The Triangle

Issue date: 4/24/09 Section: Ed-Op

Media Credit: Parspix/Abaca Press/MCT

Media Credit: Takaaki Iwabu Raleigh News & Observer/MCT

The United States that we live in today is going through a myriad of different changes.  Each day, we are moving further and further from the past image of the U.S. and are moving toward this ideal of a "new America."  Everywhere we turn we see more people who are concerned with carbon footprints, gas emissions, solar power and recycling.  Our children are being educated about the "real" ways of the world where war is not a thing that we examine from our past in history books but an everyday reality that affects our current and future lives.

For as optimistic as this concept of a "new America" is, some aspects of the old Washington remain alive. Over the past two weeks there have been some public spats between former Vice President Dick Cheney and newly elected Vice President Joe Biden. Cheney was quoted saying in an interview with CNN in March that the choices President Obama and his administration made will "raise the risk to the American people of another attack." Ironically, former President Bush has not made any comments on the current administration or on Cheney's statement. 

On April 7, in response to the statements made by Cheney, Biden said Cheney was "dead wrong," and that the choices of the former administration had made America "safer."  Biden also proceeded to lash out at Cheney by telling an elaborate story of an encounter with Biden and Bush, stating, "I remember President Bush saying to me one time in the Oval Office, and he was a great guy, enjoyed being with him. He said to me, 'Well, Joe,' he said, 'I'm a leader.' And I said, 'Mr. President, turn around and look behind you. No one's following.' People are beginning to follow the United States again as a consequence of our administration." Many wonder if the outspoken statements made by Biden will negatively affect Obama as he tries to establish his foreign diplomatic credibility with surprise trips to Iraq and Afghanistan last week.  I think they hinder the spirit of Obama's intended message of unity. They mar an administration that is supposed to be a departure from the partisanship and snarky fighting of the former.

Since this exchange of statements between Cheney and Biden two weeks ago, there have been some responses to their comments.  Former deputy White House chief of staff Karl Rove called Biden a "serial exaggerator" saying that most of the things that Biden says could be construed as lies and that it is a "habit he ought to drop," according to UPI.com.  Even in the grand world of pop culture, these little tiffs have been immortalized in the opening skit to an episode of "Saturday Night Live."  On the sketch comedy show, they portrayed the exuberant vice president (played by actor Jason Sudeikis) sitting in the Oval Office as the president (played by actor Fred Armisen) walks in.  The skit pokes fun at Joe Biden's long-winded stories, statements with Cheney and Rove and is a supposed fabrication of his public statements.

Regarding both sides of these statements, it seems that many of these words have been said prematurely.  President Obama has yet to reach the six-month mark in his administration and it will take more time to see any long time results.  Who is to say that certain decisions that have been made will lead to the immediate despair of the United States?  With any policy and decision, it takes time to be integrated and absorbed into society. 

I don't feel the need to take a particular side, but I do feel the need to say that public spats - of any nature - are not good for our world image. This showdown of vice presidents is largely a bunch of hot air. The United States is very dependent on the words we use to convey our reasoning.  I feel that both Biden and Cheney should next time think before they speak in this evolving society.  Communication is key in a globalized society. But maybe it truly is hard to teach an old dog new tricks.



Madison Shelton is a junior majoring in anthropology. She can be reached at op-ed@thetriangle.org.

Page 1 of 1

Article Tools