MISSOURI WATCH: WELCOME TO THE AGE OF RENT-A-POL

Three cheers for Missouri's First Lady, the Honorable Jean Carnahan.

When it became known that a health care group had made arrangements to rent a portion of the first floor of the Executive Mansion, the Lady of the House put her foot down. The word she used was "No!"

In deference to the aspiring renters, all of whom are providers of essential health care, the idea of renting space in the taxpayer owned residence of the chief executive and his family must have sounded smashing. What better place to influence the group's invited guests, all of whom also happened to be members of the General Assembly, than the state's historic Mansion? Really gives a "do" real class.

Indeed, there is so much history in that beloved structure that it almost overwhelms a visitor who enters it. All manner of politics, from the highest to the lowest, has taken place within its four walls. Its visitors have ranged from presidents to ward heelers, and none could escape the sense of history that pervades this state landmark.

Which helps explain why Mrs. Carnahan was reluctant to turn the Mansion over to a special interest group, regardless of its pure-as-driven-snow intentions.

By rejecting the idea, our state's First Lady interrupted, at least momentarily, the increasing official indifference toward confusing the words public and political. It seems, whether speaking about the Lincoln Bedroom in the White House or the Grand Rotunda of the State Capitol, there is a blending of public and political to the point of total obfuscation.

There aren't many Missourians who are not shocked by the blatant poor taste of Bill and Hillary Clinton in exploiting public property for political gain. Renting out one of the nation's more intimate landmarks to any ego-mad millionaire willing to fork over $100,000 to the Clinton campaign has to rank as one of the more blatant displays of poor taste, even if it may not exactly be against the law.

Thank heavens Bill and Hillary never had the pleasure of residing in Missouri's Executive Mansion or we Missourians might have been subjected to even worse indignities. Indeed, the Clintons might have inaugurated such fund-raising promotions as leasing the National Guard to the Annual Catfish Derby Parade or the debutante parties of socially prominent St. Louis and Kansas City families. What car dealer wouldn't love to have a battalion of smartly dressed Guardsmen present for a fall new-model showing?

And what political candidate wouldn't love to rent a squad of Missouri Highway Patrol officers to accompany him or her on a motorcade of the state? Imagine the millions that could be realized from such an arrangement. Want to open a new cocktail lounge? The state will rent you a dozen Liquor Control agents to tend bar.

The Clintons would undoubtedly have found other uses for publicly supported departments and agencies. Want to rent a state park for a political rally? Just call the friendly agents in Jefferson City who will be happy to book your next political beer bust.

When it comes to politics, nothing is ever completely sacred. If you'd like to rent the Thomas Hart Benton murals for your next housewarming, just call the Office of Administration and let them know where to ship this public treasure. If you'd like to rent the priceless Thomas Jefferson statue outside the Capitol for your next lawn party, no problem as long as you're willing to fork over an obnoxious sum of cash for a political campaign.

Well, you get the point. Public ownership seems to mean little to political partisans, and so it is never any surprise when politicians treat such property as their own. This has become known as politics as usual.

Perhaps it all goes back to the time when the public seemed not to notice the employment of politicians by wealthy private interests. Want a new stadium in your city? Buy a politician. Want a new state facility in your hometown? Buy a politician.

In an earlier age, it was called embezzlement. Today it's commonly referred to as Rent-A-Pol. Sounds so much better.

~Jack Stapleton of Kennett is the editor of Missouri News and Editorial Service.