>RIP: David Broder

>The media suffered the loss of one of its best journalists yesterday. David Broder wrote opinion editorials for the Washington Post, was a frequent guest on political news programs such as Meet the Press, and won a Pulitzer Prize for his editorials during the Watergate Scandal.

Broder’s writing was known for its clarity, and his ability to engage questions larger than the hot topic of the day. He was a consumer of political science research and brought some of what he gleaned from these studies to his writing.

Even though a liberal Democrat, Broder did not shy away from criticizing democratic leaders. For instance, in 2007 he criticized Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid for killing an effort to withdraw troops from Iraq because, by Reid’s estimation, it would benefit Democrats in the next election to do so. And more recently, he criticized President Obama for missing an opportunity in his recent State of the Union Address to tackle tax reform.

Rest in peace, Mr. Broder. You will be missed.

>RIP: James (Jim) Penning

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Political scientists have lost one of their own this week with the passing of Professor Jim Penning of Calvin College. I had known Jim for 11 years. We first met at the American Political Science Association’s Annual Conference in 1999. With our common research interests (religion and politics, American politics, and elections), we often found ourselves attending the same panels. Our common interests brought our paths together many times over the years. For a short sample of his work, read Jim’s September, 2008 blog post for Religion and Ethics Newsweekly on the Democratic Party’s religious outreach efforts. 

The last time I saw Jim was also at the APSAs Annual Conference last August in Toronto. I chaired a panel for which Jim was presenting his research on the God gap in the 2008 elections with several of his co-authors. This research is also in a recent book published by Oxford University Press, The Disappearing God Gap? It was a pleasure to know Jim. He always greeted me with a warm smile and, with genuineness, would inquire about the goings-on in my life. He will be missed.

>RIP: Jack Kemp

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Conservatives lost one of its most influential thinkers last Saturday with the passing of Jack Kemp.

Kemp was a member of the US House, HUD Secretary, Bob Dole’s running mate in 1996, and a star NFL quarterback.

Kemp will be remembered for his advocacy of supply-side economics, which influenced Ronald Reagan and led to the tax cuts in the Reagan’s first term. He should also be remembered as a Republican who urged his party to not abandon issues dealing with race and poverty. He was an advocate of enterprise zones, for instance, which would provide tax cuts to businesses that invest in areas of high poverty. Now that Republicans are debating the future direction of their party, they would do well to reflect on this part of Kemp’s legacy.

For another eulogy highlighting Kemp’s legacy regarding race issues, listen to Michele Martin of NPRs Tell Me More.

Update: Also, see This Week in Race.