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Broadcast – Profile in Courage

There’s a moment in my Cincinnati City Council career I’m not very proud of. The issue was whether to hand out free condoms in low-income neighborhoods. I felt it was right but caved in to “family values” groups and voted against it.

Here’s something you didn’t know: Congressman Walter Jones of North Carolina, a Republican, voted for the war in Iraq, but later began to have doubts about President Bush’s claims of weapons of mass destruction.

Jones district includes Marine Camp Lejuene. After attending the funeral of a Marine killed in Iraq, who left behind several children, Jones’ conscience got to him.

He spoke out against the war, lost support in his district and his own party targeted him. But looking back, I wish I – and others – had the courage of Walter Jones.