Balance of Power

    Flanked by Paul Harshman and others in the Republican leadership, he stood in the rotunda of the Capitol. None of us, he said, can know what Mr. Dane intended to convey to Mr. Callister, and its precise connection to the President's own admission of his personal conduct prior to assuming office.

    "Do remind us," Clayton said caustically. "Some may have forgotten."

    Only Mr. Dane knows, Fasano continued. But we cannot be blind to the implications of what we learned today. The blackmail Mr. Callister suggests has

no place in our public life. However committed we may be to the protection of unborn life—and, for that matter, gun rights—we in the Republican Party utterly repudiate such despicable tactics.

    "But not their benefits," Kerry said softly.

    Senator Fasano, Kate Snow of CNN called out. How does Ms. Dash's revelation affect the prospects of overriding the President's veto?

    It's too soon to tell, Kate. Frankly, we're still absorbing this. But I can tell

you what logic suggests, at least to me. Fasano's expression was grave, his tone measured. This is, as I've said, a sad chapter in our civic life. But—just as Mr. Dane's alleged conversation should not reflect on the four million members of the SSA—Mr. Callister's charges have no more to do with the merits of the Civil Justice Reform Act than does the private life of the President and First Lady.

    Gun immunity is only a small portion of the comprehensive and badly

needed reform of our legal system contained in this important bill. Whatever our

problems—including gun violence—in my opinion the current culture of litigationmakes them worse. I intend to press for an override as vigorously as before.

    Having delivered his message, Fasano left the podium.

    "The sonofabitch is smart," Kit told the President grudgingly. "He's put all the daylight he needed between himself and Dane. But he wants to keep the SSA in his debt, and their votes and money in his party's pocket. And if he can override your veto after this, he's king of the Hill."

    "Not on my watch." Kerry felt both anger and exhilaration, the freedom of knowing who was responsible, and what he needed to do. "I've got some senators to call."

    "What about a statement?" Kit interposed.

    Kerry smiled. "I'll take care of it myself."

* * *

    At six o'clock in the east, sufficient time to make the evening news, the President appeared as promised in the White House press room. Fasano, Majority Whip Dave Ruckles, and their leadership team watched on CNN.

    Earlier today, the President began, Senator Fasano suggested that "none of us can know what Mr. Dane intended to convey to Mr. Callister." For myself, I find statements like "I have personal information that the President and First Lady can never survive," and "the President can be handled if he gets in the way" less ambiguous than does the senator.