Kerry Shows Class

Going unreported in the news about the election is the degree to which Democrat John Kerry showed uncharacteristic dignity and class in conceding the race to George W. Bush.

Recent examples of the best the Democratic party has to offer have been less than inspiring. After being impeached by the House of Representatives, many expected First Philanderer Bill Clinton to resign out of respect for the office and the American people. Instead, he fought on, dragging the country through his weaseling testimony over the definition of "is", his questionable understanding of the proper use of a cigar, and the fact that his victim apparently doesn't do her dry cleaning very often.

By contrast, Republican Richard Nixon -- hardly an example of upstanding moral character -- recognized that the country wouldn't be served by the spectre of its president being dragged through impeachment proceedings and resigned.

When Democrat Al Gore lost the 2000 election to George W. Bush, he pouted and fumed and used the courts to cause election laws to be bent or broken in a failed attempt to find more votes. It took a decision of the Supreme Court to get him to stop. This decision didn't hand the election to his opponent, but rather upheld the laws of Florida, which had already given the election properly and legally to Bush.

Ironically, it was Richard Nixon again who set the example for how to handle a close election. In 1960, only 100,000 votes separated Nixon and Democrat John F. Kennedy. Some urged Nixon to contest the election, but he responded:

I could think of no worse example for nations abroad, who for the first time were trying to put free electoral procedures into effect, than that of the United States wrangling over the results of our presidential election, and even suggesting that the presidency itself could be stolen by thievery at the ballot box.

By recognizing the reality of his situation and choosing not to contest the will of the people in Ohio, John Kerry demonstrated character above and beyond his contemporaries in the Democrat party, especially those stained by close contact with Bill Clinton.