Editor's note: Ted Wilson is a personal friend and campaign adviser to Mayor Rocky Anderson.
Principle sometimes ends where inconvenience begins. In 1803, Thomas Jefferson, the vigorous defender of the strict interpretation of the Constitution of the United States, stretched the Constitution beyond his principles to get a real estate deal he couldn't pass up. Napoleon, broke after his many wars, was forced to sell the entirety of Louisiana for a mere $15 million. Jefferson refused to pay homage to foolish principle and purchased what was to become the major piece of western America.
Harry Truman, president of the United States, decided to forgo the principle of only using the atomic bomb in response to an attack on American soil when he authorized the bombing of two Japanese cities. But in so doing, he undoubtedly saved many more people by ending World War II.
Today, the White House, the very institution that gains laughs when it says "I'm from the government and I am here to help you," is proposing spending $1.5 billion over the next five years to give states funds to promote marriage. Suddenly conservatives in the Bush administration have found virtue in big government. We will see what our state does with that money. Will there be tax money wasted on billboards on the freeway that say, "Marriage is great: a friendly message from the state of Utah"? But serious counseling of the unmarried during the "magic moment" of childbirth could spawn healthy marriages. Then conservatives embracing a government program would be virtuous.
On the other hand, the Salt Lake City Council rested its case on principle when it said that the previous agreement with The Gateway not to house department stores did not allow them to rezone The Gateway to allow Nordstrom to move there to avoid leaving the city. Though our City Council stuck to principle on the Gateway/Nordstrom matter, many things have changed since the Gateway was first built. It might have been just as reasonable to allow Nordstrom to move. It will take time to judge whether that was a good decision.
There is a joke in town that goes, "If you disagree with Rocky Anderson, wait awhile and he will come around to your point of view." So is Rocky a flip-flop artist or does he have the ability to recognize foolish principle and thus solve problems like the LDS Church plaza affair? The voters will decide on Nov. 4.
Principle is important to political leaders. As they express it, it becomes a kind of truth-in-packaging providing the voting public a confidence in leadership. On the other hand, how long do we want our leaders to hang on to foolish principle?
Politicians need to recognize that principles are subject to change at some point. Certainly, fundamental principles like honesty, transparency, accountability and good basic democratic government cannot be abandoned. But positions on issues can and must change from time to time to allow reason to creep in from changing conditions and the views of the public.
How can we expect our politicians to listen if we do not allow them to change from previous views?
Webb: It is appropriate to discuss the issue of principle with regard to Mayor Rocky Anderson because the guy who was once a high-minded, principle-oriented, liberal ideologue and ACLU attorney has clearly descended into the pragmatic world of politics, embracing the politically expedient and whatever will raise the most campaign cash. So much for principle. It is a descent that many politicians make, but Anderson's was quicker and steeper than most. It must have been an exhilarating ride.
I don't doubt that in his heart, Anderson is still an ACLU attorney with instincts to attack and sue anything that has any scent of religion to it. That was nicely demonstrated when he carelessly and unfairly lashed out at City Council members who voted against Nordstrom, saying they did so because they are Mormons.
But those moments when the Real Rocky comes through are becoming fewer and fewer. Now there is less concern about ideology and more concern about powerful people like The Gateway developers who can raise lots of campaign cash.
I think City Council members based their Nordstrom vote on what they thought was best, given all the circumstances. While the arguments were strong on both sides, and it was a very difficult personal decision for each of them, the fact that the final vote was 6-1 demonstrated the strength of the argument against allowing Nordstrom to move.
It's sometimes hard for average citizens to get enough information about candidates to vote knowledgeably. It therefore makes sense to take into account the recommendations of people who are close to the candidates and work with them regularly.
In that regard, it's interesting to see how the Salt Lake City Council lines up on the mayoral race:
Favoring incumbent Mayor Anderson: 0
Favoring challenger Frank Pignanelli: 5
Not making endorsements: 2
Molonai Hola has been reveling in good publicity ever since he lost in the mayoral primary, with numerous comments about how he performed better than expected and how he has a bright political future ahead.
But even in defeat, Hola had a chance to step up and make a difference in the final election by endorsing one of the two remaining candidates. Instead, he headed for the sidelines and took himself out of the game, squandering his political capital.
That's too bad, especially because he left a lot of loyal supporters wondering where to go. Leadership means finishing the game and guiding one's teammates to the end.
Democrat Ted Wilson, former Salt Lake mayor, is a political consultant. He recently stepped down as director of the Hinckley Institute of Politics at the University of Utah. E-mail: desnewsted@aol.com. Republican LaVarr Webb was policy deputy to Gov. Mike Leavitt and former Deseret News managing editor. He is a political consultant and lobbyist. E-mail: lavarrwebb@msn.com