Senator John McCain (R-AZ) was one of those men. His power, while not always in popularity, was consistent. Many regarded him as a Liberal Republican, a designation that allowed him to move seamlessly through the political persuasions of American politics. Senator McCain had a strength that only a few could possess and one that now is extinguished and will be remembered as one of the last remaining in society. I have waited some time after his death because I felt that it was too soon to comment, but I cannot wait anymore.
First, let me say that I was fortunate enough to have met Senator McCain in the halls of the Senate offices while doing lobbying for a bill that would help those who needed medical equipment to get around in society. I was able to take a picture with him, a memory now that will remain as one of the greatest memories of my political life. Senator McCain is and was a force of nature. His presidential campaign was one that, while I may say was too short, now is synonymous with class in the face of political opposition.
Second, I am thoroughly dismayed by some of my friends and colleagues in the political arena, and by virtue--aspects of society, who would smear his name in any sense. We now ask ourselves how can we have gone from that compassion and esteem to where we are now. Unfortunately, it starts right here with how we treat those of our political opponents. I get asked many times how "compassionate conservatism" became extinct, which i say starts with how we treat political opponents in debate, conversation, and in friendship. It is abhorrent to me to see just how much we have fallen apart as colleagues of political philosophers. It is utterly disgusting to see members of society to joke about the late Senator's death by cancer. It is disgusting to see what type of people we have devolved into where calling our opponents names that may or may not be accurate and then conversely expect our opponents to play political decency when the tables are turned. I make this bold statement, that should you believe it is acceptable to become vile and indecent about your political opponents, then you should discontinue our friendship with immediate effect.
Third, if I am able to be lucky enough to serve the Commonwealth of Kentucky I will model my career after him. I will stand for my principles, even in the face of adversity. I will show that compromise, in the best way, is important. Yet, I will never forget where I came from and how it made me who I am. Principles matter, even when we think it's easy to make ourselves more politically malleable.
