Political Animal
Blog
It seems the big overnight political story was New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie’s (R) speech in California, and the breathless speculation about his possible national ambitions. The conjecture varies by media outlet — the governor opened the door to running for president, closed the door to running for president, or dodged the question altogether.
In fairness to the political reporters struggling to read the tea leaves, Christie didn’t exactly make an effort to clarify his intentions. At one point, the governor seemed to deny any interest in running, only to say in the next breath that it would be arrogant of him to ignore those urging him to run. Yeah, that ought to clear things up.
That said, while the political world obsesses over every Christie-related rumor, what I found far more interesting last night was the governor’s speech itself. Most notably, this portion of the pre-written remarks stood out:
“A lot is being said in this election season about American exceptionalism. Implicit in such statements is that we are different and, yes, better, in the sense that our democracy, our economy and our people have delivered. But for American exceptionalism to truly deliver hope and a sterling example to the rest of the world, it must be demonstrated, not just asserted….
“Without the authority that comes from that exceptionalism — earned American exceptionalism — we cannot do good for other countries, we cannot continue to be a beacon of hope for the world to aspire to for their future generations.”
After having listened to the right for a long while, I’m pretty familiar with their preoccupation with “American exceptionalism.” I have no idea, however, what “earned American exceptionalism” is.
The response to Christie’s speech among conservatives was apparently quite positive, but since when does the right believe that American exceptionalism is anything less than self-evident?
I certainly can’t speak for conservatives on this, but my sense is that as far as the right is concerned, the United States has already earned our exceptional status. We did so, the argument goes, over the course of more than two centuries of historic, inspirational greatness.
To hear Christie tell it, American exceptionalism is hollow — indeed, it may not even exist — unless the nation, to his satisfaction, has “demonstrated” and “earned” it. I’m fairly certain this isn’t close to what the right has in mind.
Put it this way: what do you suppose the reaction would be if President Obama declared that the United States still has to “earn” American exceptionalism? I suspect the right would be apoplectic; his Republican rivals would speak of nothing else, and the White House would never hear the end of it.
So why are conservatives silent on Christie’s apparent ideological heresy?
Facebook
Twitter
estamm on September 28, 2011 8:04 AM:
IOKIYAR
sick-n-effn-tired. on September 28, 2011 8:04 AM:
IOKIYAR
For Everything .Period . End of Discussion.
BruceK on September 28, 2011 8:05 AM:
Six letters:
I
O
K
I
Y
A
R
c u n d gulag on September 28, 2011 8:07 AM:
Someone needs to run in and tell Krispy Kreme Christie that Murka's exceptionalism isn't 'earned, or even 'self-evident' - it's GOD GIVEN!!!
And don't you forget it, Chubbs!
Danp on September 28, 2011 8:10 AM:
Hypocrisy aside, it is a strange message to give to Republicans. How do you "earn" exceptionalism by dismantling government? Assume hypothetically that we got rid of regulations, taxes and social safety nets and that America thrived through the myths of free market capitalism. How does that make us a beacon of hope for people in third world nations, where, by the way, free market capitalism is the norm - yes, right down to the extreme corruption it buys.
hells littlest angel on September 28, 2011 8:20 AM:
At one point, the governor seemed to deny any interest in running, only to say in the next breath that it would be arrogant of him to ignore those urging him to run.
Yeah, if there's one thing you can't call Christie, it's arrogant.
j on September 28, 2011 8:21 AM:
Yes we are exceptional, exceptionally stupid. The oil refineries in Texas are killing people with cancer and diseases from emissions in the air and water.
Did Texas fine them heavily and force them to clean up their act?
No - Rick Perry's Texas gave them 135 million dollars desperately needed for schools, just to clean up their equipment, he is literally paying them not to kill so many people.
DAY on September 28, 2011 8:21 AM:
The myth of the rugged frontiersman lives on in the tortured souls of fat, fifty year old Tea Party activists that life has long passed by.
As they toss and turn in sleepless torpor, they are racked by fantasies of "what might have been".
Swellsman on September 28, 2011 8:25 AM:
Isn't this just more meaningless blather? Fine, Christie says it isn't enough to simply assert American "exceptionalism," that it must be earned. But unless he explains how to go about earning that exceptionalism this is just another speech in which the audience is to fill in the blanks with what they want to hear, and then the speaker gets credit for having said what they wanted to hear. (It never occurred to me before, but in a lot of ways political speeches are like cold readings.)
For example, I read Christie's words and think to myself: "Yeah, it's not enough to say we don't torture - we've gotta reclaim American exceptionalism by making sure we don't torture and punishing those whe have." But I can guarantee you that none of the Rightwingers interpret those words that way. Instead, they are all about: "Yeah. Time to get rido of this socialist system we have that provides unemployment and Medicare benefits, but taxes, and make America strong again so we can continue to lead the world."
I'd guess that Christie doesn't really mean anything with this speech, he only knew he had to say something and so he came up with some pablum that can be anything to anybody.
bdop4 on September 28, 2011 8:29 AM:
I totally agree. I'de say that since Reagan took office, this country has been anything but exceptional. The only exception to that statement was our establishment of the internet as a global technology.
But you don't become exceptional again through destroying the institutions that initially created it.
matt w on September 28, 2011 8:29 AM:
IOKIYAR. I mean, we've seen it over and over again: Republicans are the most gung-ho patriots in the world, and will call you a traitor if you dare question the U.S., until the American people elect a Democrat. Then they start talking about secession and tyranny and how we have to earn American exceptionalism by enacting the GOP economic agenda. If, God forbid, a Republican wins in 2012, politics will be back to stopping at the water's edge, if it's even allowed there.
CRhetts on September 28, 2011 8:31 AM:
I get the part of this post where you call out the hypocrisy of the conservative response to this speech, but:
"To hear Christie tell it, American exceptionalism is hollow � indeed, it may not even exist � unless the nation, to his satisfaction, has �demonstrated� and �earned� it."
Maybe I'm splitting hairs here, but it sounds for all the world like you're slamming Gov. Christie for his remarks on this subject. Don't count me as a defender of this man, but whenever a conservative challenges the sense and reason behind a common Republican talking point, progressives should go out of their way to plainly commend him or her for doing so.
I would much prefer a person like Christie as Obama's opponent in next year's election. In the event, of course I would support Obama, but I also believe this combination would encourage a great deal more rational debate based on facts rather than worthless talking points.
jrosen on September 28, 2011 8:31 AM:
I moved to NJ 4+ years ago after living in Mass. for 35 years. When Christie became Governor I was not pleased, and some of the things he has done (attacking the teachers, nixing the Manhattan tunnel, e.g.) have been pretty obnoxious, And he can be pretty obnoxious, but there is a certain Jersey City appeal to his style; that is where I live and I've gotten used to it. I even learned to say "You gotta problem with dat?" in an authentic snarl.
During the hurricane (which, in contrast to the snowstorm) he handled quite well, I was tickled to hear him address some idiots out on the Asbury Park beach with "And get the hell off of that beach!"
I understand "earned" American exceptionalism as meaning the same thing that MLK meant when he spoke of America "living up to the meaning of its creed". "Liberty and justice FOR ALL", while probably not achievable in the real world, is a goal that Americans have explicitly died for, even as their sacrifice seemed to be in vain. But there have been rays of light: I think of the segregated armed forces helping to defeat the worst racism in history and then being integrated by a Democratic president's order (Truman in 1947); of a Republican president (Eisenhower) enforcing the law with troops in Arkansas, of Medicare (which has been of great benefit to me personally of late) and Social Security.
Maybe I am being too kind to him, but perhaps Christie had such things in mind when he spoke of earning our status instead of just declaring it (while obviously working, as the TP does, to destroy everything that validates the claim). Anyway, it adds an interesting flavor to the mix, or mess, that is the Republican campaign. And depending on the reaction from NRO, Rush, Drudge, Fox, etc. makes a Christie run for the top spot less likely. Buckley and Goldwater might have approved, but they have been dead for some time now.
James M on September 28, 2011 8:31 AM:
The funny thing is the Gov. Christie is essentially correct. I attended a special lecture at Columbia by a visiting Canadian professor. He said that the difficulty of the American myth/vision is that it resides in the future. The myth of the U.S. is based on endless frontiers and constant success.
The professor pointed out that most countries base their driving cultural myths in a glorious past (or in the promise of a glorious future). America, however, must be ever-more successful now. In that sense, Christie is being true to our central cultural mythos. In order to 'talk the talk' we must 'walk the walk'.
Actually, this episode has 2 ironies. The 1st is that the GOP is giving Mr. Christie a pass. The 2nd is that the GOP is doing everything it possibly can to weaken America's global competitiveness through ignoring global warming and rejecting basic science and refusing to invest in infrastructure for America's future.
SteveT on September 28, 2011 8:39 AM:
I hate to say this, but Christie is correct. "American exceptionalism" isn't something you earn and then frame and hang on your wall to have forever. It is something that you have to keep earning, over and over.
Every time America doesn't live up to our ideals, we become a little less exceptional. Every time we execute a man who was probably innocent, every time we kidnap and torture someone, every time we distort our laws to allow virtual slavery and forced prostitution in places like Northern Mariana, our exceptionalism is tarnished and we become just like every other country.
Now I don't think Christie meant it quite that way. I'm sure he meant that "American exceptionalism", where America is a shining beacon for the world, is based on our "free markets" -- ignoring the fact that markets, like people, can never be truly free to do whatever they want. I think Christie was saying that America's exceptionalism has been diminished by electing a socialist who want to "redistribute wealth" by taking away the fruits of the hard work of the "job creators" and giving it to the lazy and the unproductive.
Christie is still wrong. But he's slightly less wrong than any of the announced Republican presidential candidates.
Newton Whale on September 28, 2011 8:46 AM:
Hey, kids!
I've got a swell idea!
Why doesn't some Sunday morning gasbag, with access to a large TV audience, such as David Gregory, you know, ASK HIM?
"Gov. Christie, you recently said that American exceptionalism has to be earned. Are you suggesting that America is not inherently great? That America might, in fact, be just another country? That some other country might be MORE exceptional? What kind of message does that send to the troops?"
But that's not Fluffy's style, and he might not get invited back to the Kewl Kids Klub.
sick-n-effn-tired. on September 28, 2011 8:48 AM:
I especially liked the part of the speech where he invoked St Ronnie as a decisive individual who dealt with "problems" Was that like raising taxes to cover the descent into a quagmire of debt courtesy of astronomical defense budgets?
hells littlest angel on September 28, 2011 8:49 AM:
"American exceptionalism," as originally conceived, was a bit of idealistic humbug. It has since degenerated into just garden-variety bullshit.
Spell-check flags "exceptionalism" as a non-word. Smart spell-check.
rrk1 on September 28, 2011 8:53 AM:
What does IOKIYAR stand for?
I realize the world is whirling past me at ever increasing speeds, but this one has eluded me.
martin on September 28, 2011 8:53 AM:
since when does the right believe that American exceptionalism is anything less than self-evident?
January 20, 2009
Anonymous on September 28, 2011 9:12 AM:
What does IOKIYAR stand for?
It's OK if you're a Republican.
Joe B on September 28, 2011 9:15 AM:
If Obama had said American "exceptionalism" has to be earned, the right would be burning him in effigy. But the right asserts "exceptionalism" as a cover for some right un-American absurdity like torture or the unnecessary invasion of Iraq killing and maiming, in total, hundreds of thousands of Iraqis and Americans. That of course makes it the equivalent of a serial killer protesting that he comes from a very good family.
T-Rex on September 28, 2011 9:17 AM:
Well, isn't it obvious? America can't be "exceptional" as long as there is a Democrat in the White House. We have to "earn" our exceptionalism by returning to the proper order of things: a good Republican president who shoots from the hip, sends in the troops, and puts low-rent countries in their place without any snooty intellectual stuff about understanding them or their culture or history.
DAY on September 28, 2011 9:25 AM:
exceptionalism is easily acquired: Buy a big foam finger, and scream "WE NUMBER ONE!
Then go have another beer.. .
rrk1 on September 28, 2011 9:33 AM:
Thank you anonymous. I didn't realize the double standard for Republicans had been reduced to shorthand, but it makes perfect sense. Everything is OK if you're a Republican, and nothing can possibly be right if you're not.
BetweenTheLines on September 28, 2011 9:34 AM:
My first reaction to this was exactly Swellsman's assessment @8:25.
But, of course, the meta question in Steve's post isn't about dissecting the semantics of a bullshit GOP talking point. It's that one political party has a national media apparatus that can completely drive the rest of the national media discussion. This imbalance of power creates a reality in which one party has to constantly walk on egg shells and be nearly perfect in the face it presents to the public, and another party can incrementally move to the fringes of its ideology with impunity.
Johnny Canuck on September 28, 2011 9:41 AM:
hells littlest angel on September 28, 2011 8:49 AM:
"American exceptionalism," as originally conceived, was a bit of idealistic humbug. It has since degenerated into just garden-variety bullshit.
Spell-check flags "exceptionalism" as a non-word. Smart spell-check.
So I went to my Canadian Oxford Dictionary (c1998). It has two definitions, a generic one and
"the belief that the peaceful capitalism of the US is an exception to the Marxist law of the inevitability of violent class struggle"
Johnny Canuckb on September 28, 2011 9:45 AM:
James M on September 28, 2011 8:31 AM:
The funny thing is the Gov. Christie is essentially correct. I attended a special lecture at Columbia by a visiting Canadian professor.
Do you happen to remember the name of the professor or the approximate date or title of the lecture?
burro on September 28, 2011 9:54 AM:
The 'baggers would quickly be out of love with C.C.
"Earned American exceptionalism" might be the concept, (a concept defined by no one but me), that honorable and fair minded behaviour by the player at the top provides some justification for the uber Poobah to nudge/shove other less respectable, and more poorly behaved, international entities, (both political and corporate), to pursue being their better selves.
Maybe C.C. understands that just saying it, and deluding oneself that its true, doesn't make being "exceptional" a reality. And that would make him rather exceptional on either side of the political aisle, as he speaks heresy with a sugar coated slyness.
As r's go, I find myself having moments, (small "m"), of appreciation for Mr. Christie.
FRP on September 28, 2011 10:34 AM:
Freedom may be a devotion to the ideal which enables the individual to make choices resulting in a polarity reduced to either slavery , or an enslavement to the maintenance of the conditions that permit an individual the choices based on personal enlightenment .
Earned American Exceptionalism , a parochial conceit that posits acceptance of this utterance style of pure hubris being the received wisdom of the so called 'humble privileges' of the wealthy and powerful . Assumed and based on the prudent colonizing of other less gun able nations wealth , and resources , by powerful nations with more , big , and able guns .
Same as it ever was ...
Buffalonian on September 28, 2011 10:49 AM:
I think Steve and most of the commentators here are being overly partisan and short-sighted. Yes, if Obama said this, there would be an uproar on Fox et al. Yes, Christie pursues policies which are bad for America and does so in a way which is meant to optimize offense to opponents. That's all true.
But, couldn't we on the left rise above name-calling (every single reference to Christie's weight is reprehensible and should be decried by all decent people) and partisan mockery?
I find Christie's statements here to be worthwhile. We don't just get to talk the exceptionalism talk, we need to walk the walk.
Now, I have one idea what makes us exceptional. Christie's ideas are largely different, I would guess. Let's have that debate. But let's not mock Christie for making a statement which is intellectually honest. Let the Democrats articulate clearly why providing a safety net, honoring international laws and treaties, and maintaining a fair voting system make us exceptional. Let the Republicans argue how dismantling the safety net and letting corporations exercise undue influence over an imperial presidency makes us exceptional.
But let's not jump on every utterance that a Republican makes as stupid. And please, let's not wallow in calling a man's ideas stupid because he eats too much.
Gov't Mule on September 28, 2011 10:52 AM:
First, most Republicans aren't patriots at all, but nationalists. The way morans (sic) like Perry and Bachmann view American exceptionalism is a political version of the Doctrine of Papal Infallibility. That is America can do no wrong. We never torture or citizens or other people,; we don't conduct illegal wiretapping; we don't engage in corruption and cover-ups; we don't start illegal wars of aggression; we don't encourage CIA led coups like in Chile; and so on and so on. Everything is dogma to these Teapublicans and they refuse to view America through anything but rose colored glasses.
digitusmedius on September 28, 2011 11:07 AM:
Apparently Christie is unaware that American Exceptionalism was ordained by GAWWWWD.
Ray Waldren on September 28, 2011 11:43 AM:
Gov. Christie reminds me of another Northeastern Governor from neighboring New York. In 1964 Nelson Rockefeller was the great moderate-liberal hope to derail the Goldwater juggernaut. All that spring & summer Rockefeller was repeatedly interviewed regarding his interests in running for President or lack thereof. He called several news conferences, raising people's hopes and then dashing them as he repeatedly said he wasn't running.
A better question of Mr. Christie is "who's your Bill Scranton?" Gov. Scranton of PA was the poor fool who ran in Rockeffer's stead and was beaten by Goldwater, and then the Republican party was "massacred" electorally in the fall of 1964.
Zorro on September 28, 2011 11:43 AM:
So why are conservatives silent on Christie’s apparent ideological heresy?
Because he's white.
-Z
Bless on September 28, 2011 12:18 PM:
One could draw parallels to king-of-the-mountain. It took exceptionalism to be the best, but it will require an even greater, demonstrated if you will, exceptionalism to maintain it. One doesn't get to the top out of empathy to show others how to get to the top, the helping others is merely a nice thing to provide to others, because you can.
It's nice to know not all Republicans pander to, as Gov't Mule correctly tagged, blind nationalism.
Anner_Roo on September 28, 2011 12:23 PM:
Earned American exceptionalism - Those who earned exceptionalism in America, i.e. "job creators"?
So...
�Without the authority that comes from - "job creators" � we cannot do good for other countries, we cannot continue to be a beacon of hope for the world to aspire to for their future generations.�
MiamiSam on September 28, 2011 12:37 PM:
This is just a pandering kickback to El Rushbo and fan club who have been hearing for the last week that Obama doesn't think we have earned our exceptionalism. Sneaky unless you know what you're listening for.
MNRD on September 28, 2011 1:45 PM:
I agree completely that Governor Christie's comments on American Exceptionalism are very much in line with President Obama's view (and my own personal view)and very much in conflict with the standard Republican view. For example, Governor Romney has characterized the notion that American Exceptionalism must be "earned" as "apologizing for America". Romney's view seems to be that ANY claim that America could conceivably engage in ANY political behaviors that might be considered unworthy of the title of "exceptionalism" constitutes "apologizing for America". In fact, that seems to be Romney's central line of attack on President Obama.
This is THE central philosophical issue regarding how America should conduct itself on the world stage - and with these comments, Governor Christie clearly stands on our side of the argument.
Bloix on September 28, 2011 2:04 PM:
America is exceptional because God. If America does something it's good even if someone else did it it would be bad. Like if we blow up people in Pakistan it's good but if someone from Pakistan blows people up here it's bad. Also too, America is the best, richest, free-est country in the world with the best health care and the best food and the best highways and everything and if you quote statistics to show that the cheese-eating surrender monkeys have it better then you and your statistics are terrist sharia-loving socialist Kenyans.
Nothing "earned" about it.
Swift Loris on September 28, 2011 2:47 PM:
@burro: As r's go, I find myself having moments, (small "m"), of appreciation for Mr. Christie.
Me too, and I hate myself for it. But I find it difficult to interpret what was quoted much differently than I would if a Democrat had uttered it.
Isn't it possible that he made these quite un-conservative remarks about American exceptionalism as a way of letting those who keep pressuring him to run for the Republican nomination know what they'd be getting if he agreed? IOW, "If you really want me to run, you'd better be ready to support my positions, which in some cases are sharply different from those of the right wing. Otherwise, go away and stop bothering me."
DenverRight on September 28, 2011 3:24 PM:
Hell, I AM a conservative, and I don't know what Christie's "earned exceptionalism" means , either.
And maybe THAT's why some Republicans are silent on the issue (he needs to explain it better). I DON'T think it represents an ideological heresy. Benen may call that APPARENT, but then admits his confusion, as well.
I tend to align (halfway) with Swellsman (8:25), that it isn't enough to BE exceptional, it is necessary to CONTINUE to be exceptional in order to help others. (the wrong half is the torture example, which is tortured logic - and an irrelevant cheap shot).
Speaking of cheap shots, the silence on the right is CERTAINLY NOT, as some racist here suggested, because Christie "is white."
Silence might simply betoken confusion. But introducing the race card seems to be a frequent favorite of some bigots - play on.
unbiasedeye on September 29, 2011 4:11 PM:
It's a Thousand Points of Light, Morning in America, and whatever nonsense you want to add. It doesn't become clearer or murkier.
I read those stories and worried about Christie. Deep down I have hope that Obama will prevail, but a non-clown candidate is worrisome. Then I watched a video of Christie's talk, and some of his other speeches. Not to sound shallow, he's just a boring, short, fat guy who won't be elected.
---
http://unbiasedeye.com