OPINION Page 6 Friday, May 15,1987 The Michigan Daily -9 4 97 Years of Editorial Freedom Vol. XCVI - No.2S Unsigned editorials represent the majority views of the Daily's Editorial Board. Cartoons and signed editorials do not necessarily reflect the Daily's opinion. Parade of fools Vote 'no' on veto "SURROUND YOURSELF WITH the best people you can find, delegate authority, don't interfere as long as the policy you've decided upon is being carried out." With these words, President Reagan has defended the Iran-contrascandal, and his presidency. This "style" of man - agement may sound plausible on the surface, but how has it operated in reality? Who are these "best" people the president has chosen to lead our country, and what have they done? A look at Reagan's appointees, their behavior and views, illuminate the reality of Reagan's style, and the quality of people he has chosen to serve us. Consider the following: - James Watt, former Secretary of the Interior, who, rather than conserving the nation's natural resources, outraged millions of Americans and many environmental organizations by opening up America's wilderness and preserves to big business exploitation, and who finally resigned under protest for his remarks characterizing his colleagues as "a Jew, a Black, a woman, and a cripple." - William Bradford Reynolds, who was rejected by the Republican- controlled Senate for a high Justice Department position due to his non-enforcement of Civil Rights laws while leading the Justice Department's division on Civil Rights, and because his views of Black Americans were beyond even the toleration of Republican legis - lators. - Anne Burford, former head of the Environmental Protection Agency, was cited with contempt of Congress charges for lying (as instructed to by her superiors) to congressional commitees invest - igating the EPA. - Michael Deaver, former White House counsel and confidant of Nancy Reagan, was recently indicted by a federal Grand Jury on five counts of perjury, concerning his lobbying efforts on behalf of foreign powers. - Lyn Nofziger, another former White House counsel, currently under investigation by a special prosecutor for possible violation of ethics in government laws. - Daniel Manion, the small-time lawyer nominated by Reagan to a federal judgeship, who had never argued a federal case before his nomination appears to possess only one quality worthy of the administration's endorsement - right-wing ideology. - William Rheinquist, appointed by Reagan to serve as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, has defended the doctrine of segregated schools for Blacks, and allegedly harrassed and challenged Black voters in Arizona during the 1960s. - Donald T. Regan, former White House Chief of Staff, insisted that women did not understand strategic concepts, and argued against divestment in South Africa on the grounds that American women would be unwilling to forego their diamonds. - Edwin Meese, Attorney Gen - eral, who was investigated by an independent counsel before his confirmation (for allegedly awarding federal jobs to people who had loaned him money), now finds himself the target of a second investigation by another inde - pendent prosecutor for possible conflict of interest. - William Casey, former director of the CIA, has been repeatedly implicated as an active participant in the Iran-contra scandal by congressional witness Richard Secord. * John Pointdexter, another former National Security Adviser, has yet to testify in the Iran-contra hearings, but is a central figure in the scandal. - Robert McFarlane, yet another former National Security Adviser has admitted preparing a false chronology of events which min - imized President Reagan's involve - ment. - Oliver North, fired National Security Council staffer who Reagan labeled a "national hero," is now being portrayed by witnesses as the "mastermind" behind the entire affair, and stands a strong chance of being indicted by the independent counsel for obstruction of justice. And you can judge the man by the company he keeps. ON MONDAY, Republican Mayor Gerald Jernigan vetoed a city council resolution that would have reinstituted the Ann Arbor Central America Sister City Task Force as an official organ of the municipal government. The Task Force lost its official sanction when its charter expired on May 11. Unfortunately, any immediate attempt to override Jernigan's veto and extend the Task Force mandate is likely to fail due to balance of party power in the current city council. The Democrats hold seven seats while the Republicans hold, four. It would require eight votes to circumvent Jernigan's move. Exper - ience indicates that votes will split along party lines, upholding the veto. It is unfortunate that the Task Force may become a casuality of political manuevering. The organization was originally estab - lished by a city-wide ballot proposal that netted approval from 61 percent of the voters. This indicates a level of support dramatically higher than that garnered by Mayor Jernigan in the last election. Yet, Jernigan and his fellow Republicans have seen fit to ignore or even nullify the will of the electorate on this issue. If these elected officials are truly represent - atives of the full Ann Arbor community and not narrow con - stituencies, they should act to implement the clear mandate of that community. Curiously, Jernigan has ques - tioned that mandate. "If they want to set up a political committee, let them put it on the ballot. I think it may be viewed differently this time...Let Dave (DeVarti, D-Fourth Ward) and Seth (Hirshorn, D- Second Ward) run with it" said Jernigan. Jernigan's comments allude to the vulnerability Demo - cratic candidates may face if they support the Task Force while running in the traditionally Republican Second and Fourth Wards. Certainly, the continuing support of Ann Arbor voters for the Task Force is uncontestable. If anything, in the wake of Contra - gate, people indicate increased allegiance to the principles upon which the Task Force was founded. Ironically, the politically- beleagured Task Force is being attacked by opponents for having become "too political." The Task Force has held vigils for the victims of Contra attacks; raised money for direct aid to Ann Arbor's- "sister city" in Nicaragua; and arranged visits to and from that city. The Task Force is as "political" now as it was atits inception. The ballot proposal which voters so strongly supported was highly political in content. The proposal contained language which clearly called for an end to U.S. 4 intervention in Central America. By asking members of the Task Force to pursue a relationship with a Nicaraguan city while ignoring that its people are under attack, the Republican faction in city government has invited others to operate in that anesthetic vacuum which has traditionally been the politician's domain. If the Republicans on city council emerge from that vacuum to assess honestly the mandate of Ann Arbor and their duty to it, they will desist from imposing their minority will upon the electorate. Hartbreaking and muckraking 4 A LTTLE OVER A week ago, Gary Hart dropped out of the race for the Democratic presidential nomination amidst charges that he had extra - marital affairs. Some of these allegations are dubious although the Washington Post may have docu - mented at least one such sexual affair last December. But the more important issue is whether or not the private life of a presidential candidate should be an issue in elections or fair grounds for media exposds. In a time when campaign issues have become vague and peripheral, we cannot afford to focus on things that have no bearing on running a country. Instead of debating foreign policy in Nicaragua and South Africa; methods of dealing with poverty and hunger; trade with Japan; negligence of the Environ - mental Protection Agency, the media has been debating whether Hart has had a sexual encounter with Donna Rice and other women. While this may be an appropriate issue when a person is trying to get married, it by no means deserves attention when the person is trying to become president. Sexual affairs have not been uncommon in the White House. Some of our most-loved presidents, John F. Kennedy, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Franklin D. Roosevelt have all been documented to have had affairs while in office, yet their performances as president were certainly not affected. However, Hart does deserve criticism for his ill-handling of the matter which greatly contributed to his downfall as candidate. Hart dared the media to "Follow me around..." to prove that rumors about his "womanizing" were false. Hart probably exhibited bad judgement, if nothing else, considering that he was under scutiny. In addition, Hart told the press his marriage is based on, "...fidelity and loyalty," and that adultery is "immoral." The next day, the Washington Post revealed that Hart had an earlier affair with another woman in Washington. Hart effectively ruined his own credibility by bragging about his marriage and morality, and conse - quently was forced to drop out of the race. While Hart handled the matter ineffectively, the Miami Herald deserves even more criticism because of its shoddy journalism. The Miami Herald reported that Rice spent the night of May 1 with Hart. This conclusion was based on a stakeout of Hart's home although reporters failed to keep all exits under surveillance during crucial times, giving credence to Hart's story that Rice left his home soon after arriving. The irresponsibility of the reporters and the bad judge - ment of the Herald's editors to print an incomplete and possibly incorrect story sparked the needless controversy over Hart's private life. Stains on a public figure's background should not come as a surprise to Americans. We should not demand that candidates uphold unreasonable standards that most of us could not live. Gary Hart's shot for presidency has been sacrificed not because he is incapable of fulfilling presidential duties, but because of stories about his infidelity. It is not open season on anyone who might step into the spotlight. The private lives of candidates should not be made public knowledge by the press 4 unless such information has a bearing on the office sought.