Want to know why people loved Jack Kemp? Watch this video around the 3 minute mark. Kemp, a McCain supporter, basically tells Hannity off when Hannity won't let go over the Rev. Wright issue.

There was a time in the not so distant past when the GOP was actively pushing new ideas and offering suggestions based on the principles of the party. Jack Kemp was (and will continue to be) a throw back to that.



Want more? Read this letter Jack Kemp published after Obama's election, entitled "A Letter to my Grandchildren."

Dear Kemp grandchildren -- all 17 of you, spread out from the East Coast to the West Coast, and from Wheaton College in Illinois, to Wake Forest University in North Carolina:

My first thought last week upon learning that a 47-year-old African-American Democrat had won the presidency was, "Is this a great country or not?"

You may have expected your grandfather to be disappointed that his friend John McCain lost (and I was), but there's a difference between disappointment over a lost election and the historical perspective of a monumental event in the life of our nation.

[....]

Both Obama in his Chicago speech, and McCain in his marvelous concession speech, rose to this historic occasion by celebrating the things that unite us irrespective of our political party, our race or our socio-economic background.

My advice for you all is to understand that unity for our nation doesn't require uniformity or unanimity; it does require putting the good of our people ahead of what's good for mere political or personal advantage.

The party of Lincoln, (i.e., the GOP), needs to rethink and revisit its historic roots as a party of emancipation, liberation, civil rights and equality of opportunity for all.

Jack Kemp's passing comes at a time when our country could use a few more of him around.