All Obama Really Needs To Know About Dealing With Hugo Chavez He Learned In Kindergarten
It’s recess time on a kindergarten playground. Today, that new obnoxious kid is really hassling everybody. He’s small, but he’s loud and irritating, and what he lacks in strength he makes up with bluster. He knows instinctively that if he can get under the skin of the bigger kid who is the classroom leader, or have the big kid run away from him, he’ll start getting more attention and power.
Much was made, at least for one news cycle, of President Obama shaking hands and being polite with Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez while they were attending the Summit of the Americas last week in Trinidad. To his critics, led by former vice president Cheney and Newt Gingrich, Obama’s courtesy was somehow legitimizing Chavez’s socialistic policies and anti-American leanings and rhetoric. The right thing to do, the Right is saying, would have been for the President to consciously avoid contact with Chavez, using his staffers and security entourage if necessary to do so.
So imagine this scenario: This tinpot despot is walking down a hallway at the Summit with his deputies. Coming the other way down the hallway is the leader of the free world. Spotting the tinpot despot, the leader of the free world lowers his eyes, veers off to the side, and ducks into a restroom to avoid having to greet the little despot. I ask you: who emerges from this with his authority and image enhanced? The question answers itself.
For a movement whose patron saint (Ronald Reagan) met repeatedly and at length with the leader of a nation he once called the “Evil Empire” (Mikail Gorvachev), there sure is an exaggerated sensitivity to an American president exchanging hello’s with the leader of a small Central American country. It’s an indication of how dis-engagement has come to be viewed by many as an effective negotiating tactic. Iran is doing things we don’t like? We will NOT have anything to do with them. North Korea is going completely off the reservation? By all means, we must not engage them in even the hint of a dialog.
Richard Nixon went to China in 1972 to meet, dine, and exchange toasts with one of history’s most murderous dictators, Mao Tse-tung. Now it’s viewed by historians as one of the great diplomatic gambits of the 20th century, and a high water mark for a president who otherwise suffered some reputation damage. But to get what he wanted, Nixon had to go over to the enemy’s turf, and closely engage him. It was a brilliant stroke of bold diplomacy—an act of strength. But now, it seems, if an American president so much as makes eye contact with a leader of a country who doesn’t agree with US policy on every issue, it’s an act of surrender. This is absurd. There’s another phrase to describe doing everything possible to avoid someone you have disagreements with: it’s called “running away.”
When the irritating little playground bully walks up to the classroom leader on the playground, all the other children are watching to see what transpires. The little meanie knows if the bigger kid walks away or won’t deal with him, his stature will only climb. Instead, the stronger boy goes to meet him face to face, looks him in the eye, and, confident in his status,, peacefully but firmly establishes his authority.
Comments: 17
Jim;
I agree with you about Hugo Chavez and he needs to be treated like a bully and the need is to stand up to him and look him in the eye. Remember keep you enemies close.
Kudos Jim. In school yards as well as in nations, you need to face down the bully or they will continue with their threats. Remember keep your enemies close.
I believe that different tactics are viewed in pessimistic ways because it's 50/50. President Obama is trying several innovative tactics to help our economy and let's face it - some people cannot wait to see President Obama mess up...
BTW Venezuela is located in South America not Central...
President Obama's meeting with Hugo Chavez will be judged in a more positive light in years to come. President Nixon's 1972 meeting with Mao Tse-tung, once derided, proved to be a stroke of diplomatic genius, given time and reflection. No doubt, however, Hugo Chavez is a bully, in any classroom.
This is for you Jim.
Good work
You are a true Republican! and by the way - what the heck is going on with this BLOG?????
President Obama's meeting with Hugo Chavez will be seen as a success in the years to come. President Nixon's meeting, with Mao Tse-tung, was derided at the time and then deemed a diplomatic success. No doubt, however, Hugo Chavez is a bully and would be in any classroom.
(Question: Was Hugo Chavez bullying this Blog last night? Tried to post a comment, but couldn't).
I just saw a Post, by me, - 4.23.09. at 1:21PM.
I attempted to post that comment last evening and didn't realize that it was received earlier this afternoon. Mr. Chavez is certainly afoot and certainly a bully.
Sorry, folks.. we had a little technical problem getting the comments through, from last night until this evening.. I think it's fixed now.. thanks for checking in.
Keep your friends close and your enemies closer. Why is he an enemy anyway? because he has a different form of government and called a devil a devil?? Why do Americans believe that other people/ countries that do bot share our viewpoint are out enemies. If this is indeed the free world, then people should be free to have independent thoughts without being ostracized.
Keep your friends close and your enemies closer. Why is he an enemy anyway? because he has a different form of government and called a devil a devil?? Why do Americans believe that other people/ countries that do bot share our viewpoint are out enemies. If this is indeed the free world, then people should be free to have independent thoughts without being ostracized.
whoever wrote this is completely americanized or out his mind! and Venezuela is South America! Also The country United States Of America is NOT call AMERICA!...AMERICA is the Continent!...Americans Are the Scum of the Scum. Just look what they brought to the world. Just see how much violence and rage they brought to countries they have nothing to do with (apart from the oil they like to claim is theirs)...Shame on you North Americans!
Hugo Chavez has his downs but America IS the down.
Attention: Koolaid sipping "Jenny"
A few reasons why NObama shouldn't be chatting with Chavez:
Chavez hates America. He says so often, and now Obama is laughing and kissing this guys rear? He hates us.
He also seizes American companies, with business in Venezuela, whenever he feels like it.
Oh but we should sympathize with him ..no
We should sympathize for poor and homeless people, not this wacko.
And I didn't even see "Gabriel's" comment, but that proves my point
Not for anything, Jim Watkins, but don't you have a response to Ms. Gabriel? I watch you every night man, c'mon and stand up for America! Geez! You're letting her speak that way about our country?
Hey Gabriel, what country are you from?
What we bring to the world? What screwed up newspaper are you reading?
- We don't bring rape, we shelter the rape victims. Human trafficking is every countries problem.
WE give more foreign aid to any other country. Period.
America is the best country. Yea, some mistakes are made, and not everyone agrees with us, but YOU know what?
NO ONE GIVES MORE MONEY, AID, AND OPPORTUNITY, THAN AMERICA.
Sometimes, more than we should
(like giving $1.5 BILLION per year to Pakistan - thanks Hillary!)
We help everyone, and go after dictators. Thats why we're the best.
If you let a loser run your country, then you are a Loser.
You're probably benefitting from us somehow as we speak. Loser.
And I didn't even see "Gabriel's" comment, but that proves my point
Not for anything, Jim Watkins, but don't you have a response to Ms. Gabriel? I watch you every night man, c'mon and stand up for America! Geez! You're letting her speak that way about our country?
Hey Gabriel, what country are you from?
What we bring to the world? What screwed up newspaper are you reading?
- We don't bring rape, we shelter the rape victims. Human trafficking is every countries problem.
WE give more foreign aid to any other country. Period.
America is the best country. Yea, some mistakes are made, and not everyone agrees with us, but YOU know what?
NO ONE GIVES MORE MONEY, AID, AND OPPORTUNITY, THAN AMERICA.
Sometimes, more than we should
(like giving $1.5 BILLION per year to Pakistan - thanks Hillary!)
We help everyone, and go after dictators. Thats why we're the best.
If you let a loser run your country, then you are a Loser.
You're probably benefitting from us somehow as we speak. Loser.
America is THE MOST GENEROUS COUNTRY EVER.
..And I emigrated to this country from Asia many years ago. I wouldn't want to be anywhere else. This country is the best.
America is THE MOST GENEROUS COUNTRY EVER.
..And I emigrated to this country from Asia many years ago. I wouldn't want to be anywhere else. This country is the best.