The Definition of a "Mensch"

It has long been a political truism in this country that "politics ain't beanbag." In recent years the Bush political operation and the GOP congressional leadership have refined the tactic of "smear your opponent" to an art form; these guys (there are very few "gals" in their operation) make Richard Nixon -- at his worst -- look like Little Lord Fauntleroy. Many in the Democratic party bemoan the fact that we don't play politics as blood sport like our GOP counterparts.

Now Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid has come out and apologized to some of his Republican colleagues for a report his staff authored titled "Republican Abuse of Power." Reid, who has been the subject of much tougher criticism from the GOP smear machine, explained that he regretted the "tone of this document and the decision to single out individual senators for criticism in it."

Many -- including progressives -- in the chattering class have seized on this incident to point out how badly the Democratic leadership is being out-maneuvered by their Republican counterparts who never seem to apologize, no matter how outrageous or even immoral their charges are.

Sure politics is often about sharp elbows. But we don't have to sink to their level and argue that the ends always justify the means. Senator Reid has rightly gone after President Bush for his politics of personal attack. His apology demonstrates to all of us that he has more integrity in his little finger than a barrel full of Republican leadership. Isn't it about time we start rewarding -- and stop complaining about -- integrity in our political leadership?