I saw this video on YouTube (via DailyKos) and was absolutely stunned, in a number of ways.

A politician talking intelligently to Americans about foreign policy! On TV! A TV show allowing him to! An audience that wants him to! A Democrat speaking readily about nonviolently exporting American values! Instead of trying to look macho by imitating the equally fake macho stance of their opponents!

We need a new Presidential candidate to speak this candidly about foreign policy to Americans. To look them in the eye in a debate and say, “Yes, we need to be able to defend ourselves, but it takes courage to lead by example. Violence is the coward’s way out, and it just doesn’t work in cases other than defense against aggression. In all other cases it’s like the kid who discovers a hammer and tries to use it to fix everything.”

We have other tools at our disposal for spreading freedom and democracy. We used to believe in them. When did America give in to fear and lose faith in the strength of our own values? Another great Democrat once said it well: we have nothing to fear but fear itself.