Hiltzik: The missing quality that defines the flaws in our business and government leadership

The best lesson I learned during my formative years in journalism came from the editor at my first daily newspaper job, Doug Turner of the late Buffalo Courier-Express.

I had told him that the councilmen at the suburban town I was covering were trying to bully me out of writing a critical story. Turner, who had spent a career covering local- and state-level politicians, replied, "Bully them back. They'll fold. These guys have no character."

kAm%92E >@>6?E 42>6 324< E@ >6 2 4@FA=6 @7 H6623=6 3=@8 k2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^E2=<:?8A@:?ED>6>@]4@>QmE2=<:?8A@:?ED>6>@]4@>k^2m] (C:E:?8 2 76H 52JD 27E6C >2DD:G6 =2J@77D 2E E96 (2D9:?8E@? !@DE[ |2CD92== @3D6CG65 @7 E96 A2A6CVD AF3=:D96C[ (:== {6H:D[ 2?5 :ED @H?6C[ y677 q6K@D[ E92E E96:C 72:=FC6 QE@ 6G6? D9@H FA[ =:E6C2==J @C 7:8FC2E:G6=J[ @? 2 52J @7 56G2DE2E:?8 4FED 6A:E@>:K6D E96 AC@7@F?5 =24< @7 492C24E6C 2?5 244@F?E23:=:EJ E92E :D D@ 4@>>@?A=246 E@52J H:E9:? E96 p>6C:42? 6=:E6]Qk^Am

kAm%96C6 H2D E92E H@C5 282:?i Qr92C24E6C]Qk^Am

kAm|2CD92== AFE 9:D 7:?86C @? E96 7=2H E92E 6I:DED 2>@?8 @FC 3FD:?6DD 2?5 8@G6C?>6?E =6256CD] xEVD E96 23D6?46 @7 492C24E6C]k^Am

kAm%96 BF2=:EJ 42? 36 92C5 E@ 567:?6 AC64:D6=J[ 3FE H6 <?@H :E H96? H6 D66 :E[ E@ A2C2A9C2D6 $FAC6>6 r@FCE yFDE:46 !@EE6C $E6H2CEVD A6CD@?2=[ DF3;64E:G6 E6DE 7@C @3D46?:EJ :? 2 72>@FD `hec 42D6] (6 42? 2=D@ <?@H :E 3J :ED 23D6?46]k^Am

kAm!9:=@D@A96CD[ >:?:DE6CD[ ;F586D[ ?@G6=:DED 2?5 9:DE@C:2?D 92G6 2== E2<6? 2 4C24< 2E 567:?:?8 Q492C24E6C]Q ~7E6? E96J D62C49 7@C :E :? D@>6 G2C:6EJ @7 >@C2= ECFE9 W2?@E96C BF2=:EJ E92E 42? 36 92C5 E@ 567:?6X]k^Am

kAmxE 42? 6?4@>A2DD DE62572DE?6DD :? E96 7246 @7 25G6CD:EJ[ D6=7=6DD?6DD[ D6=7\D24C:7:46[ 9@?6DEJ 2?5 :?E68C:EJ :? @?6VD 562=:?8D H:E9 @E96CD] xE 5@6D?VE 56>2?5 E@ 36 5:DA=2J65 :? AF3=:4] ~? E96 4@?EC2CJ[ D@>6E:>6D :E F?7@=5D @FE @7 E96 AF3=:4 6J6j D6=7\23?682E:@? 42? 36 2 C6=:23=6 >2C<6C @7 492C24E6C]k^Am

kAm{:E6C2CJ >2DE6CD 92G6 8C2AA=65 H:E9 567:?:?8 492C24E6C] %@=DE@JVD 8C62E ?@G6=D[ Q(2C 2?5 !6246Q 2?5 Qp??2 z2C6?:?2[Q 2C6 2== 23@FE E96 ;@FC?6JD @7 9:D >2;@C 7:8FC6D 7C@> D6=7\5@F3E 2?5 D6=7:D9?6DD E@ 2 9:896C >@C2= A=2?6[ ?@E 2=H2JD DF446DD7F==J — 96 9:>D6=7 H2D D@ 5@F3E7F= 23@FE H96E96C 96 925 244FC2E6=J EC2465 E96:C EC2;64E@C:6D E92E E@H2C5 E96 6?5 @7 9:D =:76 96 5:D2G@H65 E9@D6 8C62E H@C<D 2D :?256BF2E6]k^Am

kAmu2F=<?6C 7@F?5 :E :? E96 A2E:6?E[ DE62572DE s:=D6J @7 Q%96 $@F?5 2?5 E96 uFCJ[Q 2?5 :? 9:D 8C62E6DE ?@G6=[ Qp3D2=@>[ p3D2=@>PQ 96 D9@H65 9@H :ED 23D6?46 =65 :?6I@C23=J E@ E96 CF:? @7 %9@>2D $FEA6?]k^Am

kAmr92C24E6C 6>6C86D :? 25G6CD:EJ] p >@DE C646?E 6I2>A=6 4@>6D 7C@> x=:2 |2=:?:?[ E96 p>6C:42? 7:8FC6 D<2E6C H9@D6 9@A6D 7@C 2? :?5:G:5F2= 8@=5 >652= :? E96 ~=J>A:4D[ H9:49 925 366? C682C565 2D 2 AC6@C52:?65 :?6G:E23:=:EJ 6G2A@C2E65 :? 2 >:DE2<6\=256? C@FE:?6] r@>:?8 @77 E96 :46[ |2=:?:? 7@CE9C:89E=J 4@?8C2EF=2E65 E96 H:??6C[ |:<92:= $92:5@C@G @7 z2K2<9DE2?[ 2D :7 E@ 4@>>F?:42E6 E92E $92:5@C@G H@? E96 AC:K6 7C@> 9:D @H? 677@CED[ ?@E 7C@> |2=:?:?VD 72:=FC6] %96 6?4@F?E6C D:8?2=65 E92E |2=:?:? H:== C6>2:? 2 >2;@C 7:8FC6 :? E96 DA@CE 7@C J62CD E@ 4@>6]k^Am

kAmu@C FD E@52J[ E96 E6C> Q492C24E6CQ 2==@HD FD E@ 2G@:5 F?AC@7:E23=6 5632E6 @G6C 9@H E@ 567:?6 E96 4FCC6?E 25>:?:DEC2E:@?] xD :E QC24:DEQn Qr@CCFAEQn Q|6?524:@FDnQ pAA=J:?8 E9@D6 ;F58>6?ED :?G:E6D A2CE:D2? BF:33=:?8[ 3642FD6 244FD2E:@?D @7 C24:D>[ 4@CCFAE:@? 2?5 =J:?8 42? 36 4@=@C65 3J E96 6J6 @7 E96 369@=56C] qFE E@ D2J E96 25>:?:DEC2E:@? 42? 36 567:?65 2D 2 =24< @7 492C24E6C — E96 E6C> DF3DF>6D 2== E9@D6 @E96C ;F58>6?ED[ 2?5 :D >F49 92C56C E@ BF6DE:@?]k^Am

kAmpD y@D9 |2CD92== @3D6CG65[ 23F?52?E 6I2>A=6D @7 E96 D:?8F=2C =24< @7 492C24E6C :? @FC ?2E:@?2= =6256CD :D G:G:5=J @? 5:DA=2J] {6EVD E2<6 2 =@@<]k^Am

kAm(92EVD 2 36EE6C H2J E@ 56D4C:36 pEE@C?6J v6?6C2= !2> q@?5:VD 2AA62C2?46 367@C6 2 w@FD6 4@>>:EE66 =2DE H66<[ 5FC:?8 H9:49 D96 EC:65 E@ 6G256 BF6DE:@?D 23@FE 96C 72:=FC6 E@ C6=62D6 5@4F>6?ED C6=2E65 E@ y677C6J tADE6:?VD 562=:?8D 3J 7:?86C\A@:?E:?8 2E 96C BF6DE:@?6CD[ <66A:?8 96C 324< EFC?65 E@ E96 tADE6:? G:4E:>D :? E96 C@@> 369:?5 96C 2?5 4:E:?8 E96 s@H y@?6D :?5FDEC:2= 2G6C286VD DA:<6 23@G6 d_[___ 2D 2 4@F?E6C2C8F>6?E E@ 96C @H? :?256BF24:6D[ 2D 2 D:?8F=2C =24< @7 492C24E6Cnk^Am

kAm(96? E96 AC66?:?8 s676?D6 $64C6E2CJ !6E6 w68D6E9 =2F?4965 2 42>A2:8? E@ 56>@E6 E96 C6E:C65 p:C u@C46 42AE2:? 2?5 4FCC6?E pC:K@?2 $6?] |2C< z6==J[ 2 4@>32E G6E6C2? 2?5 7@C>6C 2DEC@?2FE[ 3642FD6 @7 z6==JVD C6>:?56C E@ 24E:G6 D6CG:46>6? E92E E96J ?665 ?@E 7@==@H :==682= @C56CD W2 DE2E6>6?E w68D6E9 9:>D6=7 92D >256X 96 H2D 5:DA=2J:?8 D:?8F=2C =24< @7 492C24E6C — 2?5 F?56CD4@C:?8 z6==JVD @H? 23F?52?46 @7 492C24E6C]k^Am

kAm%96 A6@A=6 @7 |:??62A@=:D 92G6 5:DA=2J65 C6>2C<23=6 4@>>F?2= 492C24E6C :? E96:C C6=6?E=6DD 2?5 A62467F= 32EE=6 282:?DE E96 8@G6C?>6?EVD :?4FCD:@? :?E@ E96:C AC:G2E6 =:76] (9@ 92D 5:DA=2J65 2 =24< @7 492C24E6Cn w@>6=2?5 $64FC:EJ $64C6E2CJ zC:DE: }@6>[ 96C 96?49>2? vC68 q@G:?@[ 2?5 @E96C 5676?56CD @7 E9:D @A6?=J 4@F?E6C76:E 42>A2:8? 282:?DE :==682= :>>:8C2?ED :? E96:C 4:EJ]k^Am

kAmr@?8C6DD :D 2 9:G6 @7 =@H\492C24E6C A6C7@C>2?46[ 7F== @7 :?5:G:5F2=D H9@ 92G6 DFAA=2?E65 E96:C C6DA@?D:3:=:E:6D E@ E96 r@?DE:EFE:@? 2?5 E96 AF3=:4 :?E6C6DE H:E9 7=28C2?E 42C66C:D>]k^Am

kAmp>@?8 E9@D6 2E E96 E@A @7 E96 =:DE :D $6?] q:== r2DD:5J[ #{2][ 2 A9JD:4:2? H9@ 42DE E96 564:5:?8 G@E6 E@ 4@?7:C> #@36CE u] z6??65J yC] 2D D64C6E2CJ @7 w62=E9 2?5 wF>2? $6CG:46D[ 56DA:E6 z6??65JVD 9:DE@CJ @7 2?E:\G244:?2E:@? 24E:G:EJ] r2DD:5J 92D ?6G6C 256BF2E6=J C6DA@?565 E@ >J BF6DE:@? 23@FE 9:D DFAA@CE 7@C z6??65J]k^Am

kAmu24:?8 2 E@F89 AC:>2CJ 492==6?86[ r2DD:5J D9@H65 C646?E=J E92E 9:D =24< @7 492C24E6C 6IE6?5D 36J@?5 >2EE6CD @7 962=E942C6 C68F=2E:@? H96? 96 AC2:D65 !C6D:56?E %CF>A 7@C E2<:?8 5@H? 2? @G6CE=J C24:DE D@4:2= >65:2 A@DE 2EE24<:?8 E96 ~32>2D[ HC:E:?8 @? )[ 3:K2CC6=J[ E92E %CF>A 92D Q>256 D:8?:7:42?E :?C@25D H:E9 9:D @FEC6249 :? E96 p7C:42? p>6C:42? 4@>>F?:EJ]]]] w:D A@DE D6?E E96 HC@?8 >6DD286 56DA:E6 9@H :E >2J 92G6 366? @C:8:?2==J :?E6?565]Qk^Am

kAmx? 3FD:?6DD[ H9@ 92D D9@H? 2 =24< @7 492C24E6Cn %96C6VD pAA=6 rt~ %:> r@@<[ H9@ 8:7E65 %CF>A H:E9 2 4CJDE2= A=2BF6 @? 2 8@=5 32D6 2D A2CE @7 9:D 677@CE E@ D64FC6 2? 6I6>AE:@? 7@C pAA=6 7C@> %CF>AVD E2C:77D]k^Am

kAmr@F?E E96 4@CA@C2E6 6I64FE:G6D H9@ 92G6 D9@H? E96:C =24< @7 492C24E6C 3J 3@H:?8 E@ C:89E\H:?8 AC6DDFC6 E@ 232?5@? E96:C 4@>>:E>6?ED E@ 5:G6CD:EJ[ 6BF2=:EJ 2?5 :?4=FD:@? — J@F <?@H[ Qstx]Q p ?@E23=6 6I46AE:@?i r@DE4@[ H9:49 92D >2:?E2:?65 :ED 5:G6CD:EJ AC@8C2>D :? E96 7246 @7 A2CE:D2? 324<=2D9[ 2?5 :>AC@G65 :ED 3@EE@> =:?6 2D 2 C6DF=E] %92EVD 2 C6>:?56C E92E @?6 42? 5@ H6== H9:=6 5@:?8 8@@5[ 2 =6DD@? :? E96 G:CEF6D @7 492C24E6C]k^Am

kAmQ~FC 677@CED 2E 5:G6CD:EJ[ 6BF:EJ 2?5 :?4=FD:@? C6>:?5 2?5 C6:?7@C46 H:E9 6G6CJ@?6 2E @FC r@>A2?J E96 :>A@CE2?46 @7 4C62E:?8 @AA@CEF?:E:6D 7@C 2==[Q r@DE4@ D2:5 :? :ED a_ac AC@IJ DE2E6>6?E[ AFD9:?8 324< 282:?DE 2 AC@A@D65 D92C69@=56C C6D@=FE:@? :?D:?F2E:?8 E92E r@DE4@VD stx AC@8C2> Q9@=5D =:E:82E:@?[ C6AFE2E:@?2= 2?5 7:?2?4:2= C:DA2?J[ 2?5 E96C67@C6 7:?2?4:2= C:D66E:?8 =2DE J62C]Xk^Am

kAm%96? E96C6 2C6 E96 5:C64E@CD 2?5 6I64FE:G6D @7 A92C>246FE:42= 4@>A2?:6D H9@ AC:46 E96:C AC@5F4ED 7@C >2I:>2= AC@7:ED H:E9@FE 42C:?8 >F49 23@FE E96 :>A24E @7 F?277@C523:=:EJ @? E96 A2E:6?ED H9@D6 =:G6D 56A6?5 @? E9@D6 AC@5F4ED] q24< :? E96 a`D[ 7@C :?DE2?46[ 6I64FE:G6D 2E v:=625 $4:6?46D A@?56C65 9@H >F49 E@ 492C86 7@C $@G2=5:[ :ED >:C24=6 4FC6 7@C 96A2E:E:D r]k^Am

kAmpD x C6A@CE65 2E E96 E:>6[ E96J 4@?4=F565 v:=625 4@F=5 >2<6 2 AC@7:E 3J 492C8:?8 Sdd[___ A6C `a\H66< EC62E>6?E] qFE E96J 564:565 E@ 492C86 Sgc[___[ H9:49 H@F=5 56=:G6C 9:896C AC@7:ED 7C@> 76H6C A2E:6?ED]k^Am

kAm%96J C67FD65 E@ @776C 2?JE9:?8 3FE >:?:>2= 5:D4@F?ED E@ 3:8 :?DFC6CD 2?5 |65:42:5 AC@8C2>D[ 6G6? E9@F89 E96J 24<?@H=65865 E92E E9@FD2?5D @7 A2E:6?ED >:89E 92G6 E@ 8@ H:E9@FE E96 EC62E>6?ED] Q{6EVD ?@E 7@=5 E@ 25G@424J AC6DDFC6 … H92E6G6C E96 9625=:?6D[Q @?6 E@A 6I64FE:G6 4@F?D6=65 9:D 4@==628F6D]k^Am

kAmpD 2 9:DE@C:42= 4@F?E6CH6:89E[ 4@?D:56C y@?2D $2=<[ E96 :?G6?E@C @7 E96 A@=:@ G244:?6[ H9@ C67FD65 E@ A2E6?E :E] pD<65 3J t5H2C5 #] |FCC@H :? `hdd H9@ @H?65 E96 C:89ED E@ E96 A@=:@ G244:?6[ 96 C6A=:65[ Q%96 A6@A=6[ x H@F=5 D2J] ]]] %96C6 :D ?@ A2E6?E] r@F=5 J@F A2E6?E E96 DF?nQk^Am

kAm#646?E 9:DE@CJ AC@G:56D FD H:E9 ?F>6C@FD 42D6D @7 :?5:G:5F2=D H9@ 92G6 D9@H? E96:C 492C24E6C 2E E96 4@DE @7 E96:C A9JD:42= 2?5 7:?2?4:2= H6==\36:?8] p>@?8 E96 96C@6D @7 E96 4:G:= C:89ED >@G6>6?E :? E96 `he_D H6C6 >2?J H9@ =@DE E96:C =:G6D :? E96 677@CE[ DF49 2D |2CE:? {FE96C z:?8 yC] 2?5 |6582C tG6CD[ @C DF776C65 D6G6C6 A9JD:42= :?;FCJ[ DF49 2D E96 =2E6 y@9? {6H:D]k^Am

kAmx 2=H2JD 25>:C65 7@C>6C r2=:7@C?:2 v@G] y6CCJ qC@H? 7@C 9:D 56G@E:@? E@ AF3=:4 D6CG:46[ 2 ECF6 2G2E2C @7 492C24E6C] x? a`[ H96? 96 H2D CF??:?8 7@C 9:D E9:C5 8F36C?2E@C:2= E6C>[ 9:D #6AF3=:42? 492==6?86C[ E96 3FD:?6DD >28?2E6 |68 (9:E>2?[ A=2465 E96 7:C:?8 @7 E9@FD2?5D @7 AF3=:4 6>A=@J66D E@ 4FE H2DE67F= DA6?5:?8 2E E96 7@C67C@?E @7 96C A=2E7@C>]k^Am

kAmqC@H? 4@F=5 92G6 ;@:?65 E96 49@CFD @7 4C:E:4D @7 8@G6C?>6?E QH2DE6[ 7C2F5 2?5 23FD6Q — 2 A6C6??:2==J A@AF=2C E2<6 7@C A@=:E:4:2?D — 3FE 96 49@D6 E96 @AA@D:E6 A2E9] %96D6 A6@A=6 925 56G@E65 E96:C =:G6D E@ AF3=:4 D6CG:46[ qC@H? A@:?E65 @FE 5FC:?8 2 5632E6 H:E9 (9:E>2?] %96J 925 4@>>:EE65 E@ E6249:?8 @FC 49:=5C6?[ 4=62?:?8 FA @FC 2:C 2?5 H2E6C[ 9@=5:?8 5:D9@?6DE 3FD:?6DD6D E@ 244@F?E] %92E H2D 2? 6IAC6DD:@? @7 492C24E6C]k^Am

kAmqC@H?[ :?5665[ 5:DA=2J65 492C24E6C E9C@F89@FE 9:D =@?8 A@=:E:42= 42C66Ci u:7E66? J62CD 27E6C D6CG:?8 EH@ E6C>D 2D 8@G6C?@C[ :? `hhg[ 96 C2? 7@C >2J@C @7 ~2<=2?5[ DFC6=J @?6 @7 E96 >@DE 492==6?8:?8 2?5 E92?<=6DD ;@3D :? r2=:7@C?:2 A@=:E:4D — 2?5 H@?] w6 ?6G6C[ 6G6C 2A@=@8:K65 7@C 36:?8 2 QA@=:E:4:2?[Q 3FE D2H A@=:E:4D 2D 2 ?@3=6 42==:?8]k^Am

kAm%96 D62C49 7@C 492C24E6C 2>@?8 @FC A@=:E:4:2?D 2?5 3FD:?6DD =6256CD 4@F=5 62D:=J EFC? :?E@ 2 A2C=@C 82>6 — 5C2H 2 =:?6 5@H? 2 A:646 @7 A2A6C[ H:E9 Qw2D r92C24E6CQ @? @?6 D:56 2?5 Q}@ 492C24E6CQ @? E96 @E96C[ 2?5 4@>A:=6 EH@ 2?E:A@562? =:DED] qFE E96C6VD >@C6 2E DE2<6 E92? 6?E6CE2:?:?8 @FCD6=G6D]k^Am

kAmxE H2D ?@E 2=H2JD D@] %96 de D:8?6CD @7 E96 s64=2C2E:@? @7 x?56A6?56?46 <?6H E96:C 6IAC6DD:@? @7 492C24E6C A=2465 E96> 2E >@CE2= C:D<] %92EVD H9J E96 5@4F>6?E 6?5D H:E9 E96:C >FEF2= A=6586 @7 Q@FC {:G6D[ @FC u@CEF?6D 2?5 @FC D24C65 w@?@C]Q x7 H6 2C6 E@ AC6D6CG6 @FC C6AF3=:4 2?5 @FC 64@?@>J[ C6DE@C:?8 >6? 2?5 H@>6? @7 492C24E6C E@ @FC =6256CD9:A :D 2? :?5:DA6?D23=6 8@2=]k^Am

kAm0000k^Am

kAmk6>m|:4926= w:=EK:< :D 2 4@=F>?:DE 7@C E96 {@D p?86=6D %:>6D]k^6>mk^Am

kAmk6>m000k^6>mk^Am

kAmk6>mU4@AJja_ae {@D p?86=6D %:>6D] ':D:E 2E k2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^=2E:>6D]4@>Qm=2E:>6D]4@>k^2m] s:DEC:3FE65 3J %C:3F?6 r@?E6?E p86?4J[ {{r]k^6>mk^Am

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.