SAY THIS about John Kerry: At least his grandfather wasn’t a Nazi. For all the oppo research that will be done on him, having a Fascist relative is something that probably won’t come up. Which is not the case for some politicians in Germany, where 60 years later, questions about a family’s past still linger. Take the plight of Friedrich Merz.

Besides representing his district of Hochsauerland in the Bundestag, Merz serves as the deputy chairman of the Christian Democratic and Social unions. He was heavily involved in the budget negotiations opposite Chancellor Gerhard Schröder. One of Merz’s major issues is tax reform. His plan, according to the Economist, “would have put Germany ahead of other countries in simplicity” by applying three basic tax rates. And while the plan has its flaws, it’s also gotten the 48-year-old father of three some good publicity.