But given the state of Barack’s war against ISIS right now, any remaining daylight between the Obama and Bush foreign policies is slowly fading away…and this president is determined as ever to remind the global community that he stands for something greater — even if that means throwing his own country under the bus.
“I realize that America’s critics will be quick to point out that at times, we too have failed to live up to our ideals; that America has plenty of problems within our own borders. This is true,” the president said. “In a summer marked by instability in the Middle East and Eastern Europe, I know the world also took notice of the small American city of Ferguson, Missouri – where a young man was killed, and a community was divided. So yes, we have our own racial and ethnic tensions. And like every country, we continually wrestle with how to reconcile the vast changes wrought by globalization and greater diversity with the traditions that we hold dear.”
Now, was that entirely necessary? The Michael Brown shooting has been out of front page headlines for several weeks now, yet Barack Obama was almost gleeful this morning to rip that wound wide open again. And for what? His goal is purportedly to build international support for his battle against ISIS, but he seemingly shoots himself in the foot every time he goes out of his way to remind the world that America isn’t quite as “exceptional” as some of us believe it is. Honestly, it’s time to cut that crap out. We’re doing a hell of a lot better in this country when it comes to respect for others than anywhere else around the globe. Inserting these sorts of comments into speeches seen internationally is both counterproductive and petty.
Meanwhile, on the main substance of the address, Obama’s critics are already ripping the thing to shreds…and rightfully so. “A stunningly abstract and ethereal speech,” remarked former UN Ambassador John Bolton.
Perhaps if the president would have spent less time figuring out ways to take subtle jabs at George Bush and pondering the reasons why America sometimes sucks, he’d have been a bit more focused.Send this to a friend