Is it Sen. Richard Durbin, D-Ill., who compared the Guantanamo Bay detention center to Nazi Germany and a Soviet gulag? Or is it President Bush's operative, Karl Rove, who accused Democrats of going all soft and slobbery for terrorists after 9-11?
Let's see. Durbin apologized last week for his obvious hyperbole, although he and other critics are spot on about the human rights violations coming out of Gitmo and its tarnished reputation around the world. But his Republican foes labeled it a "fauxpology." Just not good enough.
As for Rove, his people stand behind him. There is no hint he will apologize for tarring all those wild liberals he so despises - the congressional Democrats who overwhelmingly backed Bush in initiating the Patriot Act and the Iraq invasion. Only one Democratic senator, the late Paul Wellstone of Minnesota, opposed troop deployment.
Once again, Rove showed his best and worst sides: the ability to drive a wedge through this country where it never existed. Yes, in four years divergent views have evolved over the war on terrorism. But in those first months post-9-11? We were one country, united in purpose, desperate to do something, each of us a patriot. Rove's adolescent-level blather cheapens the good that sprang from that moment.
Typical of public discourse in this young century, the Durbin-Rove outbursts reflect this sad truth: Increasingly, politics means never having to say you're sorry.
It's beyond cliché anymore to beg for courtesy within spirited political debate, let alone any statesmanship. But an occasional apology for truly bad behavior would be nice.
I know, I know. I want the moon.
Rove, of all people, should know better. He spent his formative years in Utah. I know Rove learned better as an Olympus High School student, class of '69. He studied under the firm hand of the late Eldon Tolman, the guru of history teachers at the Holladay school for three decades. Tolman demanded intellectual honesty, fairness and humility from his pack of strident students.
I know because Tolman taught me, too. He was an unrepentant liberal, a New Deal Democrat, a union man. The kind of Democrat Rove would gladly skewer like a shish kebab and revel in the deed.
The thing is, Tolman wore his politics loudly and proudly, but he always encouraged lively debate and the airing of other views. He had ground rules: Think your argument through, support it with facts and respect others.
Somewhere in the ensuing 35 years, Rove tossed out Tolman's tools. Manipulating the process and tweaking people's deepest, unfounded fears for no good reason took precedence. It's probably a good thing the tough old teacher isn't here to witness the shame of it.
Where, exactly, is the insurmountable weakness in uttering "I'm sorry?" Here in Utah, we have a fine history of apology.
Ex-Salt Lake County Auditor Craig Sorenson, who got caught stealing gasoline from his employer, was man enough to say "sorry."
Former Republican Congresswoman Enid Greene said it and moved on, even though it was her ex-husband who embezzled money and broke campaign laws.
It isn't that hard. I'm just sorry that Rove and company can't see it.
hmullen@sltrib.com
