BREAKING NEWS: Six-term Sen. Lugar defeated in Ind. GOP primary

[Jack Rabbit]

27. A short tribute to Senator Lugar

In 1986, Senator Lugar and others went to the Philippines to assess the situation in the wake of a crooked election, which, if allowed to stand, would have put dictator Ferdinand Marcos in power for another four years. It was clear that Marcos had lost the election to Corazon Aquino, the widow of a political opponent who murdered on Marcos' orders. Every knew that except President Reagan, who had already given his approval of Marcos' "election" and condescendingly belittled large anti-Marcos protest in the wake of the election.

It fell on Senator Lugar to drag President Reagan into the real world. Would the people of the Philippines have forgiven the US if the had to suffer another term of fraudster, kleptocrat and murderer Marcos? It all too clear that Marcos had to go, but President Reagan had to be convinced that it was in the interests of the United States, as well as simply the right thing to do.

Oh, to have been a fly on the wall during those discussions. We, and the people of the Philippines, can give Senator Lugar thanks for succeeding.