Cut Rudy Some Slack

As Bridget has wryly observed, I'm not typically the first to come to Rudy Giuliani's defense. But on one issue I think he's getting a bum deal -- this flap over Bernard Kerik.

Kerik, you'll recall, was Giuliani's Police Commissioner in New York after a certain other PC by the name of William Bratton got the boot after it became clear that his and Rudy's egos could no longer fit in the same metropolis. Later, when Tom Ridge stepped aside as the nation's director of Homeland Security, Giuliani suggested that Bush pick Kerik as his replacement -- a suggestion Bush gladly accepted, until corruption charges surfaced against him.

Now Rudy's GOP presidential rival John McCain and some in the media have tried to use Kerik against him, as though Kerik's crimes have any bearing on Giuliani's leadership. But the truth is, his alleged corruption aside -- which neither Giuliani nor anyone else knew about at the time -- Kerik did an admirable job in NYC. That he seemingly turned out to be a crook is not something for which Giuliani bears any responsibility. (If he does, then let's see Hillary Clinton take responsibility for Sandy Berger.)

There are plenty of good reasons to fault Giuliani, but this isn't one of them. This is a cheap shot.