Of all the political issues that I cover here, I’ve always had a soft spot for the White House’s “bubble-boy” policies. It simply amazes me the extent to which the Bush gang will shield the president, not only from dissent, from anyone who might ask a question Bush is unwilling (unable?) to answer. It’s a historical oddity — presidents just aren’t supposed to hide in a bubble from people, ideas, and beliefs that differ from their own.
It’s distressing, therefore, to see Rudy Giuliani follow the same path.
In a swing through South Carolina this week, Rudolph W. Giuliani chose to campaign at a fire house, which is a little like Derek Jeter meeting with Yankees fans — a most unlikely forum for hostility, or even much skepticism.
Instead of the sometimes barbed give-and-take endured by the other candidates, Mr. Giuliani, the former mayor of New York, fielded a few questions from the firefighters and police officers who gathered to hear him here. The questions, which began with comments like, “Being in your presence here is just unbelievable,” stuck almost entirely to issues on which Mr. Giuliani is most comfortable, like airport security and border control.
More than the other major presidential candidates, Mr. Giuliani has limited himself to events with narrowly defined, friendly audiences, avoiding the kind of uncomfortable interrogations his rivals have occasionally faced. (emphasis added)
Leaders are supposed to learn what not to do by following Bush’s example. For a candidate to limit himself to “friendly audiences” is an act of political cowardice, plain and simple.
Granted, as far as I know, Team Giuliani has not yet asked people to sign loyalty oaths before they can get tickets, the way Bush/Cheney has. For that matter, I know of no examples of Giuliani aides removing audience members based on bumper stickers or being a relative of a Democrat, more staples of the Bush approach to crowd control.
But what does it say about Giuliani if, a year before a vote is even cast, he only wants to address audiences who’ll tell him what he wants to hear, and present glowing praise masquerading as questions?
Even as a tactical matter, the strategy appears misguided. If Giuliani plans on being a serious contender, eventually he’s going to have to talk to an audience or two filled with Republican skeptics. He can either tackle some tough questions now, and hone appropriate responses, or he can hide now and hope his mean ol’ critics will go easy on him later.
Giuliani has made his choice.
Aside from a couple of brief swings through diners, including one yesterday in Delray Beach, Fla., he has done little of the politicking that exposes candidates to random sets of people — at shopping malls or train stations — who might be of any political stripe, and can raise any issue.
Just what we need, another Bubble Boy.