Congressman Frank R.
Wolf’s Birthday Event
By C. Naseer Ahmad
Washington,
DC: Hundreds of friends and supporters of Congressman Frank
R. Wolf (R) held a birthday at a Hilton Hotel, a stone throw
away from Washington Dulles Airport – the nation’s
major transportation hub. Congressman Tom Davis, Chairman
House Government Reform Committee, and his wife Virginia State
Senator Jeannemarie Devolites Davis were among the participants
for 67th birthday of Congressman Wolf.
In an era when public perception about the Congress is at
a low point, many congressional representatives would be running
from their record. Quite the opposite is true for Congressman
Wolf, who has a lot going for him. He is the most senior of
the 11 members of the House of Representatives from Virginia
and represents the 10th congressional district – home
to many Pakistani Americans - in Virginia. “He is a
man of integrity,” said Congressman Tom Davis in the
introductory speech.
“I have great admiration for his integrity and tireless
work for human rights,” said Hanif Akhtar, his neighbor
and longtime supporter. Similar sentiments appear to exist
among his supporters and the constituents of Congressman Wolf,
who is serving his 13th term and launched his reelection campaign
on January 27, 2006.
“When this Wolf howls, better listen up,” urged
the Examiner’s editorial on January 25, 2006. Copies
of the editorial detailing the congressman’s leadership
role were placed on the tables. For instance, long before
the Jack Abramroff scandal became headline news, Congressman
Wolf was warning against the evils of gambling. “Gambling
and corruption go together,” he told the Examiner editorial
staff.
Incumbency is a terrific advantage. But, it appears Congressman
Wolf does not take anything for granted. He is a hard-working
man and his approach came through in his spirited speech.
For one, the father of five children and a grandfather of
ten, he still appears to have the fire in the belly of an
insurgent running to unseat an incumbent.
Congressman Wolf made a passionate appeal to restore America’s
standing in scientific arena. He also spoke at length about
the scourge of gang violence. With his common sense approach,
Congressman Wolf is on a solid ground – after all he
chairs the House Subcommittee on Science-State-Justice-Commerce.
Measured pride of performance was matched with humility, when
Congressman Wolf spoke of the “losing years” i.e.
when he was trying to win a seat in the US House of Representatives
in the late 1970s. He is intensely loyal and appears to have
a long memory – noting those in the audience whose parents
he knew way back then. This loyalty is reciprocal, as it seems
to be shared by his supporters and longtime campaign manager
Linda Douglas.
Campaigning for elections is one thing but demonstrating leadership
and delivering on promises is what earns the respect for men
like Congressman Wolf. His “Fresh Eyes on Iraq,”
is an honest and serious effort to get the United States focused
on a winning approach as opposed to a litany of misleading
statistics.
Congressman Wolf and his staff appear to take the constituents
problems as if they were their own personal problems. For
example, if a constituent visits Judy McCary’s office,
she will not only empathize with the constituent but also
likely to pursue the issue with vigor. Ms. McCary does so
just like her boss. During his speech, while discussing regional
transportation issues, he empathized with a federal employee
who told him on a return trip from Iraq that she got up at
3:45am to be able to go to work.
With a record like his, it is no wonder when Congressman Wolf
speaks people in high places and governments around the world
listen intently.
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