Open Letter to Congressman Flake

As many of you already know, our congressional representative, Jeff Flake, missed a crucial day in Congress last Friday when the House passed a very controversial bill known as "cap and trade". As many of you also know, the bill passed by a very slim margin, seven votes to be exact. We can discuss the bill's pros (are there any?) and cons in another post. The reason for this post is to share with you a letter Jason Mow wrote to Congressman Flake in response to his absence for the vote.

Congressman Flake,

I was truly sadden and appalled at the news of your absence during the vote in Congress for the Cap and Trade Bill. Your leadership and strong stance against this massive socialistic taxation bill is what is most needed from our representation in Washington and sadly what is most lacking.

As a family man, I completely understand the emotions felt when a choice is needed between family and civic responsibilities. I have been making those choices my entire adult life. I have spent the last 17 years in the service of my country as both a professional soldier and a law enforcement officer. I can not recount all the holidays, birthdays, reunions, pageants, sporting events, weddings, funerals, graduations, trips to the zoo, skinned knees, and pretty new Sunday dresses I missed out on while honorably serving my country. You are not special or alone in this world. My family is fully aware of the sacrifice I make and understand it is their sacred offering before God, upon the alter of freedom, to support me in the cause of liberty and defense of the Constitution of the United States of America.

I respectfully remind you, Sir, you asked to be sent to Washington to be the voice of the people and stand up for the rights of the Americans living within your district. You know full and well the requirements of your time. You understood that it would mean time away from your family and sacrificing personal feelings for the greater good.

You are being well paid and well compensated for your time. Time that is to be spent reminding the federal government what the Constitution says, and demanding, with force if necessary, that the rights of the people in your district not be infringed.

I refer to hallowed antiquity and to the man who without question is the most important figure in American history. I speak of none other then General Washington. Remember, he was called out of retirement three separate times to serve his country and did so willingly. He refused to be paid while serving as commander of all patriot forces during the Revolutionary War. He left his beloved home, Mt Vernon, for years at a time then only returning when the war was won and finding it practically in ruin. He had children die while he served his country. He was long separated from his wife Martha. When he could no longer bear being apart from his beloved wife, he brought her to the horrors of Valley Forge where he refused to leave his men. Because of his commitment to his fellow man and his new country his personal fortune was destroyed. When he was sworn in as the first President of the United States he was in such financial desperation that he did not have a proper suit and needed to borrow money from a friend to get a new one.

I could continue on but I would instead direct you to the volumes of books dedicated to the memory of General Washington and his service. I would suggest you read some of them and gain a better understanding of your responsibility as a public servant and the standard he set for all of us as Americans.

This is a critical time for America. I listened while you spoke of a need to renew values and common sense in Washington. I supported you as you fought against the evils of our day. I even campaigned for you and spent my sacred funds in support of our causes. Now I fell betrayed by your actions. You abandoned your post as the enemies of liberty advanced. I am quite sure what your reaction would be if, as a soldier, I fled the battle field while facing the enemy in the heat of conflict or, as a police officer, I refused to sacrifice my life to save your family or rescue your fortunes from criminals. My contempt is real and my anger is justified.

If this occupation is to tasking and requires too much of your time and talent, then as your employer, I accept your resignation. If you feel being present to vote in opposition of the most audacious assault on American liberty is to tasking or time consuming then you are free to step aside.

We are all accountable to the Maker of heaven and earth for our actions. Like I tell my children, “Right or wrong, good or bad, the consequences for our actions will someday be ours alone.”

I refer to your own words from your web site.

Washington, D.C., Jun 26 -

Republican Congressman Jeff Flake, who represents Arizona’s Sixth District, criticized the cap and trade bill that passed today.

“The last thing a fragile economy needs is a new energy tax, yet that’s essentially what this cap and trade bill is,” said Flake. “This bill is more about generating revenue for the federal government than it is about addressing climate change.”

Unfortunately, Congressman Flake was unable to vote on the bill due to a family obligation. Congressman Flake’s daughter was Arizona’s representative in the America’s Junior Miss scholarship program, and Congressman Flake and his wife were there supporting her.

“Obviously, it was a tough decision to miss voting against the cap and trade bill. But I’ve let my daughter down enough over the years, and I felt I just couldn’t let her down again.”

Had he been able to vote, he would have voted against the bill. Unless it is changed substantially, Congressman Flake will vote against the cap and trade conference report when it comes back to the House.

All the words in the English language did not make us free men so long ago. Words are as cheep as the paper they are written on. It is action that makes us free. Action at places such as, Bunker Hill, Trenton, Bull Run, Gettysburg, The Alamo, The Somme, Pearl Harbor, Normandy, Iwo Jima, Pork Chop Hill, Heartbreak Ridge, Tet, The Ia Drang Valley, Beirut, Panama, Mogadishu, Baghdad, Kabul, and the Twin Towers. All of these places are now hollowed ground where Americans drew a line in the stand and said “not one more step back.” These places are where American men and women who “More then self their country loved” stopped speaking and started acting. They acted on their belief that this country is more important then there own “lives, fortunes, and sacred honor”. Arlington is full of the grave markers of men and women who will never see their daughters in a pageant, what makes you so special?

Sir, either lead us or get out of the way.

Jason Mow

jason.mow@cox.net