Ron Silver, 1946-2009. R.I.P.

Actor Ron Silver died today after a two year battle with esophageal cancer. He was 62.

Silver spent three decades on both the big screen and the small screen. He was known for his work on TV shows like The West Wing and played diverse real life figures ranging from Harvard Law School professor Alan Dershowitz in Reversal of Fortune to Muhammad Ali's trainer Angelo Dundee in Ali starring Will Smith.

But Silver was probably best known for his political activism. Silver was instrumental in the establishment of the Creative Coalition along with the likes of Susan Sarandon and the late Christopher Reeve.

Silver was considered a part of the liberal Hollywood establishment but after the attacks of September 11, 2001 reconsidered his political views where it concerned national security. These views got the attention of the Bush Administration and Silver made a memorable speech before the 2004 Republican National Convention in New York in support of President Bush's re-election.

Later that year Silver would narrate the documentary FahrenHYPE 9/11 which was a response to Michael Moore's Fahrenheit 9/11.

Because of his more conservative political stance acting work would dry up for Silver. Undeterred, Silver launched a talk radio show on Sirius Satellite Radio last year despite his illness.

Silver identified himself as a "9/11 Republican." He is not the only one. Count me as one too. Those familiar with my writing will know it was 9/11 and the Left's reaction to it that led me to embrace conservatism.

Needless to say conservatives, be they 9/11 Republicans or not, have lost a powerful source of inspiration. The best tribute conservatives can make to Ron Silver is to carry forward his message in support of liberty, democracy and human rights and in opposition to Islamic fascism and the acts of terrorism carried out in its name.