Scandals at Enron and WorldCom didnâÂÂt hinder Republicans in last weekâÂÂs elections because most Americans didnâÂÂt think it was an issue, journalist-commentator Robert Novak told a Lawrence audience Thursday night.

âÂÂIt was an issue that didnâÂÂt touch Mr. and Mrs. America,â Novak said. âÂÂThis is not what the Democrats call a kitchen table issue.âÂÂ

Novak, co-host of CNNâÂÂs âÂÂEvans, Novak, Hunt and Shieldsâ interview program, was the speaker at the sixth annual Anderson Chandler Lecture, offered by Kansas UniversityâÂÂs School of Business.

Appearing before an audience that virtually filled the Lied Center, Novak, a conservative noted for his no-nonsense, frank comments on political affairs, discussed the effect the economic troubles of the two corporate giants has had on politics and Americans.

Democrats hoped Enron links to Republicans and in particular President George W. Bush would lead to a GOP downfall, Novak said. Much to their chagrin, that didnâÂÂt happen, because the corporate scandal didnâÂÂt affect the public like Vietnam and Watergate did, he said.

Nevertheless, the scandals brought to light corporate America at its worse, and teaching ethics in university business schools isnâÂÂt the answer, Novak said.

âÂÂThat has to be done in churches and at home,â he said. âÂÂYouâÂÂre always going to have excesses that go too far.âÂÂ

Republicans captured control of the U.S. House and Senate in last weekâÂÂs elections because Americans didnâÂÂt want to desert their president during the war on terrorism, Novak said. The Democrats also lost because they pushed small-scale issues and Americans were afraid they would lose income tax cuts.

Novak also spoke highly of Bush, who he said didnâÂÂt really begin his presidency until he showed his leadership qualities after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

But regarding Iraq, Novak said he thought there was hope a war could be avoided now that weapons inspectors would be returning to Iraq. Going to war without the support of most of the worldâÂÂs other countries would have serious consequences, he said.

âÂÂWe have a bigger problem, my friends, and that is al-Qaida,â he said.

Chandler, chief executive president and director of Fidelity State Bank and Trust Co., Topeka, who made the lecture series possible, attended NovakâÂÂs lecture. Bernie Nordling, 81, Lawrence, and his wife, Barbara, were special guests of Chandler.

Bernie Nordling said he had a chance to talk with Novak before the speech.

âÂÂHeâÂÂs very personable,â Nordling said. âÂÂIâÂÂm very impressed with him. He calls a spade a spade.âÂÂ