Put country first — like Bush Sr.

The first President Bush exclaimed, “No new taxes.” Then he was faced with reality and put his own re-election on the line to do what needed to be done. He put our country first.

The extreme factions in today’s Congress learned the wrong lesson from President Bush. They learned if you break your promise you may not get re-elected. What they should have learned is not to make promises before they knew what they were talking about. But they did.

Now they need to follow Bush Sr.’s example and put the country ahead of their own political interests. Any who can’t do that, do not deserve to be re-elected. Further, if the government goes into default because Congress can’t get it together, the first bill not to get paid should be their salaries and health care benefits.

Anne Krick

Wheaton