This is one of those, "there's a diary on the rec list" diaries. The diary implies that because David Gergen was paid by Bain (a fact he has disclosed), that he is somehow being corrupt for working for CNN as an analyst. Unfortunately, there are some very mean spirited comments in the comments section that imply far worse.
Anyone who knows anything about Mr. Gergen, knows that he not only is a Republican, but he sticks up for, and fights for the (what I call country club) principles of the Republican party. I certainly don't agree with most of what he says, but he's not a bat-shit crazy, lying, Tea Party loony, and he deserves more respect than what he's getting here, especially after the time he's put into trying to help both Republican, and Democratic presidents.
If the Republican party were filled with more people like David Gergen, rather than people like Grover Norquist and Rick Santorum, our country would be much better off. I certainly don't want to see progressives turn into a left version of the Tea Party where every person with R behind their name are demonized and border line slandered. We should be better than that, and heaven knows it's getting harder and harder to find Republicans that we can actually hold a reasonable conversation with, and Gergen is one of them.
Below are selected excerpts, from an opinion piece that Mr. Gergen has on CNN this morning.
You can read the entire piece here:
Facts don't support Obama's charges against Romney
First let's look at Mr. Gergens stated relationship with Bain:
I have a past relationship with the top partners at Bain that is both personal and financial. I have worked with them in support of nonprofit organizations such as City Year. I have given a couple of paid speeches for Bain dinners, as I have for many other groups. I was on the board of a for-profit child care company, Bright Horizons, that was purchased by Bain Capital. It was a transaction with financial benefits for all board members and shareholders, including me.
So, yes, I have a bias. ...
When was the last time you hear a Republican actually disclose a financial relationship, and even admit he has a bias?! He could have easily said nothing, or dismissed it.
When asked if President Obama was justified in going after Romney's relationship with Bain, here's what he says:
CNN: Are President Barack Obama and his team right to demand close scrutiny of Romney's leadership at Bain?
Absolutely. Central to Romney's candidacy is his claim that he will be better at creating jobs and growth than Obama because of his experience at Bain. Just as Republicans have relentlessly questioned Obama's record (often to the point of sheer demagoguery), it is absolutely fair to question Romney's.
...
it would be a significant revelation if it turned out that in fact he had still played a meaningful role in the company.
Does this sound like a Rush Limbaugh, or a Fox News regurgitating the Republican talking point of the day?
And now, about Romney's tax returns:
CNN: Should Romney disclose his tax returns and other information relating to off-shore accounts?
Yes, he should. Like many others who have been financially successful and as a result have complicated financial histories, Romney has shown a deep reluctance to disclose anything more than the bare minimum and has only released his tax return for one year. But he is asking voters to entrust him with the most powerful and important office in the world. In return, voters have a right to know who he is and how he got here. Put it out, take whatever hits are coming, and move on. If he has been as honest as all his friends believe, he will ultimately be a stronger candidate and can refocus on what matters: the country.
This quote could have come from most Democratic Pundits.
He goes on to defend Romney's claim that he was not an "active" participant in managing Bain Capital after he left for the Olympics in 1999. Frankly, there is no indication yet, that Romney was "active" in the management of Bain. Mr. Gergen even qualifies much of his argument with "yet", even after he spoke to a couple of Bain's managers from 1999.
I personally believe the Obama campaign has the Bain issue to the point where if the Romney campaign has to quibble over what the word "active" means, they've already lost big.
Even though Mr. Gergen thinks the Obama campaign is being unfair with it's criticisms of Romney over Bain, he's not calling them liars, or demanding they stop talking about Bain, he lays out his points in a respectful manor. Instead of calling Mr. Gergen names or implying he is corrupt, we should be thankful there are still a few Republicans left we can disagree with without it breaking down into a name calling brawl.
So there are a few Republicans left that we can disagree with, and still should show some respect for, and David Gergen is one of them.