Another Look at History

This morning I watched a news report, which exact one is irrelevant because they all seem to be the same regarding this issue, on the Senate confirmation hearings of Timothy Geitner as Secretary of the Treasury. We all may, but should, be familiar with the secretary designate’s “minor” problem with the IRS. In the real world, no one has a minor problem with the IRS. That agency is famed for its tenacity and “brutality” in evaluating, penalizing and collecting the delinquent taxes owed, by its own reckoning. No legal or moral entity can overturn the decisions of the IRS. That is, unless the violator is designated as the next Secretary of the Treasury, the head of the agency which oversees the IRS. Secretary Designate Geitner has been allowed to remain indebted to the IRS until his impending appointment was called into review by the Senate. Then, and only then, Geitner agreed to settle his delinquency. I heard a critic wish that he might be allowed to maintain an outstanding account with the IRS until he, himself, may be so designated. In general, the various media news entities have dismissed the importance of Geitner’s delinquent status as an “unintended error”, mirroring the statements of the incoming Obama administration. I bet Mr. Bush wishes that these media “Obamaphiles” had been so supportive of the Bush party line in their various broadcasts. Our press has been afforded, by the constitution, certain privileges which render it immune from any government attempt to silence or influence it. That privilege comes with an unstated responsibility to be vigilant and inquiring, not a rubber stamp of their favorites.
What can we expect from a press sector which, privately and publicly, anointed their favorite, Obama, and excoriated his opponent for even raising questions about Obama’s readiness or suitability to serve, during the campaign? Some Obama detractors have inappropriately, I believe, referred to him as the “Savior” or the “Anointed One”, due to their frustration with the thinly veiled advocacy within the press. To be fair, it must be noted that Obama never requested or demanded such partiality from his erstwhile allies in the press, and it could hardly be posited that he should have rejected such support on the basis of fairness. Nonetheless, he did benefit unjustly. The “impartial” reporters seemingly anointed their choice. This reminds me of the overall reaction, in the news media, to the candidacy of President Kennedy in his campaign against Nixon. It also reminds me of the adoration given to another iconic anointee.
Over five hundred years ago, between 1495 and 1498, creative genius Leonardo da Vinci devoted his unequaled talents to the depiction of a scene of great religious historic significance, the Last Supper. This great inspired work of art shows Leonardo’s imaginative picture of the last supper of Jesus Christ. It also depicts the attendance of his twelve disciples, in an arrangement meaningful to many. This great masterpiece serves as our representation of that event.
What will Americans five hundred years hence say and think about the untarnished admiration afforded to President Obama by his adoring press? Will they adopt a more






discerning view of the press’s sycophancy? Might future Americans develop a sarcastic attitude about the role played by an adoring press, as they ignored all of Obama’s flaws and branded those who detracted, by virtue of those flaws, as racists or worse ( although in today’s politically correct atmosphere there can hardly be a designation more severe than alleged racism)? Let us look at the Last Supper as an example of the unconditional admiration one, however righteous he may be, can enjoy. Will Geitner be depicted as an adoring disciple, immune from any attempt at inspection? He has been lauded, without ever having indicating worthiness, much to the contrary, as necessary to our nation’s economic recovery. Will Gates, Secretary of Defense (leftover from the “evil” Bush administration) be depicted as Judas, especially if he ever differentiates himself from the views Obama may hold regarding the War on Terror? Will Hillary be depicted as the androgynously swooning John? Has Leonardo given us an inspired warning against unquestioning hero worship as opposed to the actual worship of heavenly, truly religious figures?
We have afforded the utmost respect and admiration to Leonardo for his inventive nature, his sensitive artistic talents and his apparent genius. We should reserve such regard for those who have shown that they are deserving of it. We should not regard those who have never demonstrated such qualities as “extra-humanly” endowed until such time as their actions and accomplishments justify that, nearly unique, regard. We should not infuse into the nature of any person infallibility reserved for the most holy and revered among us.
Although I wish him every success, and although I did not vote for his opponent, I hope we look at Obama, our nation’s first African-American president, with an undaunted eye capable of evaluating his accomplishments according to their real value and not infused with a false sense of unqualified admiration, due only to electoral distinction. I hope that Obama hopes for the same thing, as well, regardless of whatever his sycophantic followers may hope. Otherwise his presidency will not be measured, for posterity, by his actual accomplishments, only by his adoration. I think any man deserves better than that.