President Dwight D. Eisenhower's son, John Eisenhower, says he does not recognize today's Republican Party as the one who was served by his father (1952-1960), which, in the past was synonymous with the word "responsibility". He thinks that a 440 billion dollar deficit is not responsible. Also, according to John Eisenhower, there is no responsibility in foreign affairs. He cites lost respect for America overseas and asserts that America has lost its role as "leader of the community of nations" and even, at times, insults it.
The Republican Party, in the thinking of Ike's son, "has confused confident leadership with hubris and arrogance," far from Bush's father's incursion into the area to free Kuwait.
Fiscal responsibility also has taken a back seat in this administration, according to Mr. Eisenhower's article in "The Union Leader Sunday News" (New Hampshire). He says his father balanced the budget three times during his eight years in office and did not do it by cutting taxes for the rich. There is no telling when we will ever have another balanced budget.
Today's Republican Party is not concerned for the middle class and small businesses, and encourages loss of jobs with its tax cuts, encourages the creation of a society of very rich and very poor, and will bring about a devastating split in our society.
Mr. Eisenhower calls Senator Kerry "courageous, sober, competent, and able to fight the increasing divide between rich and poor." He says he will vote for Kerry with great "enthusiasm" because he finds him trustworthy. He urges everyone to avoid voting for anyone based on party label or because of how one's family has voted in the past, with long-held habits that have not passed the test of time and reason. This all makes me glad I voted for Ike in 1952, my only vote ever for a Republican. Our National Pledge of Allegiance says "with liberty and justice for all" and I believe that is the point John Eisenhower is trying to make and that is why he has decided to vote for John Kerry.
Mildred Perry Miller
Millermaj@aol.com