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Candace
Talmadge
Read Candace's bio and previous columns
July 21, 2008
Robert Wexler’s
Fire-Breathing Liberal: Unabashed Liberal Congressman Tells All
Despite its title, Rep.
Robert Wexler’s autobiography, Fire-Breathing Liberal: How I Learned
to Survive (and Thrive) in the Contact Sport of Congress, really
doesn’t spew flames. Or even any invective. The pages do not combust
when handled.
This should reassure
those who know Wexler as the impassioned defender of former President
Bill Clinton throughout the sex-in-the-Oval-Office scandal and
subsequent hearings and impeachment, or the House member now calling for
impeachment hearings against President George W. Bush and Vice President
Dick Cheney. Or the hapless member of Congress skewered on cable
television by satirist supreme Stephen Colbert.
In lieu of ignition,
this book deftly intertwines a personal story with the inner workings of
an American political institution – Congress – and more specifically,
the U.S. House of Representatives. The author is a six-term member of
the House from Florida’s 19th District.
Wexler’s memoir manages
to teach readers about how laws originate and the legislative process,
without putting them to sleep, by providing plenty of personal anecdotes
and colorful details along the way. He acknowledges that the entire
progression is about as exciting as watching grass grow. Amen. But
law-making leaps to life once he sets it within the inevitable clash of
governance philosophies and personalities.
I couldn’t help but
grow to like the guy, probably because he readily admits his flaws and
mistakes and obviously cares passionately about his family, his
constituents, his country and even other nations. He tries to show
readers how the laws that pass, and don’t pass, affect their daily
lives. Yes, Congress is relevant to everyone, even if it so often seems
to degenerate into nothing but one-up game playing. For that very
reason, Wexler acknowledges, Congress is the institution that Americans
love to hate.
Wexler first entered
the House after the 1996 presidential election, and suffered along with
all other Democrats as part of the minority until the 2006 mid-terms
returned Democrats to the majority. He does an excellent job of
providing specific examples of just how vindictive and petty the
Republican majority leadership of the House could be toward the minority
and even GOP members who didn’t toe the party line all the way.
This is a really good read, probably because it is well seasoned with
hilarious moments. The author points out numerous times that his wife,
Laurie, has never been very impressed by his career and high-level
connections. She once even told the White House switchboard, calling on
behalf of then-President Clinton, that her husband was busy doing the
dishes and would have to phone back. Good for her!
Wexler’s candor about his own multiple faux pas is a welcome change from
all the hypocrisy and pretension of politicians puffed up with their own
self-importance. He also seems to relish his job, as a member of the
House, to help his constituents when they have all manner of problems
with all levels of government. Imagine that – a public servant who likes
to serve. How odd.
Too many politicians behave as though they are allergic to ordinary
citizens. Wexler can’t wait to sit in his constituents’ living rooms or
VFW halls and hear them tell it to him like it is. He admits that
listening is the most important part of his job. Double amen to that.
This book is a great education, and everyone can benefit from Wexler’s
unique perspective on politics and the political process of our beloved
republic.
© 2008
North Star Writers Group. May not be republished without permission.
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