I am honored to have a very wise brother-in-law who knows and understands politics better than anyone I know.

He was a journalist before he retired.  He was a big deal too.  He interviewed four Presidents, world leaders and other DC insiders.  He was one of the first Conservative journalists in DC to help start a well known newspaper.  He sat in planning meetings among progressive journalists and stood up for the conservative voice.  At times he was asked to leave the room because they didn’t want to hear that side of the story.  He was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize.  He’s written plays and speeches for leaders and he is an amazing writer.

All that said…he is a stubborn man too!  He is in the hospital right now because he would not listen to the advice of his doctor.  He wouldn’t listen to his family or his friends.  He decided he knew how to play doctor with his own health and it landed him in the hospital.

He is not doing well and last night as I stood next to his bed, you could see him tear up and wish things were different. 

He is scared.  He’s been humbled.  He is regretful he didn’t listen to those around him.  He’s reaching out to us now in hopes we will help him.  He’s our brother and we will. 

However, we also know he is stubborn and if he makes it through this crisis, his stubbornness will show up again and we’ll be back to the same old game.  That is…unless he has a real change of heart and he REALLY listens to those who care about him. 

As I drove home from the hospital, I thought about the work he still has in him.  The book he and I were going to write together.  The play about the Tea Party Movement he is writing.  I am so mad at him right now because his stubbornness has caused this situation.  I became a victim of his behavior.  I wondered how someone so smart could end up like this simply because he was unwilling to listen to others.

His situation reminds me of those in DC.  Everyone says President Obama is a smart man, brilliant, great writer, makes wonderful speeches, author of many books, became the leader of the free world and on and on and on.  Just like my brother in law, President Obama and many of his counter-parts are stubborn and think they know best for us.   We have become a victim of this man’s behaviors.

They didn’t listen to us.  They didn’t listen to “the doctors.”  They didn’t care what we thought. 

Now that the people spoke, the winds of change can be felt in DC.  Humbleness is all around.  Everyone is saying “We need to listen to the people.  We need to come together.  We need to work together.  We need to sit together.”  Yada yada yada.

I’m watching this and wondering if humbleness really has shown up OR if this is just another move in the strategy. 

Just like my brother in law – I must see a change of heart before I’ll trust that the stubbornness has left.  I don’t want to play the games anymore.  I want a change of heart in him and in DC.  I don’t want to be a victim of his and their bad decisions again.

We don’t want the GOP to be used and abused by those calling for peace and unity.  Remember GOP – they were the very ones who laughed, ridiculed and called us names while signing legislation we and you did not want.

Be wary GOP.  Don’t fall for it.

The other side is scared of defeat.  If you fall for this, you will help them win another election.  If you stand strong and wise and calmly say “No” to their agenda items, we have a chance to restore health in our country again.

I want to win this game with my brother in law.  Why?  Because we love him – even if he is stubborn!  He may be smarter than me but I have become wiser in my relationship with him.  I know his weakness and we all have weaknesses.  If he continues to remain stubborn, unwilling to listen and he doesn’t change his heart – he will lose his fight for life.

We want to win this game in DC too.  Some may be smarter than us but we have become wiser in our relationship with those in power.  We know their weaknesses and if they continue to remain stubborn, unwilling to listen and they don’t change their hearts – they will lose their fight for power.  If the GOP buys this “we are sorry and we love you stuff” – they will lose their fight for power and we will lose our freedoms.

I’ll be at the hospital today and with a wary eye will ask him – “Are you going to listen now?  Are you going to do what the experts tell you or what we tell you?”  I’ll be listening to his words, I’ll look him in the eye and I’ll search his heart to see if he means it. 

We encourage the GOP to do the same thing with those on the opposite side of the aisle.  Make sure you ask with a wary eye and search the hearts of those calling for peace and unity.  Words are empty in DC.  Games are many.  Stubbornness has been the rule of law.   Stubborn people stubbornly change. 

It’s time for a change of heart because our country is sick.

Don’t fall for this game – GOP – and in the words of one of the greatest leaders of our time – Ronald Reagan - “Trust, but verify.” 

Don’t tell my brother in law that I used him as an example about the left!  Now that would get him out of bed quickly and he’ll be coming after me!  (Hummmm…)

And, before we close, please go to this great article from Heritage about how important this Healthcare Repeal is to the Presidential election.  Ladies and Gentlemen, we have no time to sit back on our laurels.  It’s time to pick up our signs, start dialing the phones and reach out to our Senators.  They must help us repeal this bill!!  It is the catalyst of all things happening in DC.  And you thought you could relax!  Ha!  http://blog.heritage.org/?p=50521