If it Talks Like a Duck...(3/5/02)
by Dean Hartwell
Politicians in
Washington, D.C. used to have a way of determining if a leader in a foreign
nation was a communist. They would say, "If it talks like a duck and walks
like a duck, it's a duck." Thus, if the actions of the foreign leader
matched his/her rhetoric, they made a positive ID and acted accordingly toward
that nation.
President Bush should use this tactic in determining whether to allow Tom
Ridge, Homeland Security leader, to testify before Congress. As the one who
coordinates domestic anti-terrorist policy, he could give his ideas about
policy to those who appropriate the money, such as the Senate Appropriations
Committee. However, Ridge's spokesperson, Susan Neely explained that since
Ridge is not the head of an agency confirmed by the Senate, he will not testify
to that Committee or, apparently, any other.
This logic fails the "duck" test mentioned above. Though the Senate
did not officially confirm Ridge, his profile is at least as high as the
Directors of the CIA and FBI. And, his group, though not officially called an
agency, has a function just like any agency: to protect the people of the
United States.
What would we say if there was a scare in the field of medicine and the Surgeon
General refused to show up before Congress to discuss ways to address the
problem? The President should use the "duck" test and send Ridge
waddling off to Capitol Hill.