Vote for able leader

"They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." - Benjamin Franklin

In the wake of 9/11, President George W. Bush had a mandate from the American people that transcended party lines. Instead of building on that mandate to further unify a country that had been divided by the bitterly contested 2000 election, instead of proving himself the uniter he'd promised to be, Bush used a climate of fear to institute a series of measures that have eroded one of our most precious natural resources: our civil liberties.

First came the assault on civil liberties known as the Patriot Act, advertised as protection for Americans. The abuses at Abu Ghraib and our neglect of prisoners at Guantanamo - especially troubling given the apparent complicity of our government in both - offer proof of the same "the ends justify the means" spirit.

Also troubling is Bush's position on the division between church and state, a fundamental tenet of our democracy. David Barton, the vice chairman of the Texas Republican Party, calls the separation of church and state "a myth." (That would have been news to Thomas Jefferson.) Bush has not spoken out against Barton. Last summer, Bush appointed Len Solomon, a national leader of Jews for Jesus, to a presidential committee. Solomon has led vigorous efforts to convert Jews, including a recent campaign timed to coincide with the Jewish High Holidays.

Bush may indeed be a man of conviction, as his supporters aver. Unfortunately, some of his convictions are antithetical to the spirit of the American democracy.

Sen. John Kerry has yet to be tested as president. But his record in Congress shows that he will build coalitions without compromising integrity. His strength of character, as demonstrated by his service to our country in battle and in peacetime, combined with his formidable intelligence and his grasp of foreign and domestic policy, mean he is capable (hooray!) of re-evaluating his position in light of new information. To remain flexible in the face of rapidly shifting situations requires real fortitude.

The next four years won't be easy, regardless of who's at the helm. We're a nation at war, with an unsteady economy and a mounting deficit - and that's for starters. Kerry's experience, fortitude and flexibility can restore stability and dignity to the White House. Kerry is diplomatic where Bush is belligerent, analytical where Bush is rash, respectful where Bush is dismissive, uniting where Bush is divisive. John Kerry is an able leader, and we would be lucky to have him guiding us through the challenges to come.

Home