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Streetcar Line
Bank on It: This Nominee Is Outrageous
When qualifications and the job description are poles apart.
Can you believe who Barack Obama has nominated to be the new head of the World Bank? The nominee, a major corporate executive, has seriously weird antipathy toward Eastern Europeans.
When Solidarity was making progress against the Soviet puppet regime in 1987, the nominee opposed American aid to the union, saying “Let the Poles pay for their own damn fax machines.”
That same year, when the Pope visited New Orleans and called for “spiritual support of our brothers yearning for freedom,” the nominee warned that “a bunch of Catholic senators are likely now to kowtow to the Vatican lobby.”
Two years later, with student demonstrations beginning against Nicolae Ceausescu in Romania, Obama’s man complained about “this bunch of gypsies posing a threat to world peace.” And when the Serbs in the 1990s practiced ethnic cleansing against other populations in the former Yugoslavia, this executive focused on economics, saying “it’s not worth American involvement to save a bunch of folks whose major contribution is a second-class car like the Yugo.”
In 2004, as the Orange Revolution in Ukraine began in support of the pro-western leader Viktor Yushchenko, this executive again spoke up, accusing the demonstrators of seeking to impose “apartheid against ethnic Russians.” Earlier that year, he blamed what he called the “Bronkowski brigades” of blue-collar workers in Ohio for handing re-election to President George W. Bush, saying they voted against John Kerry because of social-issue concerns born of their “Papist upbringings.”
And upon Martina Navratilova’s retirement in 2006, an ESPN retrospective on her career quoted this man, whose company’s products used Navratilova as a major endorser, as follows: “She was brawny, she’s Slavic, and she just used brute force to dominate tennis for years, but she’s been a surprisingly intelligent and articulate voice off the court for important social causes [emphasis added].”
Nonetheless, the nominee is known to share Obama’s strong views in favor of third-world debt relief, and his supporters say he’s actually a particular friend of Eastern Europeans because, when he backed Obama’s gutting of missile defense for Poland and the Czech Republic, he explained that “This is the best thing for those nations to stay on the good side of Vladimir Putin and thus benefit from Russian economic support rather than exacerbating Putin’s reasonable fears. In the long run, they’ll thank us.”
Meanwhile, Obama doesn’t seem fazed by the fact that in a post-nomination interview with the New York Times, his nominee admitted he would “need to study up more on the World Bank, because there’s lots I don’t know enough about when it comes to derivatives and stuff.” In an NPR radio interview, he likewise stumbled over whether or not the United States currently is imposing an economic embargo or other sanctions against Iran and Cuba. Shortly after those two interviews were aired, however, the administration seems to have put somewhat of a gag order on the nominee, and also has refused to make public his tax returns from five years ago, when he went on a major Third World speaking tour while his company made unprecedented investments in Africa.
So far, not a single Democratic senator has broken ranks and opposed the nomination – not even Ohio Sen. Sherrod Brown, who represents those blue-collar workers the nominee described as the “Bronkowski brigades.” Republicans, meanwhile, who had threatened a lengthy filibuster, now say they don’t want to upset Senate tradition by using a parliamentary tactic to deny the president his choice of a nominee.
OF COURSE, THIS IS ALL fictional. There is no World Bank nominee. And if such a nomination had been made, surely it wouldn’t have survived even two weeks. The nominee’s obvious hostility to a particular ethnic group (or conglomeration of ethnic groups) would surely have sunk him, almost immediately.
But when the ethnic group so badly insulted is Jewish, I guess, the usual strictures don’t apply. Every fictional example above mirrors things Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel has said and done with regard to Jews and/or Israel – which he seems to conflate as if they are one and the same, as if the latter’s advocates are speaking not out of geopolitical principle but instead acting merely as a “Jewish lobby.”
The American public knows better. The more it sees of Chuck Hagel, the more it dislikes him. Those senators who stand against him will see net political benefits. And this is a fight the political right can win, which would help reinvigorate right-leaning supporters and help them overcome despair.
If Hagel is confirmed, once again the Republicans in the Senate will have snatched defeat from the jaws of victory, and will have failed to realize when a stand on principle should supersede the usual niceties of the Senate – niceties the Left never observes when it comes to opposing conservatives, even if, unlike in the Hagel case, the opposition is based on smears rather than on legitimate concerns.
I mean, really: Can you believe who Barack Obama has nominated to be Secretary of Defense?
About the Author
Quin Hillyer is a senior editor of The American Spectator and a senior fellow at the Center for Individual Freedom. Follow him on Twitter @QuinHillyer.
Letter to the Editor View all comments (41) | Leave a comment
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spike59| 2.26.13 @ 6:33AM
"Can you believe who Barack Obama has nominated to be Secretary of Defense?"
============================
Sadly, I can...
TLP| 2.26.13 @ 2:21PM
Bank on it!
John McCain will vote for this nominee, on the basis that "The President deserves his nominees".
C. Vernon Crisler | 2.26.13 @ 2:55PM
This is what people voted for. They deserve it.
spike59| 2.26.13 @ 4:28PM
and the people are getting it-good and hard
Rhoetus| 2.26.13 @ 11:16PM
With or without vasoline?
Mike W| 2.27.13 @ 9:36AM
It's sad watching this blogger make a jerk out of himself over and over again about Hagel. The neonuts lost this one. Get over it. A genuine American hero combat vet will be sec def. Perhaps the neocons would want the ultimate chickenhawk back - Dick "I had other priorities during Vietnam than to serve in the military" Cheney with his five draft deferments.
Or perhaps you would like Ted Nugent who literally defecated in his pants to beat the draft.
Cobalt| 2.26.13 @ 7:56AM
"“need to study up more on the World Bank, because there’s lots I don’t know enough about when it comes to derivatives and stuff.”"
Obama probably doesn't know what a derivative is, nor does he even care.
The derivatives market is terrifying.
"Derivatives: the Unregulated Global Casino for Banks"
http://demonocracy.info/infogr.....osure.html
SUBVET| 2.26.13 @ 10:14AM
Quin............you forgot who runs the World Bank & IMF .....ya you can say it.
The 13 familys.....
markenoff| 2.26.13 @ 10:16AM
Forms of derivatives date back thousands of years.
TLP| 2.26.13 @ 2:27PM
You spelled "Diverticulitis" wrong.
Dennis Bergendorf| 2.26.13 @ 8:06AM
Democrats "bank" on the electorate having short memories. Hence, a year from now, the president (standing before his human wallpaper) will ridicule Republicans for being the "Party of No," and will cite our opposition to Hagel... and other nominees. And you know what, a majority of Americans will agree with him.
Pecos Pete| 2.26.13 @ 8:28AM
Common Sense doesn't apply to Congress. Hagel will be confirmed, or not. Doesn't matter. King O is transforming the USA. If not Hagel, then maybe someone worse.
Albert Constantine Jr.| 2.26.13 @ 8:46AM
"Common Sense doesn't apply to Congress."
True, but it is a misnomer to call this uncommon virtue Common Sense.
Moe Blotz| 2.26.13 @ 8:29AM
What is the significance of the picture of a 60 year old Peterbilt at the top of the article? That old picture from "Duel" does not look outrageous at all.
Albert Constantine Jr.| 2.26.13 @ 8:51AM
As Spielberg was in the news this weekend, perhaps the photo is an homage to him (after all, the shark from "Jaws" has been dusted off a bit lately, and I imagine Dennis Weaver's character might still find the image of that particular Peterbilt a bit intimidating).
Al Adab| 2.26.13 @ 8:36AM
It's not hard to imagine this disreputable nomination. After all this is the same president, and Senate, who made the unindicted traitor John Kerry Secretary of State. Does anyone see a looking glass perspective of the world at play here?
markenoff| 2.26.13 @ 10:17AM
And his confirmation flew through.
Bandido| 2.26.13 @ 9:06AM
Ignorance, stupidity, and incompetence are in the ascendant in D.C. The people have grown progressively dumber and more guillible over the last three decades and the current regime embodies this. Hagel is its exemplar and Obama its high priest. We reap the whirlwind. We gots exactly what we paid for.
Kwan| 2.26.13 @ 9:15AM
Wouldn't it be a greater surprise if Obama actually selected someone that was actually qualified for the position he was selecting them for. The whole Obama administration is populated with unqualified anti-American, left-wing zealots. Wouldn't a qualified pro-American candidate be out of sync with the Obama agenda?
SUBVET| 2.26.13 @ 10:17AM
Kwan.........yes to your question, Quin is paid to lie.
Kwan| 2.26.13 @ 12:57PM
It would also be a big surprise to find out that Hagel doesn't have a Swiss Bank account into which the Muslim Brotherhood makes regular deposits. First off you already know that if Obama selected him he's no good.
TLP| 2.26.13 @ 2:31PM
Maybe his Wife's Niece is sleeping with an African Muslim King, like Jack in Wi.
delahaya| 2.26.13 @ 9:26AM
I can almost imagine the scene with Obama rubbing his hands and laughing like a maniac while muttering, "Everything is proceeding according to plan." Someone should write a new version of the Screwtape Letters with Obama and Jarrett and Axelrod discussing their plans.
Pecos Pete| 2.26.13 @ 11:31AM
Excellent suggestion! Hopefully TLP will use your suggestion for the next Contest.
TLP| 2.26.13 @ 2:32PM
Use it in this Friday's Contest?
I don't even know what he just said.
John II| 2.27.13 @ 10:45AM
I could explain what dellie just said, Tim, but you won't let me be a Contest Judge.
pogybait| 2.26.13 @ 9:30AM
Only Republican Senators can take a lack luster nominee experience and turn it into a fun-filled and educational adventure for everyone.
Dai Alanye | 2.26.13 @ 11:00AM
For a while there I thought Quin was describing Joe Biden.
Occam's Tool| 2.26.13 @ 11:42AM
If the Republicans weren't gonad impaired, the Obama administration would be picking up teeth for these two nominations.
Obama had no problems voting against Presidential nominations, even highly qualified ones (Roberts is a disappointment for us, but he's qualified).
Al Adab| 2.26.13 @ 12:57PM
Senate committee just voted to send Lew nomination to the full Senate for confirmation. OMG, does no one have huevos?
Pecos Pete| 2.26.13 @ 1:46PM
Oysters, yes. Huevos, no.
Petronius| 2.26.13 @ 11:54AM
This country is hell bent on committing suicide to salve all the collective guilt inflicted by "the smart people in the room." Alinsky again. "If you want to control something, ruin it first." I swear if HUD spent tax money building log cabins they'd keep real poor people out and team up with the EPA and Fish and Wildlife Service to cut the ribbon of the Federal Termite Reserve. Then the Justice Dept. would join in a suit demanding equality for carpenter bees. Washington D. C. needs an enema!
Who Knows?| 2.26.13 @ 12:28PM
No--a cosmic colonic.
Petronius| 2.26.13 @ 1:28PM
W K
Are you implying that it's too bad that asteroid missed?
atilla| 2.26.13 @ 7:33PM
The indictment is still all on obama for intelligence.
If hagel had any pride he would have withdrawn by now.
N8tivTxn| 2.26.13 @ 10:25PM
I told y'all McLoon was acting in those first hearings...
Damn, I wish I could remember who it was that told me, very emphatically, that I was wrong! Said they watched the hearing, and Loon Mc John was genuinely angry... ;-P
HA!
Rhoetus| 2.26.13 @ 11:18PM
"Suppose you were a member of Congress and suppose you were an idiot, but I am repeating myself." --Mark Twain
Joe D.| 2.27.13 @ 10:17AM
Sadly we are seeing who obama is. His nominees are the worst in history. They are socialists who hate this country and will with him finish destroying it. The 2016 obama's America explains exactly who he is. These would have been his nominees last time if not for him wanting and needing another term.
Joe D.| 2.27.13 @ 10:20AM
And of course he already has in place enough people to do the damage. The World Bank nominee if he selects one would be very much like your fictional character.
Bandido| 2.27.13 @ 12:15PM
@Joe D,
If you think things are bad now, wait till Hillary gets her greasy paws on the power levers.
RICHI | 3.9.13 @ 3:35PM
President Barack Obama re-nominates former Nebraska Senator Chuck Hagel as Defense Secretary for a second five-year term. Although his performance is viewed by many shaky, which caused political wrangling over his nomination, the Senate has already confirmed his position. No wonder why Obama nominated him accounting it to his counsel and judgment as the U.S. ends its combat operations in Afghanistan. In fact, Obama called him a patriot who fought and then bled for the country. However, his steps are being watched and his leadership is being challenged to prove himself as a capable and strong Pentagon chief. He is also expected to repair some broken relationships on Capitol Hill.