A BUZZFLASH READER CONTRIBUTION
by egale33
Journalists often offer politicians an opportunity to dig themselves out of verbal missteps, for example, Hillary Clinton saying she would "obliterate Iran" if it attacked Israel. Surely, given the chance, she'd tone down the rhetoric and say that she really meant she would contain, or perhaps counterattack, the rogue nation.
Not Hillary. On Sunday TV, she stood squarely behind her "obliteration" fantasy, saying that she had been "very clear" about what she meant. OK, people. No embargoes, no bombing airstrips or military installations. Hillary said that if Iran misbehaves on her watch, the nation will cease to exist at America's hand. Top that one, George Bush.
Indeed, if Bush had said such a thing, we'd be terrified. Americans know that Bush subscribes to an interpretation of the Bible that claims a worldwide military clash between Islam and Christianity is inevitable, and that speeding history towards such a cataclysm is only the fulfillment of divine prophecy. Thus, if words such as "obliterate" crossed his lips, we'd cry World War Three and hide in the basement.
Not so Hillary. She's your average politician, so she just talks. She says whatever it takes to get elected. We know this, so we're not particularly bothered by her silly hyperbole.
Hillary is not honest or sincere. Before her various audiences, she will say what she has to say, then go on her merry way. But she'd still be a decent President. Americans always say that the number one thing they want from a chief executive is honesty, but we don't really want that. If the economy is in the tank, we don't want to president to call a press conference and say that the country's going to hell in a handbasket and that today would be a good a day as any to withdraw all your money from the bank. No. We'd want the prez to tone down the panic, and say soothing words. And now that America's military power is stretched too thin to be much use outside of Iraq and Afghanistan, we don't really want a president to stand up and say people, it's a good thing we're not being attacked anyplace else, because, by golly, there wouldn't be a darn thing we could do about it. No. In the face of military threats, we'd expect a reasonable amount of bravado and puffery, no matter what the actual facts are.
As president, Hillary will lie like a dog, and say whatever it takes to comfortably get through any given day. Roosevelt did, Kennedy did, indeed, many of our best Presidents lied on a regular basis. We don't honestly want to hear everything, and we surely don't want the world to hear everything. As President, Hillary would be a star member of the President's club of storytellers and truth-stretchers. And you can be sure that, from time to time, she'll serve up some real whoppers. But such a flaw will not blunt her effectiveness in office. Under her watch, the average American will probably find themselves a bit better off. And at the end of Hillary's four or eight years in the White House, there will still be a spot on the world map called "Iran."
A BUZZFLASH READER CONTRIBUTION
egale33
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Technorati Tags: Reader Contribution [6] Hillary Clinton [7] 2008 race [8] obliterate Iran [9] Iran [10] talk tough [11] George W. Bush [12]