Support for Rusk

by Ken Payne, Hamilton

Over the past several years I’ve had numerous discussions with Wayne Rusk. While not always in agreement with him I have found him to be well read, well informed, and well reasoned. Wayne has the intellect for the position he seeks. I am told that at times I can be somewhat caustic but I have never been able to elicit anything but an appropriate response from Wayne. His “temperament” should not be an issue. He’ll do well with the give and take of Helena. Wayne understands that public service (i.e. the legislature) is a “calling”, not a path to enrichment or even aggrandizement. I have found Wayne to be an honorable person and his business dealings and family.

There is no doubt that Wayne is anything but a Constitutional Conservative. This raises the point that conservatives can disagree and still both can be considered conservative. What is happening to Reagan’s “Big Tent”? Rino is a label applied all too frequently and in a large majority of cases has no merit. In some Republican circles it has become par with the Democrats seeing everything as “racist”.

Events that have happened in Wayne’s past have been openly and publicly dealt with, by him, on many occasions. A lesser person would have been broken. It takes fire to make steel and I think Wayne has become stronger. This election cycle has become a test for many. This brings us to this campaign of “ innuendo” being waged against Wayne, and incidentally, other Conservative Republicans which can only hurt our cause. Examples are too numerous to mention. 

So what do we have with Wayne…  Intellect, temperament, a willingness for public service, and character. I can support Wayne Rusk without reservation.