THE GOVERNOR'S PODIUM: You can disagree without being disagreeable

By Frank Keating, Governor of Oklahoma <a href="mailto:governor@oklaosf.state.ok.us">e-mail Frank Keating</a> or visit the <a href="http://www.state.ok.us/~governor/"> Governor's </a>website.

Tuesday, January 23rd 2001, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

By Frank Keating, Governor of Oklahoma

e-mail Frank Keating or visit the Governor's website.

On January 20, I traveled to Washington for the inauguration of our new president. Under our Constitution, we swear in a new president every four years. We even did it in 1865, in the middle of a civil war, and in 1933, during the depths of the Depression, and in 1977, after the mess of Watergate.

These inaugurals say something important about America. They say that our country is stronger than the passions of any given moment. They also suggest the need to put politics aside in favor of national unity.

The 2000 election was a bitter and close one. It could easily have gone either way. We all supported one candidate or one party, in the American tradition of free competition and a contest of ideas. But the election is over, and it is time to get on with the nation's business.

Like many Americans, I have been concerned in recent years by the acrimonious tone of our political debates. Hatred and name-calling seem to be the norm in some circles. As we inaugurated a new president, some were already setting out to destroy the character of at least one of his cabinet appointees. Apparently there are some Americans who always put party and ideology ahead of country, and I think that's wrong.

I was not a fan of President Clinton, but I liked the man and respected the office he held. On the several occasions when we met, we were friendly and cordial. I wish him well. You can disagree without being disagreeable. You can criticize without implying that others who hold a different view are dishonorable. I do not agree with Rev. Jesse Jackson on many issues, but I recently welcomed him to our state and to my office and listened to his views. That's good manners.

The politics of personal destruction we see in Washington and in Oklahoma is not good for America. There are good men and women in both parties and at both ends of the political spectrum, and I think it's time to set aside the resentments and outright hatreds that have divided us for far too long.

Debate, yes. But hate, no. We are better than that.