LETTERS

Re “Jack Kemp, an original pillar in Republican ‘big tent’, dies at 73,” Obituary, May 2

While the GOP is scratching its collective heads wondering which direction to take (and mostly assuming people will sicken of President Obama), it needs to learn from the likes of Jack Kemp.

As an unwavering Democrat, I have respect for the other side when they speak from their hearts about important things.

That’s the “something missing” in the Republican Party, and now they’ve lost an important prototype. There may be a problem if you search your soul and find nothing there.

Frederick Cleveland

Los Angeles

::

With the passing of Jack Kemp, Americans should offer respects to the man and his principles. His efforts to further the ideas of individual liberty and personal responsibility through individual compassion -- and not through government -- should be an inspiration to us all.

Today, Kemp’s intellectual allies seem to forget that he struggled to bring these principles to minority communities in an attempt to convince them that they would be better off, not to gain political power. Kemp’s “big tent” was America.

I never saw Kemp as a Republican, conservative, quarterback, congressman or Cabinet secretary. I will always remember him as an American.

David Galinsky

Simi Valley

::

Jack Kemp ... RIP.

American conservatism ... RIP.

James D. Ulrich

Signal Hill