The debate last night in Philadelphia only confirmed that I could never have been a politician. Repeatedly I heard responses that were tailored to be politically correct rather than honest.
I cite one particularly controversial interaction.
Obama was taken over the coals for his association with a neighbor who is a college professor but was a member of the radical group, the Weathermen, about forty years ago. It turns out that he and Obama's pastor reacted to the 9/11 horrendous tragedy by voicing words of blame on the United States.
Clinton strongly indicated her disapproval of such discourse, as did Obama. They had virtually no choice! Politics would forbid their saying much else.
However, when I saw the tragedy unfold on 9/11, I told a friend that if I were President at the time, I would have fallen on my knees to beg God for insight to what have we done to sow such anger and hatred. And since then, it seems clear that only when we can restore our moral orientation towards other nations and peoples will we be able to claim any semblance of being above blame.
How often I hear our leaders (not just the President) say words relative to our greatness without ever referencing our horrible actions against others (our involvement in South America, the Phillipines, our contributions to the economic plights of poorer nations who get tangled up in the machinations of the World Bank and IMF).
It is hard for me to see 9/11 without some awareness of our sinister involvement throughout the world. We do cause others to be angry and hateful.
Surely, Obama could never have said such words during the debate, even if I think they are true.
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