In fact, the converse is true: At a time when the United States has been called on for a level of moral leadership, vision and inspiration not seen since World War II, we cannot afford to dissemble about crimes against humanity.

We still have a problem here in this country of access to airports and airplanes [for terrorists].

And when they have done their job, America must look after and honor its veterans.

But even race-neutral policies and recruitment efforts designed to achieve greater diversity are, in the end, not race neutral.

What disturbed me most, frankly, about the Rod Rosenstein memo, is the fact it was addressed to the attorney general. The attorney general was supposed to have recused himself from anything involving Russia. And here he is recommending the firing of the top cop doing the Russia investigation, in clear violation of what he had, the attorney general, had committed to doing.

An America that inspires hope in its ideals must complement an America that inspires awe in its strength.

We need Democrats and Republicans in Congress to work together to fashion a very comprehensive pushback to Russia, not just the cyber-hacking, but their bribery of officials in Europe, their social media campaign, their overt media campaign.