An early debate low point came as Chris Christie described Americans as “scared to death” of terror. Not only is Christie misreading the American public, he’s sending exactly the wrong message from a prospective commander-in-chief. “I know you’re scared to death” is the message of a hand-holder, not a war leader.
The Left is fond of describing Americans as irrationally afraid of terrorists, mocking concerns over terror attacks as meaningless compared to the dangers from, say, car accidents. But that misreads both the extent and the nature of the problem. We don’t defend our nation to keep from being afraid, we defend our nation to preserve a very particular way of life, one dedicated to the founding principles of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. We strike at threats not because we necessarily think that our next trip to the shopping mall will be our last but because we recognize when enemies have the strength and motivation to strike America and harm our fellow citizens, the proper American response is strength, resolve, and the merciless application of force. We’re not afraid. We’re furious.