A Distortion of Democracy

(November 10, 2007) The turmoil in Pakistan presents somewhat of a philosophical dilemma: Is allowing a political party that espouses non-democratic rule to run in an election democracy?

The tumult over Musharraf's declaration of emergency rule overshadows a far more serious issue. His political opposition is an ever-growing militant Islamic party, sympathetic to the Taliban and al Qaeda. Is giving this party a chance to take power really democracy?

Somewhat enigmatic is Condoleezza Rice's statement, prompting Musharraf to cancel emergency rule and allow elections to proceed: "The U.S. has made clear it does not support extra-constitutional measures, because those measures take Pakistan away from the path of democracy and civilian rule." If the opposition wins, will that put Pakistan on a "path of democracy and civilian rule?" Highly doubtful. So at what point should we start worrying about a militant Islamic state with nuclear weapons: when they win the election, when they have their inaugural ball, or when the missiles start flying?

We seem to hold other countries to rules of "democracy" that we do not accept in our political system. The privilege of holding public office has been denied in this country countless of times for reasons far less egregious than having connections to terrorism.

In 2001, the nomination of Linda Chavez as Labor Secretary was withdrawn when it was revealed she paid an illegal immigrant to do housework. In 1993, the candidacies for Attorney General, Zoe Baird and Judge Kimba M. Wood, were withdrawn because of their hiring practices of nannies. The nomination of Bernard Kerik as Secretary of Homeland Security was withdrawn in 2004 because of a shady background. Richard Nixon, who was democratically elected as President in 1972, was brought down because of shady practices.