Mitch Daniels always has a way with words. And these from last Sunday were most poignant.
“I find myself caught between two duties. I love my country; I love my family more,” Gov. Daniels wrote.
I believed our governor’s head and perhaps part of his heart really wanted to run for president. Associates told local and national media of Daniels’ deep concern over the direction of the country.
Also, Daniels’ ego probably believes he’s more qualified to be president than President Barack Obama.
But as I sort of suspected, it was Daniels’ family, his daughters and wife, who held the veto.
Indiana media is kind to the spouses and children of our public officials. Unless they commit a crime, family members of Hoosier politicians are generally off limits from media scrutiny.
But the national media – mainstream and Fox lamestream and rightwing reckless – have no such scruples. Daniels’ youthful drug arrest, the Daniels’ marriage, divorce and remarriage and even Daniels’ devoted daughters would be fair game for the worst of the media bottom feeders.
The attacks had already started on first lady Cheri Daniels with questions about her divorce and re-marriage in the 1990s. Questions were raised by some media over whether she had “abandoned” her daughters then.
If Daniels had run, the scrutiny of his family, especially Cheri, would’ve been rough. Just look at how the media dogs first lady Michelle Obama.
Presidential campaigns have always been rough and out of control. It was that way with Jefferson, Lincoln, Grant and both Roosevelts. It certainly has been with President Obama. It would have been rough for Daniels and his family. It’ll be rough for those left in the GOP presidential scramble.
I’ve met Mrs. Daniels in public and private, and she’s not a political wife. She has grown into the first lady role, but she isn’t consumed totally by politics.
I’ve also seen the Daniels’ family together on Halloween where they dress in costume at the governor’s residence and hand out treats. From that first Halloween in 2005, I sensed and saw a family that’s loving and warm; but are reluctant to be part of the public life of a politician’s family.
Except for Benjamin Harrison, the Hoosier who became the 23rd president of the United States in 1888, history hasn’t been kind to Hoosiers wanting to be president. Indiana has sent five of its sons to be vice president, but attaining the top job has proven extremely difficult.
In modern times, Sens. Birch Bayh and Richard Lugar made a stab at running for president. Vice president Dan Quayle didn’t even try in 1996. Sen. Evan Bayh almost took the plunge twice, but fell short, even at becoming a vice presidential nominee.
Now the Republican big money “establishment” crowd, who were pushing Daniels to get in, have to look elsewhere for their knight to fight Obama.
It’s strange that many of those who got us into the deficit mess that Daniels attacks wants him to run for president – the man (Daniels), who presided over the growing deficits when he was President George W. Bush’s budget director.
With Daniels’ withdrawal, the Republican establishment will become increasingly desperate to find a nominee they like, or risk their party being taken over by the tea party and no-nothing radicals bent on destroying the GOP as we know it.
So, Daniels sits on the sidelines as President Obama and the nation watches the Republican presidential sideshow move on without him. But he retains the love and respect of his family.
What I’m hearing
in the streets
Meanwhile, in the race to succeed Daniels, Democrat John Gregg, the former House Speaker, has thrown his hat in the ring. The Southern Indiana native started his campaign talking Hoosier “common sense” and the need to put Indiana back to work.
Gregg’s rhetoric and his taking the fight to the GOP may strike a positive note with African-Americans. But Gregg must repair some burned bridges with Indianapolis African-American legislators, who aren’t enthralled by his candidacy.
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On this occasion of Memorial Day, just as we remember and commemorate our military that gave their lives for our country; let’s remember and commemorate our police officers who also gave their lives for our city/county.
But, forgive me if I’m puzzled why the sacrifice of one officer is seemingly honored above all others who died in the line of duty.
Last week, the city created a Memorial Way on Rural Street, between 30th and 34th, in honor of Officer David Moore, the IMPD officer killed in January. Memorial ways honor deceased residents for their contributions to Indianapolis.
I don’t have a problem with Officer Moore’s Memorial Way. But I have to ask why aren’t Indianapolis’ 66 police officers and sheriffs’ deputies who died in the line of duty similarly honored?
Since I moved to Indy in 1975, 17 officers and deputies have died in the line of duty. Two were African-American – Officer Warren Greene who died in December 1975, and Detective James Compton, killed in March 1976.
Their deaths were just as tragic as Officer Moore’s. So were Jack Ohrberg, David Faber, Jason Baker, Timothy “Jake” Laird and 10 others. Yes, they’re honored in a special location inside the City-County Building. But, why this extra special honor for one officer? Why doesn’t the Ballard administration create Memorial Ways for other fallen officers?
I raise this not to denigrate the sacrifice of Moore, Greene, Compton and the others. I just think they all should receive the same honors and tributes.
It’s an election year and in many quarters among police, Mayor Greg Ballard isn’t that popular. Neither is his controversial Public Safety Director Frank Straub. It seems to some that the honors provided the latest officer to give his life is more about political expedience and to win votes in November.
If I’m wrong, then Mayor Ballard and Straub will agree with me to honor every fallen officer with a Memorial Way designation.
Mayor and director Straub, isn’t that the least we can do for those who gave Indianapolis their last full measure of devotion?
See ‘ya next week.
You can e-mail Amos Brown at acbrown@aol.com.
