"All that is old and already formed can continue to live only if it allows within itself the conditions of a new beginning."
Proud of My President
Posted 10:59 p.m., Jan. 3, 2005
| There is no irony in that headline. For perhaps the first time since the immediate aftermath of Sept. 11, President George W. Bush has in the past few days done himself and his nation proud.
Despite the protestations of Colin Powell and a string of other apologists, it really was true that the Bush administration stumbled badly in the immediate aftermath of the tsunami that blotted out so many lives in Asia, India and Africa. It took President Bush three days to make his first public statement about the demon waves. By contrast, it took President Reagan just a couple of hours to respond to the Challenger disaster--a tragedy of a much lesser human scale--with his famous "surly bonds" speech.
The Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami was a catastrophe of such apocalyptic magnitude that, merely by counting the 3,000 or so U.S. tourists who reportedly have gone missing, the disaster may have had a more devastating effect on Americans than 9/11. And yet, if all of those missing Americans were to be confirmed killed, they would make up a mere 2.1 percent of the 140,000 people that thus far we know were killed in the disaster. The real number almost certainly is much higher. And that's not even to mention the 5 million people left homeless.
Even so, the president initially couldn't be bothered to interrupt his vacation in Crawford, Texas, to personally address the world to send his condolences and assurances of a strong U.S. aid commitment. Instead he assigned a surrogate to snipe that his tardiness resulted from a desire not "to make a symbolic statement about "we feel your pain," an idiotically timed and needless shot at former President Clinton.
To make matters worse, the initial U.S. aid commitment was a mere $15 million, a pledge jacked up to $35 million soon afterward, but only after a U.N. official complained about the "stinginess" of rich nations in the face of the tsunami's horror. But it looked like the administration had to be shamed into even that much.
Better Late Than Never
But to err is human--this being a president who time and again has proven his humanity. And in the past several days, Bush has made several moves that demonstrate that he is perhaps recovering from his chronic case of tin ear when it comes to the tribulations of others.
First, Bush sent a delegation to Thailand that included both Secretary of State Colin Powell and Bush's own brother, Jeb. This was a move right out of the Kennedy family book of politics, and it was whip smart.
By sending the Florida governor to the scene of the disaster, Bush is telling the world that he will be paying close attention and giving tremendous weight to the report he gets back. While Bush may rightly be faulted for failing to take counsel from outside his inner circle--and that would include his lame-duck secretary of state--no one will plausibly be able to argue that Jeb Bush does not have the president's ear.
That was one great move. But Bush did himself one better today inviting two ex-presidents--his father and the Democratic former President Bill Clinton--to rally continued energy for what already has proven a monumental public outpouring of financial support from private American donors.
There are so many ways that this is a tremendous thing for President Bush to do that many words could be expended enumerating them. Suffice it to say that, by spurring the nation's two most prominent private citizens to head up a kind of peaceful "war bond" drive to beat back the effects of those killer tides, this president has not only shown his savvy--these are after all largely Muslim nations that largely have hated us--he has demonstrated genuine humanity. He is, quite simply, doing what is right.
Is political expediency a part of this? Absolutely. Should that matter? Well, ask yourself this question: If you felt the swell of pride and self-satisfaction when you wrote your check to help the folks devastated by that rogue ocean, should you be criticized for having harbored ulterior motives?
My answer: No. And I don't think the president need feel any shame that he might win a few political points for himself on this effort, either. But I do think President Clinton was wise to point out in his interview tonight with CBS-TV's John Roberts that, even though there may be political capital to gain by demonstrating to the Islamic world that the U.S. will rush to their aid in difficult times, those bonuses must not be seen as the guiding reason for helping. This can't be seen as quid pro quo.
And right now, it doesn't appear that is what is happening.
Truly, for the first time since 9/11, and despite initially approaching this responsibility on two left feet, President Bush has found his footing and is responding to the pain of other continents' peoples with what looks like a genuine, serious and--one can hope--a truly effective public and private aid campaign.
Most heartening, the president has for the first time called on his fellow Americans to make an actual sacrifice for the benefit of others, something unprecedented in his tenure despite having endured a massive terrorist attack and having led his nation to war. By summoning his presidential colleagues to rally donations to the cause, he is asking Americans to give of themselves.
"The greatest source of America's generosity is not our government: it's the good heart of the American people," Bush said. "... In the coming days, President Clinton and Bush will ask Americans to donate directly to reliable charities already providing help to tsunami victims. Many of these organizations have dispatched experts to the disaster area, and they have an in-depth understanding of the resources required to meet the needs on the ground. In this situation, cash donations are most useful, and I've asked the former Presidents to solicit contributions both large and small."
Yes, it was slow in coming, yes, the run up to this moment was awkward. But Bush has righted his course here, and is involving himself in the kind of public leadership and stewardship that up to now he has been sadly reluctant to engage in.
Yes, I can say it without embarrassment or apology. On this day, I am proud of my president.
-- Kevin FeatherlyKevblog Note: Thanks to Monte Hanson of Minneapolis' Finance and Commerce newspaper for pointing out the typo in the original version of this story. 3,000 is 2.1 percent of 140,000, not 21 percent. Damn you, decimel point!
