Leadership by contrarianism

Center for a Better South co-founder John Simpkins writes today in The (Columbia, S.C.) State newspaper that U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., has shown real leadership by supporting American legal values in the face of threats over "enemy combatants" by the Bush Administration.

"No one disputes that we are at war. Despite assertions in our political discourse to the contrary, those who oppose the administration do not want to see America succumb to those who seek to destroy her. Contrarians such as Sen. Graham understand the consequences of compromising American values at the very moment they are being tested. An uncivilized victory in what is allegedly a clash of civilizations would be hollow indeed. Following the command of our conscience only when it suits us calls into question the very beliefs we profess to defend.

"By abandoning the principles of our Founders whenever we find ourselves in crisis, we give credence to those who would claim that America values nothing more than the ringing of the cash register and the next bright, shiny new object. The rule of law is the cornerstone of American democracy. When we turn away from it or bend it for the sake of expediency — as we did in the internment of Japanese-Americans during World War II — we eventually see the error of departing from our values and ultimately come to regret our inhumane diversions."