Two powerful and courageous Republican women, and I want to emphasize the word women, because of an article that I wrote and posted to this blog on May 20, 2015 entitled ‘Just an attention grabber…Or maybe the real deal.’  That article was inspired, in particular, by a newcomer to politics by the name of Stacie Gilmore who was running for City Council in Denver, Colorado and in general by all of the women in elected positions at federal, state, and local levels of government who are stepping forward as willing leaders of our country, states and cities in times of challenge and controversy.

These two particular powerful and courageous women that I want to recognize and give well-deserved kudos are Republicans in South Carolina.  They are South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley and South Carolina State Representative Jenny Horne.  The fact that they are from South Carolina to me makes what they did particularly courageous although they may not agree and would consider it as just a part of their job.  Once again I have to take this opportunity to say ‘how refreshing’ because this is not something that I have the opportunity to say very often about any of our politicians!

Governor Haley and Representative Horne spoke out when it was neither a comfortable time nor a convenient one to do so.  It was a time when lawmakers were discussing whether or not the Confederate flag should be removed from the South Carolina Capitol grounds.  It was a time when some people in general and likely most of those on the far and extreme rightwing in particular around the country were demanding that this flag remain exactly where it is.

Before Dylan Roof allegedly admitted to murdering nine churchgoers in the Temple Emanuel church in Charleston, South Carolina, even Governor Haley supported leaving this flag in place.  However; after this tragedy, she changed her mind.  When she changed her mind she did not play politics and pander to voters to help her politically.  Instead, she made a conscience decision to fulfill her responsibility as a leader and lead.

Representative Horne made this same decision.  As a result, the problem was resolved.  Some were elated with the outcome and others were disappointed with it; but it was resolved rather than avoided.  There will likely be strong negative political backlash for both of these women, which both were surly aware of in advance of their decision on removing the flag.

Unfortunately, the United States House of Representatives does not have a leader heading it who is willing to step up and lead in times of challenge and controversy as does the state of South Carolina.  Enter Speaker of the House, and exempli gratia (e.g.), John Boehner.  He has proven time-and-time-again that he is more into “…times of comfort and convenience.”  Since he became Speaker, he has never proven that he has the moxie to stand up to his caucus and lead “…in times of challenge and controversy.”  I cannot recall a single time, let alone multiple times, of this being the case when Nancy Pelosi was Speaker.

Although I am a longtime devoted Democrat, I know there are without doubt many Republicans with good, strong, meaningful and workable conservative ideas that are not being put forward and voiced because everyone is too busy posturing and pandering while playing politics.  I am also confident that there are well-informed Democrats and Independents of all ethnicities, creeds and colors who would readily support some of those ideas under normal political circumstances but political circumstances have not been normal from, at least, since the time that President Obama was first elected.

Our politicians need to get back on track and that is not going to happen unless we do our part as voters.  We have to get engaged in politics and remain engaged if we want our democracy to work as it was designed to work.  Let’s demand that our politicians do what we elected them to do and let us stop making decisions based on sound bites during election cycles and by simply looking at titles like Democrat, Republican and Independent.

The fact is that the removal of the Confederate flag from the South Carolina State Capitol grounds hurt a lot of Republicans who are good citizens and patriots.  Notwithstanding that their belief that this flag simply represents the history of their pride in southerners who fought bravely for the Confederacy is wrong because it is based on a lack of their knowledge of its true history; they sincerely believe that it deserves this place of honor.  And we should respect their feelings but it must be while we work to reveal this flags true meaning to them.

To remove this flag was the right thing to do.  Regardless as to whether or not we are successful in our efforts to convince dissenters of its true meaning, we should not gloat over the removal of the flag.  Instead, we should work with them to heal the wounds to all of those who were offended by its presence on the capitol grounds and those who were wounded by its recent ferruling.

What happened in South Carolina was not an easy thing for Governor Haley to deal with.  However, it is representative of the kind of things that we must deal with as a nation and is a good example of how we should go about dealing with them.  So I say kudos to Governor Nikki Haley and Representative Jenny Horne!  All of America should salute you for your willingness to lead in these times of challenge and controversy.

As for Speaker Boehner in particular and the United States Congress in general, all of America should speak up and admonish you to take an example from South Carolina.  Act like the leaders that you were elected to be and are capable of being.  Stop basking in the sunshine of your elected office during the “…times of comfort and convenience” and running away and hiding in the nearest dark corner during the “…times of challenge and controversy” and then emerging in full schmoozer mode once they have passed.

Eulus Dennis