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Saturday, April 3, 2010

Blow-ing rationalizations in the wind

New York Times Opinion, Charles Blow...


This conflict was captured in a tit-for-tat between Obama and Rush Limbaugh. In an interview with CBS this week, Obama complained about the “vitriol” coming from the likes of Limbaugh: “I think the vast majority of Americans know that we’re trying hard, that I want what’s best for the country.”


Unfortunately, Blow's commentary hinged on what people know according to Obama.

Ignoring that Mr. Blow put Obama in the same sentence as the phrase tit-for-tat (such exchanges diminish the presidency), Blow unfortunately hinged his commentary on a quote from the President's opinion of what Americans know.

Saying one knows something is much different than claiming they believe something. Believing a thing leaves room for being wrong. Knowing, though, resides in the word of fact.

Obama's laying claim to what he thinks others know is a stretch. Knowing indicates there is empirical evidence of that knowledge. There is no such thing, and most attorneys understand that claiming what another knows is unacceptable. Thus, his use of the word know feels dishonest and only serves to reinforce his record of dishonesty.

Rush, on the other hand, refers what Americans believe, has polls to back up his argument and even then leaves room to be wrong.

Rush's statement is more honest.


For Blow's part, he was correct only in his first paragraph.

Since signing the health care reform bill, President Obama has been traipsing about the country trying to sell it. It’s not really working for him.


From that point forward Blow was lost in a fog of rationalizations in the face of the obvious.





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