Editorial: Why should governor boost Bush?

Friday, Sept. 12, 2003 | 6:05 a.m.

WEEKEND EDITION: Sept. 14, 2003

Gov. Kenny Guinn came to a fork in the proverbial political road, and, to our disappointment, he chose the one more traveled. We're talking about his decision to actively support the re-election campaign of President George Bush. Guinn chose the easier path of supporting his party rather than the more difficult path of not helping Bush because of the president's stance on Yucca Mountain.

Guinn, an honorary co-chairman of Bush's re-election campaign in Nevada, told a Reno TV station that his support for Bush transcends Yucca Mountain. He said he could "very easily" be a part of Bush's re-election campaign here. "I'm looking at the holistic body of an individual and so that's the reason," Guinn said. In our view, no matter what other qualities Guinn may see in him, Bush put politics over a promise to Nevada. As a candidate, and later as president, Bush promised that science, not politics, would dictate any decision on Yucca Mountain. There has never been any scientific consensus on Yucca's suitability. Yet in February 2002, Bush approved Yucca Mountain and used his influence to gain the approval of Congress that July.

We wish Guinn and Attorney General Brian Sandoval, who is chairman of the state's re-election team for Bush, had taken their cues from a response by Nevada Democrats in October 1988. The presidential campaign that year pitted Republican Vice President George H.W. Bush against Massachusetts Gov. Michael Dukakis. Campaigning in Minnesota, Dukakis threw his support behind the congressional decision to designate Yucca Mountain as the sole site for study. He reversed his earlier position, which had favored reopening the site-selection process to consider other states, including Minnesota. An immediate rift arose between the Dukakis campaign and top Nevada Democrats, including then-Gov. Richard Bryan, who was waging his own race for U.S. Senate. Bryan distanced himself from the Dukakis campaign because he disagreed with Dukakis' position.

We have supported Guinn when he has spoken out against Yucca Mountain and when he committed state resources to a legal fight against it. That's his proper role. But Nevada's governor should not actively campaign for a president who would force the state to endure a future shrouded in nuclear waste.