Opinion Focus

Washington Post opinion columnist Eugene Robinson was online Tuesday, April 8 at 1 p.m. ET to discuss his recent columns and the latest news.

Discussion Group: Mr. Robinson's Neighborhood

The transcript follows.

Archive: Eugene Robinson discussion transcripts

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Eugene Robinson: Hello, everybody. Today's the day we hear from Gen. David Petraeus and Ambassador Ryan Crocker on why things are so bad in Iraq that we have to "pause" withdrawal of the troops sent in the "surge" -- but so peachy that we should be proud of this open-ended occupation and continue it indefinitely. Maybe that makes sense in some parallel universe. Anyway, we get to see the three remaining presidential candidates in action. Will any of them be able to see clearly through the fog of congressional testimony?

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Condi Rice: While I admire the accomplishments and diverse interests of Secretary Rice, I think she just doesn't have the personality a politician needs. Has she ever had a "Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall" moment? Have you ever seen a glimpse of a sense of humor? How about an expression of anger, regret or any other emotion. I just don't see her having anything more than a diverse look and an impressive resume.

washingtonpost.com: Run, Condi, Run! (Post, April 8)

Eugene Robinson: She would be an interesting candidate, though not necessarily a particularly good one. She does have a sense of humor, although she does not communicate it publicly. It would be fascinating to see if she could grow into the role.

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Washington: Please tell me that you were being facetious in your column this morning. Isn't the fact that Rice's record as National Security Adviser and Secretary of State is one of almost unmitigated disaster just a bit relevant here? She was -- by almost any measure -- the worst National Security Adviser ever. Her job was to make sure that Bush got reliable intelligence, but instead she sat on the al-Qaeda threat and let through hyped Iraq intel. As Secretary of State, she has accomplished ... well, nothing more significant than a fashion statement. So please tell me you were kidding.

Eugene Robinson: I was being facetious, mostly. Anyone who has ever read my column knows that I disagree with her foreign policy and her whole view of the world. I don't dismiss her, however -- I think she was wrong about almost everything, but because of ideology, not stupidity. Her record as secretary of state is not distinguished because the Bush administration's view of the world -- and she helped shape that view -- is nuts.

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Arlington, Va.: As a die-hard Democrat, I would absolutely love to see McCain pick Condi as his running mate. If Bush's approval ratings were twice their current level, Condi might be a plausible choice -- but Bush's approval ratings have been mired in the low 30s for what seems like an eternity, and voters clearly want a change from the Bush years. Unfortunately, I think McCain is too smart to pick as his running mate someone who ties him so closely not to an unpopular war (he's already tied to that with his support of the surge), but to an unpopular president and administration. That said, I hope he takes your advice!

Eugene Robinson: Shhhhhh! McCain might be listening.

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Katy, Texas: I really liked your previous article on the two black Americas. While I don't always agree with your point of view, I always find it thoughtful and important to understanding other viewpoints (attempt No. 1 to get a comment from you). If only our current administration placed as much priority to understanding all sides (attempt No. 2).

My point is this: Living in Houston, I see plenty of successful whites, blacks and Hispanics living in all communities with very few racial tensions among peers. Going back to my hometown of Birmingham, Ala., I see things quite differently. Whites and blacks refuse to trust the other because they still seem to play off each other to the detriment of both. In an attempt to stay elected leaders of the city and county play to the racial divide that still segregates communities -- and the area as a whole -- from the rest of the country. I don't know which to blame, but until they agree to spread the success, pain and responsibility to manage the area, there will continue to be no real progress to bringing the communities together. Your thoughts?

washingtonpost.com: Two Black Americas (Post, April 4)

Eugene Robinson: I think your phrase "among peers" is relevant. I think people are more likely to get along in an integrated suburb where residents have essentially the same economic situation and educational attainment than in a community (if this is the case -- I'm making an assumption here) where whites hold economic power and blacks, generally, are poor.

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Union, S.C.: I know this may sound crazy, but what about an Obama-Rice ticket? Where is it written that you have to be of the same party to be vice president? I'm thinking this is what would be best for this country.

Eugene Robinson: Since Obama and Rice have fundamentally different views of America's place in the world, this never would work.

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Arlington, Va.: Interesting column today about the possibility of Condi being on the McCain ticket (yikes!) ... in the unlikely event that such a thing does come to pass, do you think that this would have the effect of helping to neutralize the impact of gender and race in the general election? And -- bottom line -- would having Condi on the ticket help or hurt McCain in the general (both with his "base" and with the whole electorate)?

Eugene Robinson: Actually, I think having Rice on the ticket would neutralize the issue of gender and/or race for some voters -- and heighten the issue for some others. For one thing, McCain would have to completely abandon the Republican "Southern strategy" that has been so successful all these years. And since Rice is "mildly pro-choice" and supports affirmative action, the conservative Republican base -- which still doesn't really like McCain anyway -- would be unhappy, to say the least.

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Bethesda, Md.: Is there any interest in Congress in large scale work on infrastructure in the United States? It seems that it would fix things, improve pride, put money in the economy and give people work. And it is needed.

Eugene Robinson: Basically, no. Everyone in Congress talks about the need to get serious about our infrastructure, which is falling behind that of other developed countries. (And occasionally just falling -- like the bridge in Minnesota.) But is anybody serious about it? Only as a matter of pork. At least that's my reading.

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Seattle: Mr. Robinson, I find your writings to be generally insightful and sometimes funny. However, I wanted to point out the master: Garry Trudeau. This week, Doonesbury is re-re-running cartoons from years ago that are (and were) insightful and pretty funny. What's the significance of a cartoonist being able to continually re-use the same strips on our Iraq policy and still have them be relevant?

Eugene Robinson: That Trudeau is indeed a master, and that our Iraq policy makes no more sense now than it ever has.

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Washington: I don't get the sense that Rice enjoys the partisan political aspects of her public life (as opposed to the diplomatic, which I think she truly loves). She'll do Sunday talk shows and spout the party line (e.g. smoking guns and mushroom clouds), but it is evident that her heart isn't always in it. If she is going to pursue elected office, she will have to learn how to actually believe the lies that she tells. Not the life for Condi.

Eugene Robinson: If politics were such an onerous chore for her, I doubt she would bother to break bread with Grover Norquist and his group. What I don't think she has, at least at this point, is the burning need to run for office. If you don't really want to do it, you shouldn't.

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Smyrna, Ga.: Eugene, I cannot imagine why McCain would pick Condi or why Condi would say yes, but let's assume that both happens. At some point the American voters will wake up from their dream of Obama being the next president to Condi being the vice president of their nightmares. Can you cite any accomplishment on the part of Condi Rice that will not take Americans back to the years of "W"? Because if you can't, then I think it is fair to say that the matchup never will happen. And thank goodness, because I rather enjoy the dream I'm having of Obama being the next president. Talk about a rude awakening ... Condi, is that you?!

Eugene Robinson: As I wrote, I don't believe McCain is likely to invite Rice to join the ticket. If for some reason he did, however, I'm not at all sure that she would turn him down. Would she be any good as veep? I'm not sure that's even a relevant question. I worry more about what McCain would be like as president.

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Baton Rouge, La.: Thank you for taking my questions. If Condi Rice refuses to join the McCain's ticket, how about Colin Powell? What are McCain's plans to win the blacks' votes?

Eugene Robinson: Colin Powell has made clear his disdain for electoral politics. McCain says he intends to compete for the African American vote, but I don't think he seriously expects to win much of it. Generally, given the loyalty of black voters to the Democratic Party, Republicans make only a token effort. The idea is to demonstrate to nonracist white voters that they're not hostile to minorities.

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Rosslyn, Va.: Gene, you mentioned in your column that this years presidential race is the best reality show on TV this year, and I agree, and I'm glad to see you on TV almost as much as Kornheiser. I have been missing your columns about the second best reality show on TV, "American Idol." When will you get around to seeing the show? And when can we expect a column addressing the great issues, such as who should go next, Castro or Kristy Lee?

Eugene Robinson: Castro. The "soulful dreadlocks" thing is getting old.

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Baltimore: Re: The 40th anniversary of Doctor King's death, in all the coverage, I was struck by two facts. There was no civil disturbance in Boston because Mayor Kevin White allowed a James Brown concert to go on despite warnings from the police, then convinced the public TV station, WGBH, to carry the concert live. Brown made repeated personal pleas for peace in the course of the show, and Boston kept quiet.

Meanwhile, halfway across the country, Robert Kennedy, on a campaign stop in an African American neighborhood in Indianapolis, broke the news of King's murder to the audience. He discarded his prepared speech and spoke off the cuff for six minutes, making what may have been his only public reference to JFK's death when he told the audience "you know, I had a brother who was killed by a white man." He then went on to plead for peace and even shared a verse from "my favorite poet, Aeschylus." Indianapolis stayed calm. I think it shows how much influence one man (or one woman) can have for good in this world when they are brave enough.

Eugene Robinson: Maybe. I wonder if this version of history doesn't essentially begin with the result and then work backward in search of a cause. I agree that Robert Kennedy's speech was moving and may have had a profound effect on those who heard it that day, but a lot of people in Indianapolis didn't hear what he had to say. In other cities where there were riots, would-be peacemakers also tried to calm emotions -- less successfully, perhaps. My point is that it takes more than one person to stop a riot, or to start one.

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Arlington, Va.: When I see Condi Rice on a Sunday news show, the person who she reminds me of the most is Hillary Clinton; they both seem to have legalistic answers that parse words and answer the question without quite answering it. I wonder if it is the fear of being blunt that does this.

Eugene Robinson: When Rice wants to answer a question, she can be blunt. So I assume she doesn't really want to answer the questions.

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Richmond, Va.: As a conservative (one who believes in the free market place of ideas and opinions) I really appreciate your work and read it "religiously." I have to ask ... is there a bit of reverse psychology in your piece today? You are hoping Rice is vice president so it will add baggage to McCain, and hence hasten his downfall in November? Oh, I believe your credits to Secretary Rice are genuine, but as a conservative I worry she would bring too much attention to the failures/disappointments in Iraq to the election dialogue. She is very capable, but she seems to represent a lot of the Bush area that went wrong. My question is, does a Rice vice presidential ticket create more conversation about Iraq this fall?

Eugene Robinson: Yes! I mean, I hope so. Darn it, um, pretend I never said anything.

Seriously, I think there are a lot of reasons why McCain would not pick Rice, and Iraq is one of them -- he has sharply criticized the way the Bush administration ran the war, and she was one of the ones running it. Overall, she would add to his Iraq baggage, but he has decided to carry that weight anyway. If I try to take a serious look at McCain's options, from his point of view, who's he going to choose? Mitt Romney? McCain gives every impression of not being able to stand being in the man's presence.

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Washington: "The idea is to demonstrate to non-racist white voters that they're not hostile to minorities" This from the party whose leading senators include a former KKK member in Byrd? And whose leading candidate for president attends a black separatist church that is clearly racist against white people? I think a small dose of reality is needed. Look at cabinet secretaries and important positions in the past presidencies, and who has given more opportunity to minorities. Reality check.

Eugene Robinson: A few high-profile minorities in top positions as window dressing is not the same thing as a genuine commitment to diversity and opportunity. And if you deny the Republican Party's acknowledged Southern strategy, dating to 1968, then I'm afraid you're the one who needs a reality check.

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Bow, N.H.: Here's my problem with Condi Rice (and other academics in the Bush Administration like Yoo): She gave Bush's radical world view (e.g., preemptive war) a patina of legitimacy by stamping it with her Ph.D. background (never mind that her expertise in Soviet affairs is largely irrelevant to today's world). I think McCain can better see through these people than Bush, so she might not be a total disaster on your dream ticket.

Eugene Robinson: I agree, although I think Yoo is in a class of his own (he's the law professor who essentially argued that the president has the inherent powers of a despot). I disagree on one minor point: expertise in Soviet affairs hasn't been a hot ticket recently, but it promises to be more relevant as Russia becomes rich and begins to assert itself. The U.S.-Russia relationship is getting much more important than at any time since the end of the Cold War. (You'd think a Russia expert like Rice would have recognized this and tried to put the relationship on a better footing...)

Thanks, everybody. My time is up for today. See you again next week.

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