On the recordMarch 10, 2010
It saddens and concerns me that another line has been crossed, moving us further toward partisan excess and incivility. I refer to the calculated, political campaign-style attacks on the loyalty and patriotism of honorable Department of Justice attorneys over the past few weeks. Self-restraint is a crucial but often neglected value in our democracy. Just because a political attack that can put 'points' on the board is possible, does not make it right. Misleading appeals to fear, like this one, are corrosive to our system and to the rule of law. Just as President Lincoln said of leadership generally, we must appeal to our better angels, not to fear and suspicion. Those who have megaphones made possible by millions of dollars, and who use them to shape public opinion, must lead responsibly and constructively. This attack is not about transparency, nor about some purported conflict of interest. The Department of Justice set that canard to rest with its February 18 letter. This is about a partisan and personal attack.
