BREAKING NEWS: Jack Kemp, a one-time vice-presidential nominee, has died

[IDemo]

Ex-quarterback and congressman was diagnosed with cancer

AP - updated 2 minutes ago

WASHINGTON - Jack Kemp, the ex-quarterback, congressman, one-time vice-presidential nominee and self-described "bleeding-heart conservative" died Saturday.

His spokeswoman Bona Park and longtime friend and former campaign adviser Edwin J. Feulner confirmed that Kemp died after a lengthy illness.

Kemp had announced in January 2009 that he had been diagnosed with cancer. He said he was undergoing tests but gave no other detail.

Kemp, a former quarterback for the Buffalo Bills, represented western New York for nine terms in Congress, leaving the House for an unsuccessful presidential bid in 1988.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30540404/

[Laura PourMeADrink]

1. WOW

[Jack Rabbit]

2. I'm sorry to hear this

Kemp was one of those Republicans I felt I could vote for in a pinch. While I was skeptical about his ideas, they were ideas and that was something most politicians never had, regardless of their stripes.

Besides, you have to admire a man who could run for office proclaiming, "I've taken showers with men most Republicans never meet."

[fishwax]

3. wow

I guess I missed the announcement in January (or perhaps it had slipped my mind), so I'm quite surprised to hear this. Best thoughts to his family.

[RB TexLa]

4. I missed it too, first I heard about him being sick

[Sheets of Easter]

5. He was among the few Repubs I could disagree with, yet not have a seething hatred for.

My thoughts are with his family.

[Tangerine LaBamba]

6. He was a good quarterback .........

Beyond that, eh, life goes on ..............

:shrug:

[Odin2005]

7. Dang. RIP Congressman

[JitterbugPerfume]

8. sorry to hear this

he seemed like a decent man

[AllentownJake]

9. That's a shame

Thoughts are with his family.

[WeDidIt]

10. An honest conservative

and one who did not play the rhetorical hyperbolic bullshit Rovian game at all.

I respect JAck Kemp immensely

[Jennicut]

11. This is shocking. I had no idea he had cancer.

Kemp was never my favorite politician but looking back in retrospect he was probably was one of the few sane Rethugs left around.
RIP, Mr. Kemp.

[jmowreader]

12. How long will it be before the Right attacks him?

Jack Kemp wasn't an ideologue like most of the Repukes running around today. By noon tomorrow, Faux News will have a (D) behind his name and we'll hear about his contributions to "destroying the conservative revolution" or some shit.

This is from me: Kemp was one of the few decent Republicans left.

[Arugula Latte]

13. I didn't know he was sick...RIP, Jack Kemp. nt

[Olney Blue]

14. My condolences to his family and friends.

:-(

[madrchsod]

15. another decent republican gone

there`s not many left.....

[lib2DaBone]

16. I thought Republicans walked on water..Lived forever? God said so...

Not being insensitive..just fed up....

[bluestateguy]

17. I may have disagreed with his politics

But he was smart as a tack (today's GOP does not honor intellectualism any more), honest and respectful of people who did not agree with him.

[seabeyond]

18. i liked him. saw him in los cruces. we didnt have a clue he was going to be there

when he was running vice pres. we were staying in tourist area and he was there for a speech. was kinda fun.

[Ishoutandscream2]

19. Fun to watch from the old afl days

I like to remember him as a player rather than a politician.

[TahitiNut]

20. RIP Congressman Kemp. My condolence to your family.

I disagreed with you twice as often as I agreed, but you deserved respect.

:patriot:

[DBoon]

21. he seemed to actually care about people

while I disagree with his politics, his basic sense of empathy was something I admired

[riverdale]

34. Why would someone who cares about people

become a Republican? Seems like that is the opposite of what they stand for.

[Danger Mouse]

22. My condolences to his family.

:(

[spanone]

23. rip......

:hug: :patriot:

[pscot]

24. He was a decent guy

RIP Jack Kemp.

[AwakeAtLast]

25. Condolences to the family

RIP.

[democrat2thecore]

26. RIP, Jack Kemp

He was part of a ticket in '96 that was hard to hate. Even Bob Dole today is considered a heretic within the Republican Party. Jack Kemp will be missed on the scene. He had voiced his problems with intolerance within the party last summer and I thought then how things have changed. RIP.

[Captain Hilts]

27. He was WAAAY ahead of his party on race relations. nt

[Wednesdays]

28. Oh wow!

He's one politician I'd least expect to have had health problems.

Well, a salute to one good American. :patriot:

[Catherine Vincent]

29. RIP, Mr. Kemp

He was one of the better Republicans.

[Vidar]

30. RIP Mr. Kemp.

[Missy Vixen]

31. My condolences to his family and friends

Godspeed, Congressman Kemp.

[lostnotforgotten]

32. RIP - Jack Kemp

eom

[Crabby Appleton]

33. RIP Jack Kemp