Hillary's two theories of power politics

Has anyone noticed the contrast between Hillary Clinton's position on responding to attacks from political opponents and her position on responding to insurgent attacks in Iraq?

On the one hand, the experiences of Michael Dukakis and John Kerry have convinced Clinton and other like-minded Democrats that the best response to domestic political attacks is to strike back fast and hard. "When you are attacked," she said, "you have to deck your opponent." To do otherwise, they argue, creates the perception of weakness, potentially encouraging more attacks. As a result, Clinton's campaign arguably overreacted in their counter-attack against Barack Obama and David Geffen, drawing more attention to Geffen's comments, linking Democrats with Hollywood moguls, and generally looking hyper-sensitive.

But in the debate over Iraq, Clinton and other Democrats take exactly the opposite perspective. She opposes President Bush's plan to counter the insurgency with an increased US troop presence. And she rejects the argument that the US should not withdraw because doing so would create a perception of weakness that would invite further attacks.

It's a strange juxtaposition.

Comments

[brent]

I'm sure Mr. Nyhan understands what a metaphor is. He is certainly aware that an agressive media statement is not actually an "attack" in the same sense that a military strike is an "attack". That different moral and tactical standards may apply to different things is not strange at all. Politics, though perhaps similar, is not actually war.

[Lettuce]

I'm just as sure Mr. Nyhan has no idea what a matephor is.

He does this time after time, I'm becoming convinced he's a failed comedian doing an Andy Rooney schtick: "DId you ever notice that..."

[laura]

Obama didn't attack the Clintons. Gefffen did, and when the Clintons attacked Obama over Geffen's words, an Obama staffer shot back. Obama then publically rebuked his staffer.

Your post doesn't state that Obama initiated an attack on the Clintons but it implies that he did. You really should correct this.

[Lettuce]

So Obama used the "publicly rebuked the staffer dodge." Did that come with a termination?