Evan Bayh Quotes on Duty (2 Quotes)

That's something that weighs on my mind. Susan is totally supportive. I couldn't ask for a more supportive spouse. She's probably not as objective about her husband as she could be, but I'm glad that she's not. But she's said that whatever I decide to do, she wants to be supportive. The boys are only 9 and a half years old. They don't know what all is involved. I did sit down and talk with them a bit. I said, 'Boys, your dad's thinking about this what do you think' And they came back and said some of their friends thought that would be kind of neat, and that kind of thing. And I said, 'Well, that means your dad might not be able to be at some of your ball games quite so much, and I may be gone a lot, and I may not be able to be with you at night.' And then it didn't sound quite so good. I didn't want to turn them off to the idea. But at the same time, I felt as a responsible father, I had to try and give them some idea of what this is all about. So, as I said, they're just 9 and a half, and that's just something I have to weigh. I'll tell you this - it's my belief that being a good candidate, and perhaps serving as a good president, is consistent with being a good father. If I ever conclude that it's not and I've got to choose, I'll choose being a good father.

Across the country military families are facing dire financial circumstances due to longer than expected tours of duties. They are being penalized for their patriotism - no one should have to choose between doing right by their country and doing right by their families.