With national elections weeks away, campaigns are in full swing and both sides try to make the other sound so evil it would be unthinkable to vote for their opposition.

Lobbyists, Super PAC’s and a shamefully manipulative media drive modern day politicians before tidal waves of money, greed and fame or shame — which, of course, leads to lucrative book deals and talk shows even for the losers. Voters are left with their heads spinning and no way of deciphering the truth.

How many Washington

politicians are really in it for the right reasons? Which ones (other than a handful who are actual war heroes) would be willing to risk their life — or make any personal sacrifice, for that matter — to protect freedom?

While going through family history last week, my mother came across the story of Caesar Rodney and shared it with me.

I had never heard Rod- ney’s amazing story of unselfish patriotism and character. For those who are unfamiliar with Rodney, he is the man on horseback featured on the back of the Delaware state quarter.

Rodney was a delegate of the Continental Congress that met in Philadelphia in 1776 to organize the rebellion against British rule. However, he also served as a general in the Delaware militia. Rodney was absent from the Philadelphia meet- ing because he had been called back to Delaware to suppress a riot.

Delaware had three delegates and, when the time came to vote for independence, the two remaining delegates were deadlocked on the issue. Rodney’s vote was needed to break the tie between the Delaware delegates so the states could give the required unanimous vote for independence.

When Rodney heard the news, he rode 80 miles over difficult roads. He continued on through the night in the pouring rain, crossing swollen creeks and rivers and dismounting his horse to help it navigate the thick mud. Rodney persisted until he arrived at Independence Hall at1p.m.Hewassoweakand tired that he was carried into the building — still wearing his boots and spurs and cov- ered with mud — just in time to cast the deciding vote for independence.

“As I believe the voice of my constituents and of all sensible and honest men is in favor of independence, my own judgment concurs with them. I vote for inde- pendence,” Rodney said.

With Delaware’s dead- lock broken and New York abstaining, the decision among the 13 colonies was 12 to zero for independence. Two days later, on July 4, 1776, Rodney was one of the signers of the declaration of independence.

All of the men faced great danger by signing the Declaration of Independence. If they lost the war with Britain, they would, undoubtedly, have been held responsible for the rebellion and would have been executed.

But Rodney faced an even more difficult situation. Even if the United States won the war he was guaranteed to suffer for his decision.

Rodney had a rare and dis- figuring type of facial cancer. At the time, the only doctor in the world that could treat the cancer was in England. Rodney had already planned a trip to England to have his cancer treated. He knew that by voting in favor of inde- pendence, he would not be able to make the trip. Yet, at great personal sacrifice, he did what he felt was right.

Rodney went on to serve in Congress for several more terms, as well as in several state-level political offices, but he suffered from ill health for the rest of his life. Some sources say he wore a silk veil to cover the disfig- urement of his face.

Rodney died eight years later on June 26,1784, at the age of 56.

I can’t claim Rodney in my family tree — he was an ancestor of an aunt by mar- riage — but I have to admire his character, bravery and unselfishness.

If more members of today’s congress would put their constituents and the country’s best interest first, instead of their own personal gain or their party’s agenda, our country would probably not be in the mess we’re in.

We need some modern- day patriots like Rodney, with courage and character.

Janelle Jessen is a reporter for the Westside Eagle Ob- server and a longtime resi- dent of the Decatur area. She may be contacted by email at [email protected].