I think that Samantha Power is one of the outstanding intellectuals of our time. She has struggled with the question of how nations should respond to the signs of genocidal trends and been one of the key points of conscience within our foreign policy community.
Samantha Power also served as Barack Obama’s chief tutor on foreign policy during the first year of his tenure in the US Senate. I have no doubt that had she remained a “fellow” in his Senate Office, Power would have made sure he took the helm of Senate Foreign Relations Committee/European Subcomittee hearings to not only learn from those who might testify but to articulate his own views on the global challenges facing Transatlantic relations.
Regrettably, in what she tried to code as “off the record” comments after she spoke the words, Power referred to Hillary Clinton as a “monster.”
She has fallen on her sword, honorably:
“With deep regret, I am resigning from my role as an advisor the Obama campaign effective today. Last Monday, I made inexcusable remarks that are at marked variance from my oft-stated admiration for Senator Clinton and from the spirit, tenor, and purpose of the Obama campaign. And I extend my deepest apologies to Senator Clinton, Senator Obama, and the remarkable team I have worked with over these long 14 months,” said Samantha Power.
Hillary Clinton should quickly accept Power’s apology and acknowledgment of the kind of mistaken and overstatement that any one engaged in this contest could make.
And Hillary and Obama both should make clear that Samantha Power is the kind of voice who should be advising any presidential administration — including their own once elected.
Samantha Power is the author of the Pulitzer Prize-winning A Problem from Hell: America and the Age of Genocide as well as the newly published Chasing the Flame: Sergio Vieira de Mello and the Fight to Save the World.
— Steve Clemons
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