Yesterday evening's musical performance by Condoleezza Rice at the Aspen Institute and Aspen Music Festival should have been called, Shanda (Yiddish for travesty) and Schubert. But Boosha (Hebrew for shame) and Brahms would be just as appropriate. What else to label this mostly musical performance before some of the nations most influential citizens?
With global terrorism, economic breakdown at home and abroad, no positive outlook in the Middle East, and soldiers still dying in both Iraq and Afghanistan, is this really the right presentation for our Secretary of State to be giving? And as I asked people this same question as they were heading to the performance, they all basically agreed that it was not.
Yes, she made some "substantive" remarks. But given the condition of the world right now, and her position, focusing on her admittedly stunning ability to play the piano, is just not good. It smacks of genuine surrender. It actually brings to mind the image of those musicians playing on the deck of the Titanic in its final hours - they already accepted that there were no lifeboats left, so why bother trying to save themselves or anybody else?
By the way, if the current administration wants to help get Barack Obama elected, these are just the kind of things that its leading members should keep doing. By failing to stay meaningfully engaged (some of you will scream: "Stay"? When were they ever meaningfully engaged?) in every issue for as long as they can, they reinforce the very hopelessness to which Senator Obama presents himself as the solution. Maybe that's why the largely liberal crowd was so happy with her performance....
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Author, radio and TV talk show host, and President of CLAL-The National Jewish Center for Learning and Leadership, Brad Hirschfield is the author of 
I rather like Ms. Rice and I sure would not want to have her job. I have a feeling that the situation in the Middle East is such that no one could manage to look effective as Secretary of State. She is dealing with people who are fanatical and really don't want compromise, which makes diplomacy tough.
I am glad she played the piano. In some way, it probably helps her to remain sane.
I'm all for multitalented people multitasking in an appropriate time place way. But this campaign has taken on a tone that is not healthy. While I understand my students especially looking for strong black role models I find a few things disconcerting. Why is is Ms Rice not seen as a strong back role model by young women and young men? She is attractive poised accomplished yet blacks view her as a sellout. If she were a man this wouldn't be the case. Why are there tee shirts that state "My president is black"? If whites did it that would be rightly called racism. Obama is not president. If elected he should be president of all people not just blacks. Anyway we have had other black presidents if you do your historic research. Check it our for yourself don't take my word for it. What about the role model of Bill Cosby for example? Why hasn't he commented? Because he's intelligent well informed astute and knows what is appropriate and what is not. Why introduce racism if that's been the problem all along?
Rice was a disaster as National Security Adviser. 9/11 happened on her watch. The Aug. 6, 2001, presidential daily brief was her responsibility. She's walked and danced away from every foreign policy crisis of the last 8 years. If she ultimately endorses Obama, which some say is possible, it could be the kiss of death for his campaign. Whichever candidate she endorses will suffer.
Please, Condi, go shopping for shoes and give the world a break from your incompetence.
I am an old goy who, thankfully, was raised in a predominantly Jewish section of Brooklyn's (N.Y.) Williamsburg district. Were I to come face to face with any of President Boob's entourage I would say, and you should pardon the spelling bubula, "Ich hub die in dred."
Lighten up!
PS--I'm an Obama supporter. And, incidentally, a Brahms supporter. It's just... let the lady play her piano!
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