Obama Revives Cold War Liberalism

In Nobel speech, a 'Christian realist' Obama Doctrine

By Rob Quinn, Newser Staff

Posted Dec 15, 2009 5:33 AM CST

(Newser) – President Obama's Oslo speech showed a spirit of Christian realism that most liberals abandoned after Vietnam but that would have been very familiar to Harry Truman, writes David Brooks. Obama, by acknowledging that evil exists and stressing that power needs to be constrained within institutions like NATO, is applying the ideas behind Cold War liberalism to a different time, Brooks writes in the New York Times.

The president spoke of America's role in spreading democracy, of the moral obligation to defend freedom and of the "two seemingly irreconcilable truths" that war is both folly and necessary, Brooks notes. Obama has not always gotten the balance right between championing freedom and avoiding "self-destructive fervor, " he adds, but the Obama doctrine is becoming clear. "The Oslo speech was the most profound of his presidency, and maybe his life."

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President Obama's Nobel speech appears on a big screen at the Nobel Peace Prize concert in Oslo, Friday, Dec. 11, 2009. (AP Photo/Odd Andersen)

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Other Democrats talk tough in a secular way, but Obama’s speeches were thoroughly theological. He talked about the 'core struggle of human nature' between love and evil. - David Brooks

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COMMENTS

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Showing 3 of 10 comments

justme

Dec 15, 2009 11:48 AM CST

When it works, and much of Bush policy works, keep it. Just let Obama put his beautifully expressed spin on it.

DontLikeYou___

Dec 15, 2009 3:02 AM CST

Sorry, but Brooks, a man who fawns over Obama, is giving Mr. Obama way too much credit here. Christian realism??? For God's sake, Mr. Obama has the venue cover up any indications of Jesus Christ when he speaks if they are present at the venue. Sorry, I don't want any of the kool-aide Mr. Brooks.

alkaseltzersammich

Dec 15, 2009 2:39 AM CST

@Prowlerzee. I just checked, and it turns out that just typing Obama is easier than typing Zerobama. Just thought you would like to know. You're welcome in advance.

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Politics • World

Cold War • Nobel Peace Prize • David Brooks • President Obama • Obama peace prize speech • Obama Oslo • Obama Nobel Peace Prize

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Obama Revives Cold War Liberalism