Will Gov. Christie give us another Oval Office connection?

In his 1961 Inaugural Address, President John F. Kennedy warned the world:

“Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe, in order to assure the survival and the success of liberty.”

It’s a ringing declaration, often quoted and much admired. But it has a dark side. Kennedy’s elevated language also speaks to why we became entangled in Vietnam.

The point is, words matter.

In 2002, President George W. Bush proclaimed the existence of an “Axis of Evil,” consisting of Iran, Iraq and North Korea.

The phrase purposely - and irresponsibly - evoked the Axis Powers of World War II, Germany, Italy and Japan, a vastly greater threat. Bush’s “axis” speech helped start us on the path to war.

In 2012, President Obama became entrapped in his own language when he said the Syrian government would be crossing a “red line” if it used chemical weapons against its own people.

His full statement was unclear about his intentions. It suggested, however, a military response, which never came despite Syria’s use of chemical weapons.

In his case, Obama decided not to go to war, but the “red line” comment cost him credibility. Since then, he’s been very careful about what he says.

The same can’t be said for the Republican presidential candidates, who seem intent on outdoing one another in making foolish comments.

Donald Trump receives the most attention, but he’s far from an outlier.

Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas, for example, vowed to “carpet bomb them [ISIS] into oblivion,” adding “I don’t know if sand can glow in the dark, but we’re going to find out.”

Joking about the use of nuclear weapons? Think how that plays in the Muslim world. ISIS should name Cruz Man of the Year for his efforts in helping recruit would-be terrorists.

But today’s column takes a look at Gov. Chris Christie.

Christie, we’re told, is on a roll.

He was endorsed by the New Hampshire Union Leader, and received good marks for performance in last Tuesday’s debate.

I want to like Christie. I’ve always had an affinity for our sister state across the bay. And he’s a University of Delaware grad, which makes him an honorary Delawarean.

With Vice President Joe Biden’s term ending in 2017, it would be nice to have another Delaware connection to the Oval Office.

But Christie’s good reviews were a triumph of style over substance. Or common sense. Or even coherence.

There was, of course, Christie’s reference to King Hussein of Jordan. As president, Christie said he would assure Hussein, “You have a friend again, sir, who will stand with you to fight this fight.”

Governors running for president often like to highlight their foreign policy chops, but here Christie set an extremely high bar. Hussein has been dead for 16 years.

Yes, that can be excused as the simple mistake of someone who’s been cramming his brain with the names of foreign leaders.

Not so his opening statement: “America has been betrayed. We’ve been betrayed by the leadership that Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton have provided to this country over the last number of years.

“Think about just what’s happened today. The second largest school district in America in Los Angeles closed based on a threat. Think about the effect that that’s going to have on those children when they go back to school tomorrow wondering, filled with anxiety [as] to whether they’re really going to be safe.”

That’s just plain weird.

By debate time, it had been determined that the bomb threat was a hoax.

So either Christie’s too slow to come up with a new statement - not impressive for a former prosecutor - or he really believes Obama “betrayed America” by not preventing a hoax.

Seriously? No president can realistically guarantee that he or she can prevent all terrorist attacks. Even Trump’s pal, dictator Vladimir Putin, hasn’t shut down all terrorist attacks.

Christie went farther. He, in effect, is promising to prevent future hoaxes.

Which can be carried out by anyone with access to a phone, fax, computer or, for that matter, pencil and paper.

This from a man who can’t prevent his own staff from closing traffic lanes on a bridge – inconveniencing thousands of people – for no reason beyond an idiotic attempt at political payback.

It was also odd that Christie showed more sympathy toward students who had been victims of a hoax than Republican politicians generally do for parents whose children have been slaughtered at a school shooting. Then we’re told we mustn’t “politicize” the issue.

Christie wasn’t done. He also called Obama and Hillary Clinton “reckless” for allowing Russia into Ukraine.

Look, if you think we should have gone to war over Ukraine, make your case. But to say it’s “reckless” not to go to war is a peculiar use of language.

Finally, Christie promised to set up a no-fly zone over Syria and to shoot down any Russian planes that violated the air space.

He didn’t say whether or not he himself would be manning a fighter jet.

Retired Air Force Col. Morris Davis said it best on debate night when he tweeted, “Get to hear nine candidates who avoided military service bluster how tough they’ll be using other people’s kids as fodder.”


Don Flood is a former newspaper editor living near Lewes. He can be reached at floodpolitics@gmail.com.