To the editor:

Last week we got a great example of how to accept defeat gracefully and an example of, well, let’s say something not exactly graceful.

Sen. Sam Brownback pulled out of the 2008 presidential race like a true statesman, while Nancy Boyda accepted the defeat in the attempt to override President Bush’s veto of the expansion of the SCHIP program by calling Bush “morally bankrupt.” Name-calling when someone doesn’t agree with you is not what we need from our leaders.

I’m guessing that Sen. Brownback will have a greater impact on the debate leading up to the 2008 election than Ms. Boyda will have in seeing that children who truly need medical coverage get it. One could argue that it could be “morally bankrupt” in using poor children as a pawn in attempts to further increase bloated government spending.

I know that she is probably getting advice from the congressional leaders, but she might want to look at their approval rating to see if it is wise to follow their advice.

Whether or not you agree with his political viewpoint, Kansans should be extremely proud in the example Sam Brownback sets for all of us.

Craig Campbell,

Lawrence