Sherrod Brown for Senate (OH)

As I read the Bible, I have come to understand that Jesus was a man who had a deep and personal compassion and love for all of those around him.  He saw the value in each individual, no matter how young or old, rich or poor, sick or struggling.  And it was that compassion, coupled with his understanding of God’s will for the world that led him to make his radical claim on our lives and on our society.

We need leaders with a bold vision for how to move our country forward– leaders who are willing to stand for what they believe and know to be right.

I have always tried to stand by my convictions to do what is best for Ohio and for our nation.  I voted against the war in Iraq, even when it was unpopular.  And that was the right thing to do.  I stood up to the president of my own party and fought bad trade deals that hurt the people of Ohio.  And that was the right thing to do.  I will never back down in my fight for good-paying jobs, to make health care affordable to all, to stop the scandal of corruption in government, and to restore the greatness of our nation on the global stage- not through military might alone, but also through the strength of our moral authority.

My faith and upbringing in the Lutheran church serves as the foundation for my political beliefs.  As a Lutheran, I understand that I am far from perfect.  I do not claim to know God’s perfect will.  But as a public servant, I have tried to do what is right and to do my best to follow his example.  As I read the Bible, I have come to understand that Jesus was a man who had a deep and personal compassion and love for all of those around him.  He saw the value in each individual, no matter how young or old, rich or poor, sick or struggling.  And it was that compassion, coupled with his understanding of God’s will for the world that led him to make his radical claim on our lives and on our society.

That understanding of Jesus was made especially clear to me several years ago during a trip to Israel.  Soon after I arrived, some my friends took me to a hill with a breathtaking view of the Sea of Galilee – the historical location where Jesus delivered the Sermon on the Mount.

Knowing that I was a Christian, our guide turned to me and handed me a Bible opened to Matthew 5.  He asked me to read the Beatitudes to my friends.  I have long considered the Sermon on the Mount to be the core of Christ’s teachings, and perhaps also the best political speech ever delivered.  Standing in the place where Jesus stood, it was as if he was saying the words to me.  As I stood on that hill and read those words, it was more clear to me than ever that the Sermon on the Mount is not just a nice collection of ideas for preachers to expound upon on Sunday mornings.  It is a radical and immediate call to action that has resonated for 2,000 years.  It is a challenge to each of us to live and to work to bring about a just and righteous society.   

Sadly, we have not answered that challenge. We have a moral obligation not to ignore their suffering and say simply “go, be warm and be well fed” while focusing our attentions on other matters.  The stark reality of poverty and hunger in our state should stir the conscience and trouble of the soul of every political leader and every candidate for office in our state.  I know it does mine.  

The richest country in the world should be ashamed to see the number of our poor increasing year after year, especially when we know the destructive effect poverty has on families who are caught in its web.

That is why we must strive for an economy that serves people, not the other way around.  Work should be more than just a way to make a living— it should be a source of dignity and pride.  If the dignity of work is to be honored, then we must raise the minimum wage, create well-paying jobs, respect the basic rights of workers, and support trade policies that value Americans’ hard work.

We must do all we can to promote human dignity for every single American, no matter how young or old they may be.  The greatness of our nation will be measured by whether we protect and respect the well-being and dignity of all of our citizens and seek to promote the common good.