making compassion sometimes just a word instead of an act . He was a good man who realized The Sword of the Spirit is never meant to chop anybody down.

Keep in mind, however, that such an "economic boom" had a steep price -- the 'hood became a more bleak place than it had been (and I found that somewhat ironic in this case). Wallis' opposed "supply-side" economics because it just couldn't work for those of lesser means, and we just can't always sweep those philosophical differences aside for the sake of "getting along."

Yes this was refreshing . I always liked Jack kemp also . A man of principle , but a man who would listen . He was very concerned in the end because he feared what was happening now was the opposite of what he believed in and has proven to work . But it was easy to see he was concerned for the sake of people , not power .

Being myself a severe critic of the conservative agenda, I'm sure many of the conservatives who frequent this blog would laugh upon reading that. As I said earlier, Kemp took some heat from true-blue conservatives for even talking to people not like themselves and coming up with real solutions to the urban crisis.

Sell-out? Don't try and overlay your own position of the Republican Party today on the party of when Mr. Kemp was actively working. It simply wasn't the case.

"Being myself a severe critic of the conservative agenda, I'm sure many of the conservatives who frequent this blog would laugh"

"Sigh" No not laugh... Unfortunatley expected some remarks about a person who recently died and his friendships that did not reach up to soujourner standards of righteousness and truth .
It was looked actually Rick much the same way if Martin Luther King was just struck down , in his case murdered , but death the same . In stead of people speaking of his sincerity to his cause , his life in a special way , some African Americans say Chicago brought in their views he was a sellout , way to peaceful and not forceful enough . Thus opening the gate for statements that followed .

No , no one laughed at your opening statement . Jim Wallis showed some class as he can do .

My mistake. When I respond to people I always assume that because they, in their specific comment, refer kindly to one particular Republican/conservative individual or principle that they must adhere to and support every single other Republican/conservative principle or individual. It's an effective way of engaging in conversation, in my mind.

That's really unfair, however. I for one oppose abortion and gay marriage even while disagreeing with the Republicans on almost everything else.

Being myself a severe critic of the conservative agenda, I'm sure many of the conservatives who frequent this blog would laugh upon reading that. As I said earlier, Kemp took some heat from true-blue conservatives for even talking to people not like themselves and coming up with real solutions to the urban crisis.

Their words, not mine.

"Being myself a severe critic of the conservative agenda, I'm sure many of the conservatives who frequent this blog would laugh"

"Sigh" No not laugh... Unfortunatley expected some remarks about a person who recently died and his friendships that did not reach up to soujourner standards of righteousness and truth .
It was looked actually Rick much the same way if Martin Luther King was just struck down , in his case murdered , but death the same . In stead of people speaking of his sincerity to his cause , his life in a special way , some African Americans say Chicago brought in their views he was a sellout , way to peaceful and not forceful enough . Thus opening the gate for statements that followed .

No , no one laughed at your opening statement . Jim Wallis showed some class as he can do .

My mistake. When I respond to people I always assume that because they, in their specific comment, refer kindly to one particular Republican/conservative individual or principle that they must adhere to and support every single other Republican/conservative principle or individual. It's an effective way of engaging in conversation, in my mind.

That's really unfair, however. I for one oppose abortion and gay marriage even while disagreeing with the Republicans on almost everything else.

But it's so much easier to score points in an argument with someone if I can put them in a box and argue against that strawman than against the actual thoughts and writings of another real person.