Sam Brownback: “one thing I want to draw people's attention to is that in the third week of October, there is going to be a ``Character…”

“one thing I want to draw people's attention to is that in the third week of October, there is going to be a ``Character Counts'' week taking place. That may be a while off and is not necessary for us to focus on now, but I think it is time that while we look at economic activity being strong and culturally we are having all these problems, let's focus on these things. The Senator from New Mexico, Senator Domenici, has been a major champion of character counts, and that is where people step up and say, ``We need to look at ourselves and our own character.'' Good character doesn't come about by accident, it is a practice of virtue. It is one thing that each and every one of us as Americans can step forward with. I would like to, as we close today, give one example of a person who stepped up on character, and it is a gentleman in Wichita, KS, in my home State, by the name of Leo Mendoza. Leo is a man who knows that character counts, because he hasn't always had it. Leo is a survivor of sexual abuse, alcohol abuse, drug abuse and crime. For 17 years, he was in and out of jail, on and off drugs and in and out of marriages. But today, after years of soul-searching and counseling, he is, once again, a solid citizen. He is an elder at his church, and he and his wife are trying to adopt a child.”