by David Colello

Created on: April 21, 2008

It is the first right of any U.S. citizen to speak their mind, and so it is safe to assume that the same right applies to former Presidents. As for whether or not they should, the decision is their own personal one. Speech, and criticism in particular, has its own innate checks and balances by which all people must abide. Criticism is a double-edged sword, bringing judgment upon both parties involved. Any discerning person who hears criticism immediately looks at the trustworthiness of the source. Assuming it is found to be worthy of consideration, then the content of the critique is examined. No matter how credible the source, a rant is still a rant. People of high standing in society are generally more even measured in their public comments for this reason. Respect is a commodity, and it is easy to use all of yours up and be left with no one listening anymore. What you say has consequences, and anyone who wishes to exercise their 1st Amendment Right must also be prepared to accept the responsibility for their words.

Now as for former Presidents, they are uniquely qualified to speak about current presidential policies and actions, but they are also under intense scrutiny for their propriety. President Ford chose the easy way out by keeping his criticisms private until his posthumous memoirs were published. This is looked on by some as an acceptable middle ground for a former President. It doesn't prompt charges of sullying the Office of the Presidency or meddling with current politics, but it allows his opinion to be heard. Others will say that this is a cowardly act, and that if he had such concerns he should have made them publicly known earlier. President Carter on the other hand, openly defies the current administration, most notably in his decision to meet with Hamas leaders in Syria. Being a Democrat makes it easier for President Carter to go against the current unpopular administration, but it is a brazen move nonetheless. President H. W. Bush and President Clinton are exempt from this discussion because they are both too closely tied, positively or negatively, to current politics. No one expects them to be impartial observers.

If a former President wants to speak out against Bush's policies, they should do so with tact and maintain the dignity of the Office. It is worth noting that just because they do not speak out publicly, that does not mean that they are not making the opinions known. They have unprecedented access to everyone in politics, even to President Bush directly. Whether their advice is sought or heeded is another matter, and speaks to the real reason why they choose to go public with their criticism. It seems likely that they try to influence from behind the scenes first. When they talk to the media, they are making a not too subtle gesture of defiance to someone who did not take their private criticism to heart. Maybe this is a petty move by someone who held the highest office in the land, but it is undeniably their right.

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