The American Spectator : I Stand With Max

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I Stand With Max

By R. Emmett Tyrrell, Jr. on 3.31.11 @ 6:09AM

Sorry, Mr. President, there's no such thing as a world community. But there is, as Gov. Pawlenty notes, American exceptionalism.

NEW YORK -- Monday night I attended a public policy discussion sponsored, not surprisingly, by The American Spectator -- I say not surprisingly because I have been attending these meetings for roughly thirty years and always come away with fresh ideas. They are meant to ventilate ideas, and now that a presidential election is drawing near we are inviting presidential candidates as our special guests to float their ideas by our assembled luminaries. At any rate Monday night, while our President was addressing the nation on the causes and consequences of his involvement in Libya, I listened to former governor Tim Pawlenty of Minnesota cross that very same terrain. The dinner was off the record, but I do not believe that I betray any confidences when I say Governor Pawlenty's discourse was very different from that of our President.

He is proud and confident of America's role in the world, unlike our President. The former governor began speaking of American national security. At times we must project force on behalf of American national interests, and Pawlenty was proud of our military's professionalism, competence, and readiness. He continued, speaking about "American exceptionalism." He sees America as blessed, a shining city on a hill. We have obligations in the world. Pawlenty says we need to get rid of Colonel Moammar Gaddafi, but Obama will not get rid of him.

I thought of that the next morning when I read of our shillyshallying President's rationale for establishing a no-fly zone in Libya without the support of Congress. He said he would work to remove Colonel Gaddafi from power in concert with our allies. He would not use force but rather political and financial power. Well, what if that is not enough? Obama has enraged a dangerous man armed with an arsenal of weaponry and he has barred himself from eliminating him. Is that wise?

"The burden of action should not be America's alone," he said. "Our task is instead to mobilize the international community for collective action, because contrary to the claims of some, American leadership is not simply a matter of going it alone." Well, what if the international community will not be mobilized? In fact, what if there is no international community? What then? Well, America will apparently dither.

Gaddafi has forced one truth out in the open for which we should be grateful. The world community is nonexistent. The world of nations and of peoples shares no values, certainly no values that are difficult to enforce. All the world likes blue skies and sunny days, but who can doubt that out there in the world there exist grumpy people who do not like blue skies and sunny days.

The other day President Obama said, "If we waited one more day, Benghazi, a city nearly the size of Charlotte, could have suffered a massacre that would have reverberated across the region and stained the conscience of the world." I for one have been watching the uprisings along the coast of North Africa and in the Arab world and I am very clear there is no "conscience of the world." It simply does not exist. There may be a conscience of the English-speaking world. It might extend to Europe and to some other advanced nations. Surely there are delicate souls, distinct minorities, elsewhere who are at least susceptible to that conscience, but that is about it.

The stories drifting out of Egypt about the military conducting "virginity checks" on women, raping them, and otherwise torturing demonstrators makes a nonsense of the conscience of the world. And remember the military in Egypt was supposed to be under the control of the good guys. There are also reports of rape and torture in Libya and other parts of the Arab world, to say nothing of massive repression. The brutes of Araby obviously are not partaking of Obama's world conscience.

Writing in the late 1940s, Max Ascoli, founder of the Reporter magazine and a leading liberal writer of the time, cautioned against mounting a policy based on an international longing for shared values. He claimed there were no world values and there was certainly no world conscience. Rather there are many cultures. Some are enlightened and humane. Others are primitive. Our President disdains American exceptionalism in pursuit of values and consciences that do not exist. I shall take my stand with Max; American values are best and occasionally they are worth fighting for. We need leaders who have such modest expectations.

About the Author

R. Emmett Tyrrell, Jr. is the founder and editor in chief of The American Spectator. He is the author of the forthcoming The Death of Liberalism, published by Thomas Nelson Inc. His previous books include the New York Times bestseller Boy Clinton: the Political Biography; The Impeachment of William Jefferson Clinton; The Liberal Crack-Up; The Conservative Crack-Up; Public Nuisances; The Future that Doesn't Work: Social Democracy's Failure in Britain; Madame Hillary: The Dark Road to the White House; The Clinton Crack-Up; and After the Hangover: The Conservatives' Road to Recovery.

Letter to the Editor View all comments (34) | Leave a comment

Teaghan| 3.31.11 @ 7:25AM

Well Emmett, don't expect these virtues from obama. He is a " CITIZEN OF THE WORLD!"

tsd| 3.31.11 @ 7:34AM

Thanks, this is such a clear and simple explanation of what is wrong with our president... he just does not or cannot "get it". Our country has elected a person who is not qualified or capable to run the USA, he does not have the character or principles for the job much less the understanding or wisdom to deal with the issues of the day. It seems we can only work for and hope to minimize the damage until we can get a true leader elected.

davelnaf| 3.31.11 @ 7:57AM

Individuals in different countries certainly share a desire for a more decent world where abominations like Khadafy are removed sooner rather than later. But once an American spends time overseas he finds that this kind of concern doesn’t amount to much. When non-Western foreigners want a particular humanitarian crisis solved—if they want it solved at all—they expect Westerners to do it. At the same time they do not expect countries like Russia or China to lift a finger.

Obama was referring to the socialist worldview where all people want the same kinds of good things—including, of course, socialism. But even the practicing socialists of Europe are engaging in Libya only because of oil. These humanitarians watched from a safe distance as the bloodbaths in the Balkans and Rwanda got underway; crises that rendered them ‘concerned’ but little else.

Obama’s ignorance about the true state of the world and about history seems to go hand in hand with his belief that socialism is the answer to everything. But would he be a socialist if he wasn’t this ignorant?

Dan Hirsch| 3.31.11 @ 8:34AM

He is not ignorant. He knows what he wants and is moving quickly to get it.

You are the ignorant one - you actually think he is doing this because he is incompetent or uninformed. Are you STILL clinging to your gun and your Bible? If you read that Book you will find that men ALL have evil in them, some have good, too.

WAKE UP! This is not an accident.

Let me paraphrase Don Rumsfeld: 'Weakness is provocative!' Right now, we sure look weak, and America's chickens are being invited to come home and roost!

Don't tread on me!

George True| 3.31.11 @ 9:05AM

Good point, Dan. There is a pattern that is clear to see for anybody who will believe their own eyes. Aiding and abetting an attempted Marxist coup d'etat in Honduras. Sitting on his hands in 2009 while the genuinely pro-democracy green movement in Iran is ruthlessly crushed. Aiding and abetting the Muslim Brotherhood in taking over Egypt. And now aiding and abetting Al Qaida in taking over Libya.

Once is a fluke. Twice is coincidence. Three times or more can only mean he is doing it on purpose. Were it only incompetence, even Obama would get

George True| 3.31.11 @ 9:09AM

Sorry, computer is doing things un-commanded. Were it only incompetence, even Obama would do something right once in a while. Why he is doing it is anybody's guess. THAT he is doing it can no longer be in doubt.

Ned| 3.31.11 @ 10:10AM

"Sorry, computer is doing things un-commanded."

It's Alive!

Ned the Red| 3.31.11 @ 10:12AM

My computer forgot to sign "Ned the Red", sorry Ned.

A. C. Santore| 3.31.11 @ 8:15AM

International relations are nothing if not cynical.

And we elect a naïf to the presidency!

Bad combination for which we will pay.

Hillel| 3.31.11 @ 9:15AM

40 years ago there was a local blackout in New York which became an occasion for looting. A "civil rights" leader said "when the lights go out some people will steal." Most arabs are not rapists.
Rape does occur in some Middle East lands as a policy. It is never normal behavior. BE That As It May, Many societies do not share our values indeed they reject them. That is why we need to keep our powder dry and lead, not wait for the "well intentioned" to act.

Louis Jenkins| 3.31.11 @ 9:26AM

If we are a member of the world community then it is best to reject that notion. To place us among those who would rape, pillage, or plunder for personal profit is appalling. But, after two years of Obama, anything is possible. The USA is not part of that cabal, it is supposed to be a leader of the free world! Time to start acting like it Obama if you can.

Jack in Wi.| 3.31.11 @ 9:58AM

Fooey on Pawlenty and American exceptionalism. America belongs minding her own gardens not the world's. Exceptionalism is a Wilsonian idea that has no place in the Conservative view of government.

Occam's Tool| 5.12.11 @ 3:58PM

Dear Jack,

I seem to recall something about exceptionalism in a couple of speeches by a former US President. You may not have heard of him: Abraham Lincoln. Something about "meanly lose" the "last, best hope of earth." Like you want to do.

Anthony| 3.31.11 @ 11:00AM

Gov. Pawlenty has some wonderful attributes and says many things that need to be said. He deserves a serious look.That said however, we lack Rs with guts and intestional fortitude. We know he can talk the talk, (somewhat) but can he walk the walk?
We need more Palins and Bachmanns and less Boehners and Cantors. It is not asking too much for both a communicator and a doer!!
I say somewhat because I read that Pawlenty has scoffed at the entire Obozo birth certificate embrolio. He ridiculed Trump, like McCain has ridiculed Limbaugh in the past. Apparently, the Washington Post is reliable source material for Mr. Pawlenty. They saw it, so they say, and that's good enough for Pawlenty.
For whatever motive Trump is doing this, it IS important and we Americans deserve answers to basic Constitutional requirements, as well as the entire curtin of background deceit perpetuated by Obozo. If that makes me a birther, so be it. I'm a birther with 30 years experience in the trenches of the law. I smell and disembowel fishy stories for a living, and this one stinks!!!
I don't get why Rs and Cs are running away from this, other than fear and the desire for acceptance. It is not asking too much for a president to come clean with the American people on a whole host of issues as to his background, unless there is something to hide. As I watch this play out each day, my suspisions grow.
So make your case Gov., but don't get weak kneed by the deceitful left, we have enough Gumby's.

loulou| 3.31.11 @ 11:56AM

But Timmy Tiptoes Pawlenty IS weak kneed!

I'm getting a little annoyed by the GOP media elites pushing nonentities like Pawlenty, Romney, Daniels, etc.

Timmy Tiptoes had his chance to show that he's not a pantywaist RINO when he could have stopped the theft of the MN Senate seat by Franken. He failed. The GOP elites may like Timmy but I won't vote for him--even if it means Obambi gets reelected.

YeloStalyn| 3.31.11 @ 12:25PM

With the exception of Palin and Bachman (who's name you know precisely because they are firebrands making waves for both Rs and Ds because of their beliefe in the Constitution) if you know someone's name in relation to being an elected official of any degree going into the GOP primaries... it will be a safe bet to not vote for them. If they truely were conservatives then they would have stopped all this nonsense and called out people like Cantor and would have brought the govt. to the brink of collapse over Obamacare... they would have become a general among an army of citizens rather than a pacifier for the masses. These people be damned... we need someone who's going to knock some teeth out.

Who Knows?| 3.31.11 @ 11:32AM

The whole subject of Obama’s “birth certificate” at once encapsulates everything about this fake persona AND has become equivalent to the “third rail” of social security reform.

I, personally, believe deep in my bones that BHO does have “legal” problems with his birth. AND, anyone who takes the lead in trying to expose this resembles a point man in an infantry unit, as it probes the enemy’s defenses---he is likely to be the first to be killed.

So, I say bless Trump! He is doing a great patriotic duty by using his well-earned prominence to keep this core issue in the news, and indeed make sure it grows in importance.

BTW, does anyone really think it’s going to recede from public consciousness, as Obama’s con game grows more and more existentially dangerous, and more and more of the great unwashed masses FINALLY snap out of their closed minded torpor?

Why, one could usefully write a book about the evolution of “third rails”, or “sacred cows”!

Actually, I just flashed on Nixon’s burgeoning travails, circa 1973---currently, I’m finally reading “Years of Upheaval”, Kissinger’s tome about the Watergate period.

What if, the “birther” and Watergate issues are equal as game breakers? And, we’re simply in the early stages of the unraveling of the Obama cover up?

“Something’s coming

I don’t know what it is,

But it is going to be great”!

loulou| 3.31.11 @ 11:58AM

Barry Soetoro MAY have problems with his birth location but his main problem is ELIGIBILITY. Is he a "natural born" citizen of the US? Is he a dual Indonesia/US citizen? Why can't we have the answer?

I prefer to be called an eligibility-er.

Creative Recreation| 8.10.11 @ 11:03PM

is good

Creative Recreation| 8.10.11 @ 11:02PM

is good

weddingdress| 7.15.11 @ 5:29AM

50 million legal abortions. The greatest holocaust in human history. Endorsed by our elites, part of our constitution, promoted by one party, and half of the other. That's what America really stands for. Anthing else is minutia.

Christian Louboutin| 6.23.11 @ 5:43AM

ellie| 4.22.11 @ 6:05AM

They just do what they have to do, just say what they have to say and just hide what they have to hide.

Greg Conlan| 4.1.11 @ 12:50AM

It is always amazing to me, that recently, when we send our best to war we never ask why and how long and what are we trying to achieve. We should never be afraid to protect freedom in the world if that is our objective. We should never send our best for any other reason. And we should never go unless we want to win. And winning means we expand all to defeat who we go against or we do not use or best and we do not go. Anything else dishonors those who we send.

Intelligent Design| 4.1.11 @ 12:07AM

Our air-head politicians keep talking about the "international community", as if it were a real body with meaningful opinions and high standards. What are they smoking?

michigander_sandusky| 3.31.11 @ 10:52PM

Great post by "Who Knows?" I find it difficult to believe that everyone running for national office is not required to undergo a complete background check including producing a certified birth certificate. When my wife and I adopted a child from China we had to produce this information, plus much more. The documents not only had to be "certified" by the local government agency, they also had to be certified by the secretary of state of the state issuing the document. Don't the American people deserve the same from its president?

David T| 3.31.11 @ 3:49PM

Pawlenty would get shellacked by Obama.

chris haynes| 3.31.11 @ 1:37PM

What does Amercia stand for?

Publius| 3.31.11 @ 1:20PM

Jack in WI wrote:
"Fooey on Pawlenty and American exceptionalism. America belongs minding her own gardens not the world's. Exceptionalism is a Wilsonian idea that has no place in the Conservative view of government."

America is not exceptional due to its government but due to its people.

Occam's Tool| 5.12.11 @ 3:59PM

Actually, it is exceptional due to the maintainence of the Constitution by the people.

Occam's Tool| 5.12.11 @ 4:00PM

"maintenence." Sorry.

CT Yankee| 3.31.11 @ 12:35PM

I recall a meeting Pawlenty attended with then Governor Sebelius in 2007 touting the need for a Cap and Trade program to limit greenhouse gas emmissions. There is no way I can support such a candidate.

http://www.startribune.com/politics/11825266.html
"Gov. Tim Pawlenty, other governors in the region and Manitoba's premier are in Milwaukee today to sign the Midwestern Regional Greenhouse Gas Reduction Accord.

The agreement, to be signed at the Midwestern Governors Association (MGA) Energy Security and Climate Change Summit, "will serve as a regional strategy to achieve energy security and reduce greenhouse gas emissions that cause global warming," said a news release from Pawlenty's office.

The summit is co-hosted by Pawlenty, chairman of the the National Governors Association, and Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle, who chairs the MGA.

"Today's agreement is an important milestone toward achieving a cleaner, more secure energy future," Pawlenty said in the news release. "The Midwest is well-positioned to help lead the energy revolution that our nation needs to stay competitive and strong. Working together, states can build a de facto national energy policy that will create good jobs and build a cleaner and safer world."

http://www.pewclimate.org/what.....ates/mggra

The Midwest Greenhouse Gas Reduction Accord (MGGRA) is a commitment by the governors of six Midwestern states and the premier of one Canadian province to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions through a regional cap-and-trade program and other complementary policy measures. The Accord was signed in November 2007 as a part of the Midwestern Governors Association Energy Security and Climate Change Summit.

In November 2007, the governors of 11 Midwestern states and the premier of one Canadian province individually adopted all or portions of an Energy Security and Climate Stewardship Platform. The state of Missouri later adopted portions of the agreement as well.