By Lisa Fabrizio on 2.18.09 @ 6:06AM
Everyone's sorry when they don't mean it.
In the past few weeks we have been treated to a flurry of
national apologies. Foul and foolish deeds of various degrees of
severity have been owned-up to across the fruited plain. It is a
paradox that, in this permissive age, there's nothing America
loves better than a heartfelt mea culpa;
particularly when uttered by the rich and famous. No
transgression, save those committed by conservatives, is ever too
grave that the big heart of America cannot forgive; that is,
after the suitable five minute period of sackcloth and ashes is
observed.
Our media were especially zealous in their desire for
admissions of guilt from George W. Bush, but few if any
materialized during his two terms. Little did they suspect
though, that their thirst for presidential self-recrimination
would be slaked only weeks into the Obama Administration. But not
to worry, they soon had other confessions on which to hang their
hats in their never-ending attempt to prove that whatever it is,
"everybody does it."
First there was the curious case of Tom Daschle and his
attempt to implement national health care as the Secretary of
Health and Human Services. After the discovery that he had run
afoul of the taxman, and despite President Obama's assurance that
he was "absolutely" sticking with him, Daschle was out on his ear
in less than a week. In a statement that was eerily reminiscent
of his days as Senate Majority Leader and profoundly descriptive
of the nation's recollection of that era, he said that the whole
mess had left him "deeply embarrassed and disappointed."
This was followed by President Obama's acknowledgement that
his push for Daschle's nomination was a mistake and that he too
was rueful. Especially since his desire to bring "change" to
Washington was being interrupted by his own ineptitude. In the
kind of eloquent statement that makes the media swoon in
adoration, the leader of the free world admitted
that he "screwed up." And they called Ronald Reagan "the great
communicator."
A few days later, Obama apologized for his pick of Judd
Gregg, who in turn apologized for having second thoughts about
serving as Commerce secretary in an administration whose plans
include trading Capitalism for Socialism. Perilously close to
suffering the double disgrace of losing his census and trusting
Democrats to keep his Senate seat safe, he cut bait and ran.
Symptomatic of the effect that his short time with Democratic
apologists had on his brain, he explained, "It was my mistake,
obviously, to say yes, it wasn't my personality."
But help was on the way for Barack Obama and his distressed
cabinet in the form of fallen sports heroes. It seems that
swimmer Michael Phelps' indiscretion had much more far-reaching
effects than those of the U.S. president. An international sports
official went so far as
to claim, "To a certain extent, he let down the world."
Phelps must have agreed, since he issued two apologies; one to
the Chinese and another to the rest of us.
But this Phelps might have a future in politics after he's
done in the pool. Showing a truly Clintonian talent for
rationalization he explained, "I'm 23 years old and
despite the successes I've had in the pool, I acted in a youthful
and inappropriate way, not in a manner people have come to expect
from me." And youthful exuberance was also to blame according to
the Alex Rodriguez confession, in which he claimed that he was
"young and stupid" when he began using steroids at the age of 26.
Pretty interesting claims in a country where in some states girls
as young as sixteen are judged mature enough to obtain abortions
on their own. But hey, at least these boys pay their
taxes.
As with most public apologies in today's America, none of
those issuing them will suffer any real consequences for their
transgressions. Tom Daschle will return to the private sector,
adding substantially to his tax liability; Judd Gregg will return
to his Senate seat, thankful for his escape from the "hope and
change" squad; Phelps will do whatever it is that Olympic
swimming stars do for their three years out of the spotlight; and
hopefully, A-Rod will lead the New York Yankees back to the World
Series.
And President Obama will retain the fawning adoration of
his media worshippers: after all, as Robert Gibbs -- the greatest
and most erudite press secretary ever to grace the White House
microphones -- said, "Nobody's perfect."
topics:
Insincerity, Political Psychology
