Dear Sen. Peter Fitzgerald:
Desperate times often have called for desperate measures. There could be no greater political time of desperation than what the state of Illinois faces today. A man who is bright, articulate and seemingly well suited to run for your Senate seat has seemingly violated the trust of those in the leadership in his party and now it appears is unavoidably damaged in his quest to become the next senator from Illinois.
Let me say upfront that I have supported Jack Ryan since his entry into the primary campaign in 2003. I was excited that Jack was willing to take a stand on issues that you and I both care about. Jack would have supported the president’s ban on partial-birth abortion. He was willing to fund our military and fight terrorism. He would have supported the right of the president to appoint judges for the crucial vacancies that sit unfilled. (You and I both know that the judicial crisis in America in large part is the blame of Sen. Durbin – the other Senator from Illinois.)
I have advocated on Jack Ryan’s behalf. I have pointed out Jack’s generous track record when it has come to public service and demonstrating care for those less fortunate than himself. His record of assisting those looking for freedom in America and helping young men in Chicago’s inner city I believe still stands as a testimony to the good that a life can achieve.
Senator, like many in your party, I read for the first time the unsealed divorce papers released by the judge. Having known numbers of people who have gone through difficult and painful divorces and child-custody cases, I know well the things that can be said in such proceedings – especially once lawyers are involved. And senator, on many levels these things are so excruciatingly painful that only those involved will ever be able to take the internal inventory and know the complete truth of the matter. But the papers themselves do not call into question the judgment of Mr. Ryan or his ability to serve as senator for that matter.
His public defense on the matter since then, however, does.
As my fellow conservative friends and I watched and listened to interviews from talk radio to television and then saw the story hit the front pages of newspapers, the Internet, late-night talk shows and from as far away as Australia, it was apparent that Jack was following talking points and too carefully choosing his words so as to not deny, but also not accuse, not admit and not lay blame elsewhere. Senator, in my estimation, his response to the claims made by his wife in their divorce was far more damaging than the fact that the claims simply existed.
As you are well aware, senator, the upheaval in the land of Lincoln is now beyond repair. The GOP is frustrated with Mr. Ryan – both the establishment as well as the conservatives. And calls are being made for someone else to run in his place.
Senator, you know well the mantle that Jack had pledged to take on. He was headed to an uphill fight against a dangerous ideologue as his opponent, but he was also fighting special interests within his party. Senator, you have fought and successfully won these battles before.
As the establishment heads of the Illinois GOP lick their chops at the failure of a conservative candidate and jockey for position to name a replacement, I believe you could prove to be a significant personality in reshaping the state you love. And it is for this reason that I ask you to consider speaking with Jack and helping him understand the scorecard as it now sits. I also ask you to consider “unretiring” and continuing to serve for one more term – by taking Jack Ryan’s place and defeating Barack Obama in a grueling and tough U.S. Senate race.
As I know you are aware, Mr. Obama does not support the president’s war on terror. His record demonstrates his support for partial-birth abortion. His pledge of support for same-sex marriage falls out of line with what Americans want. And furthermore, he wishes – through support of tax increases – to demolish the good economy that is now the best in 20 years. Mr. Obama is a likable man with a big grin and a beautiful family, but his ideas are dangerous and desperately wrong for America.
Sen. Fitzgerald, you have served with honor and distinction. You have not pleased everyone all of the time, but you have been a faithful defender of the taxpayers. You have demonstrated your commitment to helping the working class in our nation. Your ethics are unquestioned, and your commitment to do what was right was proven most significantly on your appointment of federal prosecutors – when the GOP tried to pry the constitutional process out of your hands.
Sen. Fitzgerald, your state needs you! Please consider the good you could now do.
Respectfully yours,
Kevin McCullough
