Ever since the divisive days of the Vietnam War, and Jimmy Carter’s preference for human rights over military might, Republicans have been trouncing Democrats on issues of foreign policy. Remember Reagan, with his sharp eye on the Soviets during the dying days of the Cold War, and said the words “evil empire.” George W. Bush, went beyond talk straight to pre-emption and invaded two countries.
For much of this century, Democrats were known as the party of international engagement, consider FDR, Truman and Kennedy. But in recent years, the Dem’s have focused more on fighting domestic issues, than wars abroad. And now with U.S. troops now stationed in Afghanistan and Iraq, and an election underway, many are saying Democrats will have to prove they have the foreign policy mettle if they want to win the White House.
Guests:
George Packer, staff writer for The New Yorker, author of this week’s article, “A Democratic World: Can Liberals take Foreign Policy back from the Republicans?”
David Brooks, Op-Ed columnist for The New York Times and senior editor of The Weekly Standard
Senator Joseph Biden, Democratic Senator from Delaware.