CAL THOMAS COMMENTARY FEBRUARY 24, 2022
I HAVE LOST MY BEST FRIEND. BOB BECKEL. BOB WAS AN ORIGINAL CO-HOST OF “THE FIVE” ON FOX NEWS AND MY WRITING PARTNER FOR TEN YEARS FOR THE COMMON GROUND COLUMN IN USA TODAY.
BOB HAD A DIFFICULT, BUT PRODUCTIVE LIFE. HIS IRONICALLY TITLED MEMOIR “I SHOULD BE DEAD” IS A HIGHLY READABLE WORK ABOUT OVERCOMING ADDICTION AND ALCOHOLISM AND FINDING CHRIST AS HIS SAVIOR. HE GIVES ME WAY TOO MUCH CREDIT. I ONCE TOLD HIM THAT IF IT WAS ME, EVERYONE WOULD BELIEVE THE MESSAGE I SHARED WITH HIM. IT WAS THE HOLY SPIRIT WHO BROUGHT HIM SALVATION.
BOB AND I TRAVELLED THE COUNTRY DOING OUR COMMON GROUND PROGRAM. IT WAS QUITE A CONTRAST TO THE BITTERNESS AND FAILURE THAT CHARACTERIZES WASHINGTON. WHEN YOU GET TO KNOW SOMEONE OF ANOTHER POLITICAL PERSUASION AND LISTEN TO THEIR LIFE EXPERIENCES YOU UNDERSTAND THEM BETTER AND THEY UNDERSTAND YOU BETTER. INSTEAD, TOO MANY OF US ARE IN OUR IDEOLOGICAL BUNKERS LAUNCHING RHETORICAL MORTARS AT EACH OTHER.
POLITICS HAS ALWAYS BEEN ROUGH AND TUMBLE. IT SHOULD BE MORE ABOUT WINNING THE BATTLE OF IDEAS RATHER THAN DEMEANING AND DIMINISHING ONE’S POLITICAL OPPONENT.
BOB BECKEL WAS MY BROTHER IN CHRIST. WE SHALL MEET AGAIN IN GLORY AND PERFECTION. I’M CAL THOMAS.
