This is Presidents' Day. In my life so far, I have seen six Presidents in person, met two and known one (both Democrats and Republicans). All of them were patriots. All of them put our country first. And they all respected our laws, our Constitution and our electoral process.
They all understood that when an election takes place, that "the People have spoken." And all of them left office gracefully when their terms of office were over.
I was fortunate enough when I was very young to work on Capitol Hill when I was a student. I met two Presidents, several Presidential candidates, and countless Members of Congress and U.S. Senators. I met people who aspired to the Presidency, thought that they should be President, and were ambitious to no end.
Put their country first
However, despite their unrelenting ambition, and their uncompromising self-confidence, all of them, no matter their Party, believed in our country, revered our Constitution, and believed that our greatest days were ahead of us.
And they all put our country first. All of them had served our country in one way or another, and all of them believed that America was the best nation on Earth.
I saw their sincerity
I saw and experienced the sincerity of the Presidents and the aspirants to the Presidency that I met, including the one President that I actually knew. And I can tell you that in every instance, these people, both men and women, were sincere in their loyalty to this country and to the Constitution.
I feel the pain
Needless to say, I feel the pain that Members of Congress and their staffers experienced on the day of the insurrection, January 6, 2021. I have been in all of those rooms of the Capitol. I worked in those rooms as a student when I was young. And I have met and gotten to know many of the people who worked in those rooms and who still work in them now. And I have eaten the infamous "Senate Bean Soup" with them in the Senate Cafeteria.
And I can tell you now that I feel the pain of all of these dedicated patriots of both parties. This is a time that we all need to come together and celebrate our country and our Presidents, except perhaps one.
What took place on January 6 was not indicative of the Presidency nor of our country. The President who led this insurrection was an anomaly who never should be allowed to rise to power again. Let us not allow this one revolting anomaly tarnish our celebration of Presidents' Day or those for whom it is celebrated.
It is Presidents' Day
Yes, it is Presidents' Day. But more importantly, it is our day to celebrate our Presidents, right or wrong. Absolutely and without a doubt, our Presidents, for the most part, have cared about our country, put our country first, and risen to the occasion, no matter the circumstances, no matter the challenges of the day. God Bless you, and God Bless the United States of America!!!
