Monday, September 15, 2008

Confidence vs. Hubris

Hubris: excessive pride or self-confidence; arrogance.

Confidence: belief in oneself and one's powers or abilities; self-confidence; self-reliance; assurance

ABC News' Charles Gibson scored big recently, becoming the first national news media person to interview Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, Republican nominee for Vice President. In one part of the interview, Gibson asked Palin if she was 'ready' to be president if something should happen to John McCain after he takes office. She answered without hesitating, "I'm ready." When asked what about John McCain offering her the position of vice president, she replied,

GIBSON: And you didn't say to yourself, "Am I experienced enough? Am I ready? Do I know enough about international affairs? Do I -- will I feel comfortable enough on the national stage to do this?"

PALIN: I didn't hesitate, no.

GIBSON: Didn't that take some hubris?


PALIN: I answered him yes because I have the confidence in that readiness and knowing that you can't blink, you have to be wired in a way of being so committed to the mission, the mission that we're on, reform of this country and victory in the war, you can't blink. So I didn't blink then even when asked to run as his running mate.

Since the interview hit the airwaves, liberals have been aghast at such 'hubris.' Who does she think she is to just say 'Yes, I'm ready to be president,' without so much as a hesitation? How can she sit there and not look thoughtful for a moment, looking off to the left over Charlie Gibson's shoulder and pondering her life experience, and the history of the presidency, and not even question whether she's ready to fill that position should the need arise?! The Nerve!

Juan Williams, a Fox News contributor and NPR star, echoed this sentiment on Fox News Sunday's panel section.

The real difference between confidence and hubris is whether that self-confidence is deserved or not. By accusing someone of hubris, you're in essence passing judgement on them, that they are not, in your opinion, worthy of feeling so self-assured. When you say 'isn't that hubris on your part to believe that you're ready and to not have even stopped to consider if you were ready or not?' what you are actually saying is 'didn't you stop to think before you acted, because think about it, you're definitely not ready.'

Which person has the hubris? I'd say the interviewer and the panel pundit, for assuming they know that someone isn't ready, when that's not something anyone can really know until the time comes. Reagan, Bush, Palin. Whenever a self-confident conservative has arrived on the scene, deliberative liberals have always accused them of hubris. 'How can you be so self-assured?!,' they ask. It's called confidence, certitude. Liberals, with so much moral equivalency, wouldn't know about that.

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