Looking at three US presidents and their ways
They can help by speaking out to defend American values and democratic norms. They also can and do have the opportunity to wrest our country back
hey looked relaxed, comfortable in their own skin and happy to be in each other’s’ company. They looked normal. The sight of former presidents Barack Obama, George W. Bush and Bill Clinton at the Presidents Cup golf tournament made one downright nostalgic — and a little sheepish about not appreciating them more when they were in office, even the ones we passionately disagreed with.
In the 24 years of their combined presidencies, we experienced war, economic calamity, government shutdowns, an impeachment and a myriad of other painful episodes. One segment of the electorate differed strongly with the policies of one or more of them. Looking back, however, some of the criticism was entirely deserved and some was disproportionate, unfair and wrongheaded.
Despite their mistakes and missteps, we passed positive, bipartisan measures, including welfare reform, No Child Left Behind, Medicare Part D reform and the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (Pepfar). We normalised relations with Vietnam, passed the North American Free Trade Agreement and the Magnitsky Act — again on a bipartisan basis. We helped end the Balkan war, saved the auto industry and prevented a financial meltdown (thanks to Bush’s and then Obama’s support for the Troubled Asset Relief Programme, or Tarp). Some part of the electorate approved of more controversial items under each president; the electorate did not believe by a large majority (as they do now) that any of them was “unfit” to hold office.
More important — and we took this entirely for granted —none of these presidents thought the office was an opportunity for selfenrichment, stoking racial divisions, demonising immigrants or delegitimising the free press. Pick your least favourite of the three, and he will be regarded as a giant in comparison with President Donald Trump. Collectively, in 24 years they told fewer lies than Trump has in eight months in office. Each actually bothered to read things, appoint honourable and experienced people to high offices, filled political slots, tried to understand the issues and cared about the content of the laws they signed.
We are tempted to overstate the influence of a single president, to proclaim ourselves inevitably on the road to ruin. We should avoid the addiction of defeatism and the lure of resignation. These three presidents (and George H.W. Bush as well) can help — by setting an example of public civility and cooperation and at appropriate times speaking out to defend American values and democratic norms. They can address audiences jointly and make videos defending the free press, denouncing moral relativism when it comes to neo-Nazis and deploring the temptation to shut ourselves off from the world and repudiate objective reality. It’s not just these three presidents who can and do have the opportunity to wrest our country back. We’ve seen moral leadership from generals (the heads of each service, the head of the Air Force Academy, etc.), business leaders and athletes. (Among many, Aaron Rodgers spoke eloquently: “Beauty is, it’s a free country so they can choose to do it or not. The messaging towards this unfortunately needs to continue to be redirected, I think. It’s never been about the national anthem. It’s never been about the military. We’re all patriotic in the locker room. We love our troops. This is about something bigger than that —an invitation to show unity.”) They should be commended, and others from all walks of life should follow their lead. Jennifer Rubin writes the Right Turn blog for the Washington Post, offering reported opinion from a conservative perspective.
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