Like many Republicans I know, I’ve spent the last few months puzzled and concerned about all of the allegations around Congressman Randy "Duke" Cunningham. I remember meeting Duke during his first campaign for Congress, and being ‘blown-away’ by this bigger than life persona and story (as a very decorated combat flying ace).
With each story that has come out, my heart has said, "Duke will show ’em! He couldn’t have done what they said!"
At the same time, after each story, the voice in my head starts to say, "Hmmm. Duke is being quiet, and the case against him is getting to be so bad that even a ‘magic bullet’ theory wouldn’t explain it all."
Now with the news today that Duke has resigned his seat after pleading guilty to taking millions of dollars in bribes — I have two things to say:
The first: SHAME ON YOU MR. CUNNINGHAM! You took the trust of the public, your fellow Republicans and conservatives and abused it. You asked us to believe in you and we did. How someone with your background and of your faith could have perpetrated such horrible things is…horrific.
I remember when you came to the 1996 California Republican Assembly endorsing convention when I was State President of that group. You were there representing Senator Bob Dole’s candidacy for President. Looking back, I wonder if even then, while speaking on behalf of that honorable and decorated hero, you were on the take, lining your pockets with ill-gotten gains.
The second: GOOD RIDDANCE. I am sure that the emotion of this fresh mood is amping up my rhetoric today — but I say that you have made a mockery of our democracy. I am ashamed of the precincts I walked for you. I hope that sooner than later, this whole matter is out of the news, where I don’t have to think about it.
Duke, how could you??? If you open up the dictionary to ‘disgrace’ – there will now be a photo of YOU!
I would add that this tale should probably me rushed into a Hollywood screenplay as soon as possible, as the general story has the depressing up/down theme as last year’s Picture of the Year – Million Dollar Baby. Like in that movie where Hillary Swank’s character rises to the top of her field (women’s boxing) mid way through the movie, and then comes crashing down to the depths with a tragic accident… Duke’s meteoric rise to prominence in the House of Representatives only to plummet to the depths of criminal activity tugged my same emotional heartstrings. Well, I guess there is one important distinction. Swank’s character was a victim in the movie, whereas in the "real life" story of Duke Cunningham, the victims are the former Congressman’s constituents, the companies that didn’t get a fair shake as Duke put in ‘the fix’ for his friends, and perhaps the two biggest victims – the Republican Party who gets hit hard with this one, and, of course, the institution of our democracy, as voters everywhere have another reason to be cynical about Congress.
Jon Fleischman
Former Executive Director, California Republican Party
