Funny: I am never so motivated to vote for Tim Penny as when he withdraws from a run for the U.

Monday, March 20, 2000

Funny: I am never so motivated to vote for Tim Penny as when he withdraws from a run for the U.S. Senate. We need in all public offices people who are first whole persons and effective parents. Whatever accomplishments a person has in business, professions, politics or any other endeavor, if that person is not an effective parent to his or her children, other considerable contributions lack ultimate worth.

Penny, a former congressman and continuing statesman, had planned to oppose Republican Sen. Rod Grams "until just a few days ago," his announcement put it. Didn’t that spark my curiosity? He has since told of being at a movie with his teen-age son, and it struck him that for at least the six months of an election campaign he just couldn’t do something like this. It sounds as if the lad said, "Hey, Dad. Let’s go to the movie." Dad said, "OK," and that was that.

I tell you, when any teen-ager says to a parent, "Let’s do", the parent had better drop everything and do it. It isn’t that such is a rare event in the Penny family, as it is in a tragic number, but that it is a precious moment that dare not be squandered.

If I were a public official and wanted to escape the burden of office in order to spend more time with my family, I would lie. I would make something up, because it would be more likely believed in that the family excuse is so disingenuously claimed.

Not so with Penny. I have seen him with his children, and it is one of the nicest things I know about him. While still in Congress and on one of his many visits to Austin, he brought along two of his sons. In the question period, the younger raised his hand. The older looked amused, and the congressman adroitly avoided it. As kids that age do when an arm tires, he didn’t switch to the other but propped it up as if he didn’t want the hand to lose its turn in line. I raised my hand, and Penny promptly recognized me. I said, "I’d like to hear your son’s question." Dirty trick. He had no choice, because everyone had been charmed by two lovely boys.

"When can we leave?" Rather than discrediting the congressman, this strongly affirmed him before at least this audience. He had taken part of a Saturday to talk with us and listen to us, but he gave the rest to his boys.

Of course, there may be other factors at play because he has rocked the boat recently with his fresh ideas and disturbing insights. Tim Penny, however, is nothing if not honest. I believe him.

I would respect the decision of a public figure who declined to have any children so he or she could give full attention to public office. But once the decision is made to be a parent, a parent this individual must be. There are other people who can be at least an adequate senator, but Tim Penny’s children have only one father. If Tim Penny were to fail as a father, he would no longer be Tim Penny.

Wallace Alcorn’s column appears Mondays