President Obama appears to be digging in his heels for U.N. Ambassador Susan Rice, the person ostensibly in line to replace Hillary Clinton as Secretary of State should Clinton decide to step down. And of late the liberal commentators have been saying, basically, "Our Rice is better than your Rice" (i.e., Condi Rice).
Holier-than-thou Democrats are indignant that anyone should criticize Rice for going on the Sunday news shows and misleading the American public about the Benghazi attack. Obama showed flashes of anger in last week's press conference because, he alleged, Rice's critics such as Senators John McCain and Lindsey Graham were trying to besmirch her reputation. He deemed that "outrageous." Oh, brother. Cry me a river.
What's really outrageous is that Obama can get worked into a lather defending a mediocre-at-best diplomat, but not show emotion about the deaths of four Americans in Benghazi or the many innocents — Muslims, Jews, Christians, atheists — who are slaughtered almost daily by radical Islamic terrorists. And wouldn't it be nice if the O-man could get as livid by the barbaric practice of infanticide (aka "partial birth abortion") as he does about senators who refuse to worship at the alter of precious Susan Rice?
In fact, Rice is not Miss Perfect as her leftist supporters often try to make her out to be. Columnist Dana Milank of the Washington Post (no conservative, he) had some very unflattering things to say about Ms. Rice's nonstellar track record.
In case you don't want to check out the column, a few highlights include Rice flipping the bird at the late diplomat Richard Holbrooke, a highly respected official; and reportedly engaging in shouting matches and hurling insults at colleagues. Shoot first is her reputation, and that's not a good rep to have for someone who aspires to be a diplomat.
Obama was over-the-top with his bluster and bravado in defending Rice, and it looks ridiculous on so many levels. First of all, anyone who is in the public arena has to accept the fact that criticism comes with the territory. Thin skins ought to grow up.
Secondly, it makes Rice look like a wimp who hides behind the president. Certainly she is capable of defending herself (Heaven knows, she has frequently in the past, in a rather pugilistic fashion).
It has become clear over the past four years that the obnoxious ideologues in the Obama administration bristle with petulance whenever anyone is critical of their deeds or statements. This goes hand-in-hand with the runaway hubris that so often characterizes the man at the top.
It's going to be a long four years.
Comments