Applebaum: After Tucson, Obama Matters Again

Written by FrumForum News on Sunday January 16, 2011

Writing in The Daily Telegraph, Anne Applebaum looks at the effect of the Tucson massacre on Obama's presidency:

“Bad things happen,” [Obama] told mourners at a memorial service in Tucson, “and we must guard against simple explanations in the aftermath.” He issued, in effect, a call for truce. “We may not be able to stop all the evil in the world, but I know that how we treat one another, that’s entirely up to us.”

He also spoke about each of the real victims, including Christina Taylor Green, aged nine, who had just been elected to her school’s student council and was enthusiastic about politics. “She saw public service as something exciting and hopeful. She was off to meet her congresswoman, someone she was sure was good and important and might be a role model... I want to live up to her expectations. I want our democracy to be as good as Christina imagined it.” It was as if the eloquent Obama of the election campaign had returned. He didn’t actually say “Yes, We Can”, but he came very close.

If he had tried to score political points, Obama’s speech would have been a disaster. If he had denounced Palin, he would have been denounced back in turn. But by raising the level of debate – in particular by focusing on something other than himself and his opponents – he won praise even from conservatives, and his words were cited in the conservative half of cyberspace.

Here is the irony: An unexpected, non-political crime inspired an unplanned, non-political speech – which might in turn have broad political consequences. With just a few words, President Obama made himself matter once again. Sarah Palin made herself look petty and foolish. ...

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