Liberal Grace

Sincerity Cage Match

It is pretty big deal that Bush finally 'fessed up to mistakes. It reminded me of Clinton's confession which, at the time, conservatives widely mocked and rejected for lack of sincerity. So I decided to compare the two.

Bill Clinton's Confession

Indeed, I did have a relationship with Miss Lewinsky that was not appropriate. In fact, it was wrong. It constituted a critical lapse in judgment and a personal failure on my part for which I am solely and completely responsible...

I know that my public comments and my silence about this matter gave a false impression. I misled people, including even my wife. I deeply regret that.

I'll give this confession four stars. It clearly identifies the mistake and failure but I'll deduct one star for the slightly couched language and no clear request for forgiveness.

George Bush's Confession

Saying, bring it on; kind of tough talk, you know, that sent the wrong signal to people. I learned some lessons about expressing myself maybe in a little more sophisticated manner, you know. Wanted, dead or alive; that kind of talk. I think in certain parts of the world it was misinterpreted. And so I learned from that.

I'll give this two stars. It really deserves one star because it doesn't express a sense of failure and, worse, it shifts the blame to "certain parts of the world."

However, I know what a huge step this is for Bush to even admit that something was wrong. So I'll give him a bonus star for trying.

How would you rate the two against each other for sincerity?

posted by LiberalGrace at 7:19 AM