Values Trump Partisanship

You don't often see a person valuing friendship and principles over partisanship.  But - sometimes, man bites dog.  This is one of those times.

 

Jane Edmonds is a self-described liberal Democrat, an African-American civil rights activist from Massachusetts who is very likely far from Mitt Romney on most social issues.

But that’s not what she’s here to talk about.

Edmonds was a Cabinet secretary under Romney when he was governor, and Thursday night she will speak on his behalf at the convention.

“I didn’t come here to talk about our differences — I’m not going down that path,” Edmonds said in an
interview. “I’m here to talk about my experiences working for him. My friends have asked me why. I adore the guy. I have seen him behind closed doors in Cabinet meetings. I have seen his compassion. I’m at a point in my life that the character of the human being we entrust to be president is important to me. He
would make an excellent president.”

She remembers him asking Cabinet members to divvy up the 40 campaign promises he made, saying: “We have to deliver.” She remembers him quietly reaching out to a co-worker who had learned she had a brain tumor and offering support. She recalls him genuinely wanting to hear different points of view. “That’s what
leadership is about,” she says.

Edmonds says her support of Romney has nothing to do with her feelings about Barack Obama. She thinks the president is doing a fine job. She just knows Romney. She says she wrote her speech herself and the campaign suggested no changes. “I will talk about my personal experiences with him — that’s all I can
do,” she says. “I like the guy.”

Bravo, Ms. Edmonds!