Democrats asked the Attorney-General-hopeful-to-be Michael Mukasey a simple question: Do you think water-boarding is legal?

That’s relevant. Timely. And important in the war on terrorism. And Mukasey wouldn’t give a straight answer. He wants to be in charge of enforcing America’s laws. But if you want to know his view on an issue more controversial then robbing banks – forget it.

President Bush jumped into the debate Texas-style, with both feet, waving the flag of terrorism, declaring, “It doesn’t make any sense to tell the enemy what we’re doing.”

But that’s just as evasive.

When it comes to water-boarding the cats already out of the bag. It’s been argued in The New York Times. Congress. A hundred media outlets. And in case anyone missed the point Vice President Cheney recently told a veterans group that since the CIA deals with the toughest terrorists its interrogation techniques have to be harsher than the armies (which prohibit water-boarding).

The Bush Administration’s view on water-boarding seems simple: It’s unfortunate but necessary. It’s doubtful President Bush would have nominated Judge Mukasey if he disagreed. But then both President Bush and Judge Mukasey failed to level with people. If they think water-boarding is legal – and necessary – they ought to say so. And defend what they believe. Instead Mukasey told the Senate he didn’t have an opinion.

These days we don’t generally expect our politicians to be anymore honest than, say, the average Wall Street investment banker. But some degree of honesty is essential to our national political life. We didn’t get that from Judge Mukasey. Instead we got a dodge.

The Senate should reject Mukasey’s nomination.

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