Quote by Christopher Hitchens

The President is also captured in a well-worn TV news clip, making a boilerplate response to a question on terrorism and then asking the reporters to watch his drive. Well, that's what you get if you catch the President on a golf course. If Eisenhower had done this, as he often did, it would have been presented as calm statesmanship. If Clinton had done it, as he often did, it would have shown his charm.

The President is also captured in a well-worn TV news clip,

Summary

This quote suggests that people's perception of a President's actions can be influenced by their preconceived notions and biases. The example given is of the President making a generic response to a question about terrorism and then focusing on his golf game. Depending on their political affiliation, someone might interpret this behavior differently. For instance, if it were Eisenhower or Clinton, it might be seen as a display of their composure or charisma, respectively. However, in this case, it is portrayed as a negative portrayal, suggesting that the President is not taking the issue seriously.

Topics

Terrorism Golf Hypocrisy Television Charm George W Bush Double Standards Bill Clinton Dwight D Eisenhower Statesmanship

By Christopher Hitchens

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