Hillary's Weasel Words

In the light of full disclosure, let me say that as I write this, I am a Barack Obama supporter.  Several days ago I wrote a similar post, examining a brochure from the Obama campaign.    

In my mail today, I received a brochure from the Hillary Clinton campaign.  Here’s what she promises:

1. I will create jobs in every corner of America.
2. I will protect Hoosier family values.
3. I will fight every day to rebuild and protect Indiana families.

In another venue, Hillary promises to remove the federal tax on gasoline and to recover the money that would be lost, to the federal coffers, by taxing big oil companies. 

This is what she promises, now let’s take a look at what she, herself, can actually do.

To promise to create jobs in every corner of the nation is really a pipe dream.  Presidential action can sometimes help create jobs, but to promise to do it in every part of the nation stretching the truth to the absolute maximum.  

Senator Clinton says she will protect Hoosier family values.  Exactly what are Hoosier family values?  I don’t believe I could list all the Hoosier family values and I don’t think Hillary can do so either.  “Family values” is simply a weasel term used by political candidates from both parties when they want to pander to working class people.  Clinton, for example, favors a woman’s right to choose an abortion early in her pregnancy.  Personally, I agree with her on this one, but I don’t think that value would qualify as a Hoosier family value.  

She says she will fight to rebuild and protect Indiana families.  I did not know Hoosier families were broken.  From what must they be protected?  This is another weasel phrase which literally has no meaning at all.  

The gasoline tax relief is literally a joke.  First, as president, Clinton could not remove the tax without Congressional approval and a special tax on oil companies would also require action by the U.S. Congress.

Now let me make my view clear.  I can and surely will support either of the Democratic candidates.  Either Clinton or Obama would be massively superior to the current president or Republican nominee John McCain.  So, if Clinton gets the Democratic nomination, you can be sure I will do what I can to get her elected.  However, I am fed up with the way political candidates of every party communicate.  I long for a political candidate that simply tells folks the truth as she or he knows it and does not make pandering vague promises, so loaded with weasel words and pathos that all the precise meaning is squeezed out of them.

* Weasel words is a phrase I borrowed from author Richard Lederer, from his book Anguished English.