Profiles in Cowardice: Florida Politicians Held Their Fire on Quran-Burning

Who's more pathetic: a small-time reverend burning copies of the Quran to mark 9/11, or craven state politicians who won't speak out until someone else does?

Gainesville pastor Terry Jones has everyone's attention now. But it wasn't that way early on. When Sunshine State News contacted an array of Florida political leaders Monday morning to get their comment on Saturday's plannedbonfire, only Republican attorney general candidate Pam Bondi responded.

Bondi immediately decried the incendiary commemoration of 9/11, but her Democratic opponent Dan Gelber stayed mum. Rosh Hashana on his mind?

Also in the bunker of silence was Attorney General Bill McCollum. Perhaps the state's chief legal officer is still licking his primary wounds.

Gov. Charlie Crist did not respond to an e-mail seeking comment, but he did, ultimately, opine on the subject at (where else?) a campaign rally.

Even retired Army Col. Allen West, a Republican running against Rep. Ron Klein in the 22nd Congressional District, held his fire. Though not one to shy away from controversy, West, through a spokesman, declined to comment on a fiery demonstration that Gen. David Petraeus said could jeopardize U.S. troops in Afghanistan.

Now that other national figures have weighed in, the rhetorical floodgates have burst open as just about every Florida politician, down to the most obscure state legislator, sounds off.

The almost-hourly release of politically correct condemnations is keeping bloggers busy, but, really, what's left to say? This "debate" has gone from mum to numb.