Suzanne Malveaux just finished interviewing POTUS 41 and 42 about their fundraising efforts. Both were offering the expected statements about support when something phenomenal happened. In response to Malveaux's question about international aid, Clinton related a story about how Sri Lanka (SRI LANKA!) was working to organize fund-raising efforts among the TSUNAMI-AFFECTED NATIONS to help our folks over here. He said that as poor as these countries were, they understood that the people devastated by our disaster were poor too and they wanted to help. I tell you, a palpable sense of warmth spread through my body. Clinton had captured a single story and transformed the tragedy (however briefly) into a statement of universal caring and hope.
Moments later, Malveaux dropped the bomb shell everyone had been waiting for... did this administration do enough? Papa Bush stumbled out of the gate, but Clinton recovered deftly and shot out his hand, taking control. He calmly explained that whatever happened before, the priority now was saving lives. They're getting the busses in NOW. They're trying to save people NOW. All discussion of political squabbling could be tabled for later. There were more important priorities.
I tell you, Dubya's pledge to restore dignity to the White House couldn't have been more ironic. Clinton embodied the very best Presidential attributes during his brief appearance in this crisis AND during the tsunami horror. I find it interesting that a person who was so villified by the sitting Prez has been the go-to-guy for the second major emergency this year.
Moments later, Malveaux dropped the bomb shell everyone had been waiting for... did this administration do enough? Papa Bush stumbled out of the gate, but Clinton recovered deftly and shot out his hand, taking control. He calmly explained that whatever happened before, the priority now was saving lives. They're getting the busses in NOW. They're trying to save people NOW. All discussion of political squabbling could be tabled for later. There were more important priorities.
I tell you, Dubya's pledge to restore dignity to the White House couldn't have been more ironic. Clinton embodied the very best Presidential attributes during his brief appearance in this crisis AND during the tsunami horror. I find it interesting that a person who was so villified by the sitting Prez has been the go-to-guy for the second major emergency this year.
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