A Letter from the Editor

0 Comments | Insight on the News, March 5, 2001 | by Paul M. Rodriguez

Dear Readers,

"Oh, what a tangled web we weave / "When first we practice to deceive!"

What brings Sir Walter Scott's couplet to mind is something that has troubled us for many a year: That is, the inability by so many for so long to answer a question with the whole truth and nothing but the truth. For example: Bill Clinton's infamous "It depends on what the meaning of `is' is" to avoid answering whether he ever had sexual contact with Monica Lewinsky.

Then there's Eric Holder, the former deputy attorney general whom President Bush allowed to serve as acting attorney general until John Ashcroft was confirmed. In testimony Feb. 8 before the House Committee on Government Reform, Holder was asked what his recommendation was to the White House on the matter of Marc Rich's pardon. He said: "Neutral, leaning toward favorable." To any reasonable person (even in Washington) those words mean the Justice Department was saying it didn't object and, in fact, would go along with the scheme.

Like Clinton, Holder tried to dance on the head of a pin to suggest that what he meant was that he had no basis upon which to render a decision and that if there was a foreign-policy reason the White House wanted to invoke then it would be okay with him.

Good grief, talk about parsing of words!

Instead of serving the interests of justice, Holder has tarnished his record, worsened the Justice Department's image and kicked in the gut honest prosecutors who once served him. It's not only a pity, but it could be a crime given that Holder and Jack Quinn, Rich's lawyer, differ in testimony about what happened behind the scenes.

The underside of Washington is about money and power. And it corrupts people -- especially when it comes to the subtleties of truth.

Until next week then, God bless.

Paul M. Rodriguez Managing Editor