Jimmy Carter's deputy COS : "Right or wrong should be standard for Rove"

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

LES FRANCIS, a graduate of San Jose State University, served as deputy chief of staff for President Carter, and as executive director of the Democratic National Committee and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. He wrote this article for the Mercury News.

http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/opinion/12211304.htm

Here's what we now know for sure: Rove was involved in outing a CIA operative. That may or may not have violated a federal statute. But it certainly was wrong. It was wrong because it may well have put people -- allies, sources and informants -- in danger, and perhaps compromised ongoing CIA information-gathering efforts.

It was also wrong because it was done as part of an orchestrated effort to trash a political opponent and administration critic, and apparently to score points in an intra-administration feud. Political arguments and policy debates are essential to the survival of democracy (which is why tyrants always seek to stamp out both). What is unnecessary and harmful is what has become known as ``the politics of personal destruction.'' Candidates, office holders and political operatives on both sides of the aisle are guilty of the offense, but that sure doesn't make it acceptable.

Rove's actions were wrong, most of all, because they represented an ugly and dangerous mentality -- that any political end justifies any political means. Rove demonstrated that mindset when he sought to politicize the tragedy of Sept. 11 during the 2002 midterm elections. And he did it again when tried to demean all ``liberals'' by arguing that they were somehow soft on terrorism and terrorists. It was reminiscent of Richard Nixon, who made his political bones arguing for decades that, during the Cold War, Democrats were ``soft on communism.''

As someone who has worked in the White House, I know how easy it is for the staff there to adopt a siege mentality. And how tempting it is to lash out at critics. But the American people deserve better from their president and those who serve the country with him. President Bush should think about the tone -- and low standards of behavior -- he has either set or tolerated among his staff and other political allies.