9:01 AM, MAR 11, 2011 • BY WILLIAM KRISTOL
“Mr. Obama has told people that it would be so
much easier to be the president of China. As one
official put it, ‘No one is scrutinizing Hu Jintao’s words
in Tahrir Square.’”
The New York Times, March 11, 2011.
Mr. Obama is right.
Mr. Obama is right.
If you’re president of China, people around the world who are fighting for freedom don’t
really expect you to help. If you’re president of China, you don’t have to put up with
annoying off-year congressional elections, and then negotiate your budget with a bunch
of gun-and-religion-clinging congressmen and senators. If you’re president of China,
you can fund your national public radio to your heart’s content. And if you’re president
of China, when you host a conference on bullying in schools, people take you seriously.
Unfortunately for him and us, Barack Obama is president of the United States. That
job brings with it certain special responsibilities. It’s a tough job—maybe tougher than
being president of China. But Barack Obama ran for president of the United States.
Maybe he should start behaving as one.
Maybe he should start behaving as one.
Oh my gosh, is he bowing again?!
