Greg F. what you say is true, to a point. But I still say it's about values. North argued that he broke the law because fighting the spread of communism, etc., etc., was more important than the law he broke. Most Democrats (and, as you say, many others) did not buy it. Many Republicans, and especially the right wing, did buy it.

The split was, however, on values. Whether adherence to the law is more important than certain political ends is a value judgement. It's the same value judgement made by people who break the law in peaceful protest, for example.

By the way, Howard Dean is quite a decent blues guitarist, and jammed with Cephas and Wiggins at a DC appearance. Naturally, the media ignored that, too.