Turn of Phrase - Bill Clinton Praises Romney, Tries To Refocus Political Dialogue

"I don’t think we ought to get in a position where we say this is bad work. This is good work. I think, however, the real issue ought to be: 

What has Governor Romney advocated in the campaign that he will do as president? What has President Obama done and what does he propose to do? 

How these things stack up against each other? That’s the most relevant thing."

- From former President Bill Clinton, commenting on Mitt Romney's work with Bain Capital during a Thursday night interview on CNN.

Hardcore liberals are frustrated with Clinton's characterization of Romney's business career as "sterling," insisting that it undercuts the Obama campaign's attack strategy.

Cynics criticize Clinton's remarks as self-serving, citing the former president's close ties to Wall Street, and declaring that he is simply fulfilling his own obligations to the private equity industry.

I choose, perhaps naively, to read no ulterior motive into Clinton's statement, beyond the former President attempting to appropriately refocus the political dialogue. I also agree with Clinton's characterization of Romney's business career. The guy is wealthy like a sultan, or a Trump, right? He's done well in the financial industry, but for me, the question of Romney's business success misses the mark. 

Romney's private sector experience, while somewhat relevant, doesn't serve as immaculate qualification for repairing the nation's stumbling economy. Holding a leadership role in single private equity firm qualifies a businessman to develop and implement national economic policy about as much as owning a chain of successful emergency care clinics qualifies a businessman to head the Department of Health and Human Services.

Yes, I get it. Romney knows how to make money in private sector business. And the guy who owns the emergency care clinics knows how to set up a medical organization to heal sick people. In neither case though, do the private sector skills and experience automatically translate to some magical wisdom about the larger and infinitely more complex public sector arena. 

The media and the right-wing are sensationalizing Clinton's "praise" for Romney, while the important angle here is Clinton's clear and simple characterization of what our electoral focus should be.

- Mr. Romney, what specifically are your plans for our future?

- Mr. Obama, what have you done for us lately?

Turn of Phrase - Clinton's Tough Talk On Syrian Massacre Is Only a Good Start

Mass grave in Houla, Syria
Photo: Reuters

"Those who perpetrated this atrocity must be identified and held to account. The United States will work with the international community to intensify our pressure on Assad and his cronies, whose rule by murder and fear must come to an end."

- From Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, after learning details of the government-sanctioned massacre of more than 100 civilians in the Syrian city of Houla.

In light of United Nations reports that at least 49 children and 34 women were included among the dead, and recognizing that random artillery shelling, as well as point-blank shootings, were the methods used to murder the Syrian civilians, Secretary Clinton's tough talk is a good start, but it must be followed up by timely and decisive action.

Diplomatic officials are expected to exercise caution with their words, but there's no need to tread lightly when addressing the dictatorial regime of Syria's Bashar al-Assad, who in Houla has sanctioned the execution-style murder of entire families in their own homes.

The United States has joined several European governments in expelling the top Syrian diplomat remaining in Washington, and General Martin Dempsey, chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, has indicated that American forces are ready to act, if asked to do so.

As with Clinton's words, these actions are steps in the right direction. Now the Obama administration must move with urgency to take an authoritative leadership role in influencing Russian policy towards Syria, which is currently favorable to Assad. With Russia on board, the United States, together with its U.N. allies, can then employ the tactics needed to arm opposition forces and empower the people of Syria to bring an end to Assad's reign of terror.

When President Obama made the decision to actively involve the U.S. in the toppling of Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi, he was reportedly motivated, in part, by the story of former President Bill Clinton's biggest regret. On more than one occasion, Clinton has apologized for the most significant policy mistake of his presidency - failure to intervene in the Rwandan genocide of the mid-90s, an event that resulted in the killing of more than 800,000 people.

As President Obama and Secretary Clinton develop and guide American foreign policy regarding the looming civil war in Syria, they should be reminded, once again, of the story of Rwanda in 1994. Caution and prudence may be diplomatic virtues, but when thousands of civilians are being ruthlessly murdered by their own government, an abundance of patience can be deadly.


Click here to see more opinions and video of the attack on Houla. Be forewarned, the video is gruesome and includes images of some of the children killed in the attack. I couldn't watch it for more than 30 seconds, and I felt it was too horrific to post directly on my blog. Nonetheless, it's part of the truth of what is happening in Syria and should be shared.

Rick Perry Believes Not Being Executed Is a "Special Right"

President Obama has boldly announced that the United States will incorporate the promotion of basic human rights for gay and lesbian citizens around the world into American diplomatic interactions with other countries.

The President issued a memorandum in tandem with a speech delivered by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, wherein the administration vowed to work to decriminalize homosexuality and to challenge nations where abuses against gays and lesbians are flagrant.

In countries like Saudi Arabia and Uganda, being gay is a criminal act that is punishable by flogging and potentially even death. In many other countries, egregious harassment and beating of gays and lesbians is common and perpetrators go unpunished. While the President stopped short of directly connecting diplomatic aid to fair and equal treatment of gays and lesbians in foreign countries, the initiative is an important step forward in supporting fundamental human rights for homosexual people around the world.

And then, there's Governor Rick Perry.

On his website Perry makes a bold and stupid proclamation in response to the President's new human rights initiative.

"Promoting special rights for gays in foreign countries is not in America's interests and not worth a dime of taxpayers' money."

No one is asking for "special rights" here, unless you consider not being arrested, beaten, and murdered as special rights that gays somehow don't deserve. Obama is simply saying don't torture and execute someone because of their sexual orientation.

Perry also maintains on his campaign site that Obama is "out of touch" with American values. The last time I looked there was no principle held in greater esteem in this country than that of "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." If Rick Perry thinks asking other nations to honor this fundamental tenet of democracy by not subjecting innocent civilians to torture and murder is somehow out of step with mainstream American values, he is not just narrow-minded but bigotedly and cruelly so.

Turn of Phrase: McKown on the Difference Between Cain and Clinton

"As sexual harassers, Herman Cain and Bill Clinton may be similar. As leaders, less so: one made a damn fine pizza and the other made a damn fine president."

- From Jeff McKown, asked (by himself) to comment on how the accusations of sexual harassment against Herman Cain compare to those levied against former President Clinton.