George Putnam
Thursday, July 5, 2007

Reprint Information

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It is this reporter's opinion that President Bush's commutation of Lewis "Scooter" Libby's sentence marks a sharp contrast in our nation's history.

In order to convict Libby, a jury had to conclude that he not only knowingly and repeatedly lied to the FBI and a grand jury, he leaked classified information about CIA operatives.

But the Libby case is only one example of those in government found guilty of bribery, voter fraud, mail fraud, conspiracy, tax evasion, obstruction of justice, racketeering, extortion, drug possession, and perjury.

Recently it was revealed that at least 20 former members of Congress were convicted of a range of criminal offenses, yet continued to draw taxpayer supported pensions each year.

Such pensions range from $126,000 in the case of Dan Rostenkowski to an average of $50,000 or $60,000 for others.

People like Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D–Calif. and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D–Calif. have been accused of shady government business transactions.

What contrasts we witness on this Fourth of July weekend. We have a right to ask what became of the men who so boldly signed their names to our Declaration of Independence and lighted the fires of liberty in souls of men throughout the world.

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They signed and pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor. And what do we know about those brave men who risked everything to create a free America?

Five of them, captured by the British as traitors, were tortured to death.

Twelve had their homes ransacked and burned to the ground.

Two lost their sons in the Revolutionary Army.

One of the signers had two sons captured.

Nine of the 56 who signed fought and died in the Revolutionary War.

What manner of men were these who signed our Declaration of Independence?

Twenty-four were lawyers and jurists, 11 were merchants, nine were farmers, and plantation owners.

Many of these men were well educated and well off. They had everything to lose yet they signed the Declaration of Independence though they knew the penalty would be death on the gallows if they were captured.

These were courageous men, dedicated men who signed our Declaration of Independence. What a contrast they are to those 20 former members of Congress convicted of a range of criminal offenses.

Standing tall and straight and unwavering, the men of Washington stayed and pledged their support of the Declaration with a firm reliance on the protection of divine providence.

These brave men mutually pledged to each other our lives, our fortunes, our sacred honor so we could live free. These brave men, filled with God and a patriotic fervor, gave us an independent America.

When a group of citizens asked Benjamin Franklin what type of government had the signers of the Declaration of Independence created, he responded, "a republic if you can keep it."

In the words of Benjamin Franklin, can we keep it?

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