Editorial from the heartland - and reader comment

[frogcycle]

Sauk Valley is out in the middle of the upper half of Illinois - cornfields in all directions for miles and miles. Not sure if it's in Hastert's district, but if not it is close. This is a region that is as as red as it gets, despite Illinois being blue due to Chicago and a few other pockets. Cornfields aren't voters.

I think the groundswell against this administration may actually be bigger than the polls indicate. While it is only what a respectable news publication SHOULD do, this article is representative of the solid red lockstep mentality fraying in lots of places. Perhaps the idea of sensitivity to human concerns of the troops and their families will spill over into an actual progressive swing!


A true friend and supporter of the troops

By Sauk Valley Newspapers
What We Think
[e-mail]

Actions speak louder than words. When political leaders show by their actions they are committed to a good cause, the result not only can be refreshing, it can be inspiring.

Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn is such a leader.

The Chicago Democrat was featured in an Associated Press story over the weekend about his commitment to soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines and National Guard members, along with military families and veterans of military service.

A lot of people say they support the troops. Quinn not only supports them, but he has become a nationally recognized advocate for soldiers and their families - in more ways than one.

He's successfully pushed for programs to help them, ranging from launching a Web site, OperationHomefront.org, in 2003 to provide information to service members and their families, to advocating for a Veterans Care program in 2006 that extends health care coverage to uninsured veterans.

In between, Quinn initiated or supported the Illinois Military Family Relief Fund, the Citizen Soldier Initiative, a bill to expand insurance coverage to those suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, and the Let Them Rest in Peace Act, which limits protests at military funerals.

We were concerned about how the latter bill, which became law last year, limited free speech for those whose views are seen as abhorrent by the majority. However, Quinn's belief that the rights of mourners must be respected is consistent with his other efforts on behalf of military families.

What impresses one most about Quinn is his devotion to fallen soldiers. He has taken the unusual step of attending funeral services, visitations or memorials for nearly every Illinois serviceman and servicewoman killed in Iraq and Afghanistan.

This is not something he has gone out of his way to tell others about, but the word has gotten around. Quinn believes someone from state government should attend these memorials to acknowledge the loss and offer condolences and support.

Traveling around the state to attend memorial services must cut into Quinn's personal time. It says a lot about him that he has taken on this duty and conscientiously performed it.

Quinn began his political career as an outsider in the late 1970s, when he led a successful petition drive to limit the size of the Illinois House and end cumulative voting. While he's lost several statewide elections, he won one term as state treasurer in the 1990s and now is in his second term as lieutenant governor.

Quinn's populist spark hasn't died. A founder of the Citizens Utility Board several decades ago, he recently criticized high utility management salaries while opposing higher electrical rates.

Elected to a job with few responsibilities, Quinn has made the most of his opportunity to serve. His actions speak louder than words, and those actions have been good for the state. Illinois military families are fortunate to have Quinn on their side.

reader comment:


The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of saukvalley.com.

Mark the time and date wrote on Jul 11, 2007 2:47 PM:
" Suprise, suprise, suprise. Someone alert the media. Sauk Valley Newspapers is lauding praise on a Democrat. Wow. However, it comes as a ploy to write an editorial about supporting our troops. Yes, you can beat that like a drum, but it still means nothing if the current administration has its head in the sand and cannot see when to fold up and count its losses. There is nothing wrong with stepping away from the war in Iraq. If Bush is so afraid of having the war decalared a loss under this term, he should not have started it in the first place. Iraq was never our target, Al Queda was, and Osama Bin Laden was. Both remain alive and thriving as far as anyone knows. Support our troops? Yes. But also support getting them back before more and more of our young people return missing hands, arms, legs, portions of their face, or worse, return in a flag-drapped coffin. That's your editorial. SVN is just too afraid to write what its readers want to read. "