The depths to which some people will stoop in the name of politics never ceases to amaze us. The latest example is how death penalty opponents have taken advantage of the media spotlight that shines on Texas Gov. George W. Bush, the likely GOP presidential nominee.

In an effort to further their cause, the opponents of capital punishment have milked last night’s execution of Gary Graham to benefit their own cause.

Graham was the Texas man who was convicted of killing a man during a holdup outside a Houston supermarket in 1981. A jury decided Graham was guilty and that he should die for his crime.

In recent weeks as the execution date neared, protesters have heckled Bush at speaking events, spurring members of the media to keep asking questions about both the Graham execution and Bush’s feelings about the death penalty in general.

Each are valid questions, but continuing to hound Bush on the matter does a disservice to the candidate. What should be a matter for the citizens of Texas has become a much larger, national issue.

By law the governor could not halt the execution without a majority vote from the parole board which, in this case, refused to hear Graham’s arguments.

Regardless of which side of the death penalty debate a person finds himself, we must preserve our criminal justice system.

Is it perfect?

Hardly.

But as inadequate as it may be, it still remains the best, most fair system our country has been able to produce.

And if our faith in that system ever breaks down, our society as we know it will surely soon follow.

Each and every American, from Gary Graham to George W. Bush, deserves to have the same, fair form of justice.