Maybe the President and Secretary of State are just pretending to be somber and serious when they deal with difficult matters of State like the death of an Ambassador. But if they are only faking, they are at least trying. One could ask what in the world is Governor Romney trying to be? It sure doesn't look presidential! (Or even Secretary of State-ish).
Now that a few days have past since the competing appearances the morning we found out our Ambassador was killed after the night of protests, terror attacks, and campaign messages, I was able to find these video clips. Everyone can judge for themselves.
I do have some sympathy for Governor Romney. I have a really awkward response to stress in that I get this silly grin on my face. I have learned to control it as necessary, particularly when I am in stress-inducing court proceedings. And that's the point. I do try to control it. What in the world was Romney smiling about? If it's just nervousness, like me, he ought to learn a little self control.
Yeah, I'm a little angry at the politicization of this event on both parts. The President struck back later that day with his assessment that Governor Romney tends to "shoot first and aim later." An accurate assessment perhaps, but he should not have said it. It would have been better if he had stayed cool and presidential above the unnecessary and distracting controversy.
There are some on the right that blame the President for the attacks, one of which killed our Ambassador. Fine. But if President Obama is responsible for these latest attacks, then President George W. Bush is responsible for 9/11/2001 -.as the one who received the warning, "Bin Laden determined to strike in US." President's Daily Brief, August 6, 2001. Read it. We're not sure if President Bush ever did.
I think it is terribly unfortunate that instead of deeply understanding the global world that creates anger at the US, we instead pretend that one person (no matter who it is) can cause a long-term hatred of the US. I also think it is terribly unfortunate that this somehow became a part of the presidential campaign as an "incident" instead of as a policy discussion.
ReplyDeleteThe juxtaposition of the videos really is striking.
Thanks, Julia. You get it.
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