By Pete Papaherakles
On September 27, former United States Representative Jim Traficant (D-Ohio) passed away after suffering a terrible accident involving an antique tractor on his farm four days earlier. Those who knew the former congressman will always remember him for his larger-than-life personality, his even bigger heart, his warm smile, the twinkle in his eye, his sharp sense of humor and his bear hugs. He was one of the great patriots in this country’s history, much like populist President Andrew Jackson, Rep. William Jennings Bryan (D-Neb.), famed aviator Charles Lindbergh and Father Charles Coughlin.
Traficant was by far the most outspoken, honest, populist politician of our time. While representing Ohio’s 17th district in Congress for nine terms, he took on the special-interest forces behind the U.S. government, such as the privately owned and controlled Federal Reserve and the powerful Israeli lobby.