George Will continues to tell his believers what they want to hear

George Will continues to tell his believers what they want to hear

The George Will essay pub- lished in last Tuesday’s Vindicator is — how else can I say it? — vintage George Will. He uses a 14-letter word (aggrandizement) in the first sentence. In the second one he invokes the shadow of an early 20th Century leftist writer. Next he tells us that Barack Obama, whom other right-wingers have been dismissing as a wimp, is actually pushing a sort of militaristic agenda for American government: “This is a recurring dream of progressives eager to dispense with tiresome persuasion and untidy dissension in a free, tumultuous society.”

Will then argues that, “Progressive presidents use martial language as a way of encouraging Americans to confuse civilian politics with military exertions, thereby circumventing an impediment to progressive aspirations – the Constitution, and the patience it demands.” In other words, when Republicans in Congress filibuster and otherwise obstruct needed legislation for months at a time, they’re patriots seeking to be loyal Americans, not just 2-year-old brats who have learned the power of the word “NO!”

After a few more daunting but ultimately nonsensical paragraphs he summarizes his argument: “Like other progressive presidents fond of military metaphors, (Obama) rejects the patience of politics required by the Constitution he has sworn to uphold.”

For all his fancy words, Will seems to be unable to distinguish between unhurried negotiation and plain obstructionism, confusing “not yet” with “never.” To use a common analogy, this distortion of present-day Republican obstructive tactics in Congress is just trying to put lipstick on a pig.

I wouldn’t get rid of George Will as a columnist, though. He continues to be useful to reactionaries seeking confirmation of their opinions.

Robert D. Gillette, Poland