Obama and the White House now have a favorite phrase to convey how they feel about just about everything: "deeply concerned". This was the official White House response to all of the following over the past couple weeks: 1) 2 journalists kidnapped in North Korea (June 8); 2) action toward protesters in Iran (June 16); 3) ouster of Honduran president (June 28); 4) unemployment numbers (July 2); 5) violence in China (July 6). I know "deeply concerned" is a common phrase used by previous administrations. It might even be in the book of official phrases to use when talking about crisis situations. It just seems a bit unconvincing when it is used every week like this administration seems content doing.
My question is this: what exactly does it mean? Okay, the phrase is out there . . America is officially "deeply concerned" . . so what? How does using that phrase change anything, or how are the people in Iran or China or North Korea or America supposed to interpret that phrase? Isn't this the equivalent of Clinton's "I feel your pain"? In the end it means absolutely nothing. It is just a phrase with no backbone or no consequences. All it does is offer a temporary appeasement to people who are easily appeased. Do I feel any better knowing that Obama is "deeply concerned" about everything that happens? Hardly. This might just be one of the least genuine responses a person can make because in the end it means nothing. It sounds empathetic, but in reality it is cold and detached, with no strings. Don't they have a Thesaurus in the White House?
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