Political Tightrope: Judd Gregg, Meet Colonel Knox

Union Leader ^ | Feb. 7, 2009

[nickcarraway]

The last time a Democratic President asked a New Hampshire Republican to serve in his Cabinet, a move was made at the next Republican National Convention to formally run the fellow out of the Grand Old Party. Cooler heads prevailed.

We don't expect the same fate to befall Sen. Judd Gregg, but he may want to keep history in mind.

Frank Knox was the New Hampshire Republican in question. His party bona fides were unquestioned up until the call from Franklin Delano Roosevelt in 1940 on the eve of World War II. Four years earlier, Knox had been the Republican vice presidential nominee on the ticket with Alf Landon. They were clobbered as FDR rolled to a second term in the White House.

But in 1940, Col. Knox, a World War I veteran and one of Teddy Roosevelt's Rough Riders, decided national security was at stake and came before party politics.

He and fellow Republican Henry Stimson answered the call and became FDR's Navy and War secretaries, respectively. The attack on Pearl Harbor followed in 1941 and political questions quickly became moot. Knox died in office in 1944.

Sen. Gregg has also cited bipartisanship and service to the country as reasons he accepted President Barack Obama's call. Gregg is capable and qualified to be secretary of commerce, and we hope he serves the country well.

Still, Knox faced Republican wrath even with war threatening the nation. Today's economic crisis is real, but it is not as extreme as world war. Some Republican faithful seem willing to give Gregg a pass, based in part on his adroit move to ensure a Republican interim successor in the Senate. But Gregg may find himself walking a tightrope in his new post.

[originalbuckeye]

Senator Gregg is naive. 0bama selected him so that NH would have a weak Republican who will not run in 2010. The Dems expect to pick up this seat then. He also selected Gregg so he could use Gregg's position on the 2010 census against him. Clinton wanted to use ‘sampling’ to project the 2000 census. This way they could manipulate the numbers and grab more House seats for Dem areas of the states. Gregg fell right into the trap. 0bama is angling for a permanent majority. I don't think he will have the support he assumes when middle class voters are paying upwards of 60% in taxes. You have to pay for all the Socialist programs somehow.

[DiogenesLaertius]

They will not pay extra in taxes. He will milk the “rich” first and then the rest of us with hyperinflation.

[originalbuckeye]

I lived in Britain in the 80’s. Trust me..... the rich won't be able to pay for it all. I made peanuts there (compared to my salary here when I moved) and my tax bite was 50%. ALL will pay, they just don't realize it yet.