Not-so-smart power hall of famer Tom Delay’s appearance on Sunday’s Meet the Press garnered a lot of attention from the liberal blogosphere this week (I must say that Mr. Russert’s stock dropped a few points for offering that invite. Fine…invite Perle. But Delay? C’mon Tim…if you want us up at 8:00 AM in LA, be serious).
Lost in the hubbub, however, was a very revealing back-and-forth between former Congressman Tom Andrews (D-ME) and former Congressman Tom Delay (R-TX).
FMR. REP. ANDREWS: …And listen, you know, we in Washington love to talk about what's in the best interest of the, the people of Iraq. We've been doing this for years and years. Why don't we ask the people of Iraq what they think? If you ask the people...FMR. REP. DeLAY: Well, let's ask what's in the best interest of the American people.
FMR. REP. ANDREWS: Well, ask the people--let's ask--let's ask the people of Iraq, OK?
FMR. REP. DeLAY: No, let's ask the American people.
FMR. REP. ANDREWS: What is--let's ask them first, OK? Because listen, they're the ones that have the most at stake. They're the ones that have the most at stake.
FMR. REP. DeLAY: I'm more interested in the American people.
Many probably dismissed Delay’s arguments as four-year-old RNC talking points that people stopped taking seriously about, well, four years ago. But we smart power disciples have a lot to learn from what The Hammer had to say.
I think it’s safe to say that Andrews, who now directs Win Without War, is genuinely concerned with the national security of the United States. After all, the stated aim of the group he represents is to “Keep America safe by advocating that international cooperation and enforceable international law provide the greatest security for the United States and the world.”
Yet there was Delay, arguing that such cooperation is hogwash – that the only important opinions are American opinions (someone needs to tell Mr. Delay that he doesn’t want to ask the American people about this – that train left the station some time ago). The man was literally unable to comprehend how Iraqi support for U.S. involvement in Iraq is in any way relevant to U.S. success in the region. And he was until recently the most powerful man in the House.
But Delay's position is not somehow unique. Quite the contrary. It's what much of U.S. post-9/11 foreign policy is built upon.
What does the Hammer teach us? That we have a lot of work to do.
