Behold the Hillary Doctrine. And heap abundant gratitude - and rose petals if you have them on hand - on the firm, unfussy, deeply reassuring woman who has just offered it up to the world.
In the 20 months since this administration began administering (a verb I use only in the loosest sense), the speech Wednesday morning by Hillary Clinton, delivered at the Council on Foreign Relations, was the first time we have been given an unreserved lift of the heart by any of its members. It was, by far, the best speech of this administration. Whereas her president has frequently wrung his elegant hands, doing the rounds of the world to reassure foreign leaders that America is a cuddly bunny at heart, the secretary of State declared Wednesday that we are all living “a new American moment—a moment when our global leadership is essential.” There was no bowing from her to potentates in robes; there was, instead, a promise that “we will do everything we can to exercise the traditions of American leadership at home and abroad.”
What is so piquant here is not the fact that Hillary understands that Obama is president. It is the growing sense that Hillary would have made a much, much better president than Obama.
Try this for size: “The United States can, must and will lead in the new century.” In order to do that, Clinton promised “a new global architecture,” “built to last and withstand stress.” And in a muscular departure from the way in which this administration—for fear of seeming Bush-like—has been shrinking from the unembarrassed propagation of American values, she uttered these plainspoken, unadorned words: “Democracy needs defending.”
Human rights, too, came in for a robust airing: China was scolded, and exhorted to follow “the rules of the road” in its aspiration to be a great power; as was Russia, for its invasion of Georgia. The message: We may live in a multipolar world, but we have higher standards by far than those who would style themselves as our equals.
Clinton used phrases like “American might,” words that we are more accustomed to hearing from Republicans—words that we’ve come to believe that many Democrats can’t bear to voice. How refreshing, therefore, that she should reach into a vocabulary of pride that most American citizens would applaud.
Hillary Clinton invoked the name of Dean Acheson in her reference to the need for “good, old-fashioned diplomacy,” and there certainly was an air of the Achesonian, of the statesman, about her speech. Good, old-fashioned diplomacy, it should be noted, is in contrast to Obama’s apparent preference for seeing America as a nation like any other, only a bit bigger, richer, and better-armed. Clinton’s “old-fashioned” diplomacy is based, by contrast, on the unquestionable premise that America is the world’s leader. Not primus inter pares; just primus.
• Heather Hurlburt: Hillary Explains HerselfIn her speech, Clinton referred to the sources of “American might.” The first, of course, is “economic power.” But it is her hailing of the second—America’s “moral authority”—that was so invigorating.
It was Acheson who said: “The most important aspect of the relationship between the president and the secretary of state is that they both understand who is president.” What is so piquant here, in this administration, is not the fact, plain to behold, that Hillary understands that Obama is president. It is the growing sense that Hillary would have made a much, much better president than Obama.
Tunku Varadarajan is a national affairs correspondent and writer at large for The Daily Beast. He is also the Virginia Hobbs Carpenter Fellow in Journalism at Stanford's Hoover Institution and a professor at NYU's Stern Business School. He is a former assistant managing editor at The Wall Street Journal. (Follow him on Twitter here.)
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Could this be Hillary's first punt at the presidency? Obama probably knows already that he's unlikely to see a 2nd term.
Right wingers are so determined to FORCE Hillary to the for front so they can vote against her. They spent 15 years call her every name imaginable to now "discover" she is a great person??? Who do you think you are fooling. Had she won they would be praising that positive post partisan guy we could have had.
I am a conservative, and am voting for HRC in 2016....the article here is drivel, "better than her boss...." sounds like figure skating judges...Obama is kicking FP butt, Turku is not paid to say as much though..... ? who hired Hillary to do her job?
case1234,the country wants Bill Clinton again.Maybe Hillary. That is what the country wants. A re-run.Enough speeches. It is like the country has cotton in their ears. We no longer hear anyone.The president ,gives a speech everyday.It's over. Finished.The country wants results. The attacking of the GOP is irrelvant. it is the Democrats,and Independents who want action.So much clapping, this is not the man who gave the election speeches. This is a Politician, not the Man who spoke from His heart,and offered Hope and Change.robertell,what Job has Hillary been doing.? Do tell, we have not seen her in many important momnets here.We did see her offering karzai, 900 million dollars.?Sorry please list all of her accomplishments that natter to us. ?Oh,for G-d sakes, the President is just speaking at us,enough. Enough. We wanted him on board with us.
better is the wrong word. By far more prepared for the job would be a better way of saying this. Some of us have believed this for a very long time. Too bad for America,the Democratic party, women, and Barak Obama we voted as we did.
Crap. You may not like his cool style, but he's accomplished more in the first half of his first term than any President in decades.
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