David Brooks talked about the "Bystander Effect" in reference to the Penn State tragedy, and make no mistake, it is a tragedy. Mr. Brooks explained that study after study has shown that most people would just as soon as walk away or ignore criminality than do something to intervene. E.J. Dionne begged to differ with his colleague, but unfortunately David Brooks is correct and most would do nothing.
It is in an instant where the bystander effect appears. However, it is also that instant that produces heroes. In the case of Penn State, Mike McQuery - the assistant coach who witnessed and didn't stop Jerry Sandusky from sodomizing a boy in the shower - is no hero. In that moment, he could have done the right thing, he had the means. Mr. McQuery is a former Penn State quarterback - 6'5"/220. He's not a criminal, but he's no hero, something that has been sorely missed through out this entire investigation. And Mr. Paterno isn't one either, deserved to be fired and is too senile to understand that in trying to protect his legacy and his job, every moral fortitude he said he tried to instill in his players was never a factor in his own conduct. Many victims and no heroes define a tragedy. Today's first guest, Governor Tom Corbett (R-PA), didn't know if there were more victims, but there most certainly are - how could there not be when considering loved ones and family members.
Speaking of a bystander, Michele Bachmann was the latest on the "Meet The Candidate" series, and the reason for this designator is her answer on torture. She would reinstate it by allowing interrogators to use water boarding, which is in fact torture.
Congresswoman Bachmann said that the Penn State tragedy should start a national dialogue. On what? Morality? It's difficult to have that discussion with someone who has no moral dilemma when it comes to torturing people. Also, in being another candidate who would 'listen to the generals on the ground" when it comes to foreign policy, she won't listen to them when it comes to their collective opposition to water boarding.
Ms. Bachmann went on to explain to the key to winning the 'war on terror' comes in the form of interrogation, and that Mr. President is almost trying to lose the battle because of his lack of use of this torturing. It is exactly why we may be winning the war on Al Qaeda - because we're not using water boarding. What Michele Bachmann doesn't understand is that by not using torture, our moral compass in the view of the world has a better perception while we are in the midst of sending out more predator drones.
She then switched to the real right-wing fear mongering and pandering rhetoric, saying the the A.C.L.U. is running CIA, and that we have no prison for Al Qaeda terrorists refusing to acknowledge Mr. Gregory's reminder of the Guantanamo Bay Prison. She said that President Obama is 'losing the peace' in Iraq and that the Iraqis should pay back the United States the $800 billion it spend on the war and should also pay back the families of fallen soldiers.
But how about the 10's of thousands of Iraqi citizens killed in the war? What amount the millions who were displaced to other countries because of the war? What about the $9 billion dollars in cash the Secretary Rumsfeld lost, yes lost, in Baghdad?
Lastly, Mr. Gregory asked the Congresswoman if it were a disqualifier for Herman Cain as a candidate if the sexual assault allegations turn out to be true, and her response was telling. She said it is up to the voters. Well, if those allegations are proven, then it's not up to the voters, it's up to the law, and in fact is a disqualifier. In this moment, Ms. Bachmann could have stood up in the face of a popular candidate (Mr. Cain), as she does when it comes to Mitt Romney's flip-flopping, and taken the right stand. By not doing it, she is suffering from the bystander effect.
Guests: Pennsylvania Governor Tom Corbett, GOP candidate Representative Michele Bachmann, DNC Chair Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz, roundtable with David Brooks and E.J. Dionne.
Post Script:
During the interview with Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL), the congresswoman had a tough time defending President Obama's economic policy. And remember she is also the DNC chairperson. She pleaded the case that it's Republican obstruction that it causing the economy stagnate, outlined the job growth for the last 20 months versus the massive job losses prior.
So why do we say that she had a tough time - two reasons. One, the congresswoman did not possess a compelling answer for the mother of all political questions, are we better off than we were four years ago. She said the 'President's fighting,' Well everyone's 'fighting' right now literally and figuratively in this country so if the President wants to cut through the clutter, his DNC chair needs a list of accomplishments because Americans really like it when they see the government getting something done.
Secondly, the debt is blowing up and we're still at 41% deficit spending during this administration year over year with employment figures at 9%. Her rebuttal was that the debt needs to be reduced in a responsible way, but it would be more responsible to always have your budget in line, which frankly the Obama Administration does not.
One More Thing...
E.J. Dionne used the great word 'bellicose' in describing Mitt Romney's rhetoric on Iran's nuclear ambitions. Mr. Romney said during the second of two Republican debates this week that under President Obama's leadership, Iran will acquire nuclear weapons, while under a Romney Administration they would not. We get it, it's a sexy Republican position to be rhetorically hard on Iran's nukes and threaten military action - a bad idea by the way. Another word should be added which was noted in the first debate - pandering. Jon Huntsmann said that Mitt Romney's economic stance on China was pandering, and with regard to Iran, his comments are just more of the same. It's not like when he's sitting in the White House and then Iran does indeed get nukes, he can just say, "Oops."
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