We need more like Rep. Sam Johnson – on both sides of the aisle

Who is Rep. Sam Johnson? John at Powerline writes:

The last Republican to speak against the Democrats’ anti-surge, pro-defeat resolution yesterday was Sam Johnson of Texas. Johnson was a pilot who flew something like 90 combat missions in Korea and Vietnam. He was shot down over North Vietnam and spent seven years as a POW, most of that time in solitary confinement. He returned to the U.S. in 1973 and was elected to Congress in 1991.

He also links up to video of a speech Rep. Johnson gave last week in response to the ‘non-binding’ House resolution against the President’s surge plan for Iraq. I’ve heard Rep. Johnson speak before on occasion when I’ve tuned in to CSPAN, but I’ve never been moved to tears from anything he’s said until I saw this one. It’s a little less than 7 minutes, and well worth the time it takes to watch:

Transcript here (scroll). An excerpt:

“So – little did I know back in my rat-infested 3 x 8 dark and filthy cell that 34 years after my departure from Hell on Earth… I would spend the anniversary of my release pleading for a House panel to back my measure to support and fully fund the troops in harm’s way….and that just days later I would be on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives surrounded by distinguished veterans urging Congress to support our troops to the hilt.

“We POWs were still in Vietnam when Washington cut the funding for Vietnam. I know what it does to morale and mission success. Words can not fully describe the horrendous damage of the anti-American efforts against the war back home to the guys on the ground.

“Our captors would blare nasty recordings over the loud speaker of Americans protesting back home…tales of Americans spitting on Vietnam veterans when they came home… and worse.

“We must never, ever let that happen again.

“The pain inflicted by your country’s indifference is tenfold that inflicted by your ruthless captors.

God bless you, Rep. Johnson.

If you’d like to contact Rep. Johnson to express your gratitude for his speech click here.

More: Rep. Steve King (R-IA) gave an inspiring speech as well. You can read it here.