”A word spoken is an arrow let fly.” This anonymous quotation came to mind immediately as I listened to the Presidents press event on Jan. 7. 2010. This press event was called by our President to inform us of his findings following his meetings with his top security team to get to the bottom of the Christmas day attempted terrorist attack. It was over half way through his statement when the President finally gave a name to the one(s) responsible for the terrorist attempt. When he did, he said: “In the never-ending race to protect our country, we have to stay one step ahead of a nimble adversary.”The President used this reference “adversary” 1 other time in his almost 2000 word statement as well as the word foe to reference Islamic extremists. Yet he never use the words Islamic extremists. If you think of all the words the President could have chosen to characterize a sect of people determined to end our lives and our way of life, adversary or foe would not have immediately, if ever, come to mind.

 An adversary makes me think of an opponent in a tennis match or other gentlemanly sporting contests. A foe conjures up pictures of longtime football rivals, not dangerous murderers determined to kill as many of us as possible.

In my former life, the anonymous quotation “A word spoken is an arrow let fly” was posted inside the recording booth used by myself and my staff numerous times each day. The placement was meant to remind all users that words have consequences and once spoken, they will be sent unchanged to all U.S. Senators…………..so choose your words carefully.

I would bet that the President has advisors and word smiths that have emphasized a similar analogy, that words, especially words spoken by a President after such a potentially heinous act was attempted, would have a long lasting meaning. Makes you wonder why the President couldn't come up with stronger words than adversary or foe.

Tennis anyone?

Elizabeth Letchworth is the Owner-Founder of GradeGov.com, 4 times elected United States Senate Secretary for the Majority/Minority, U. S. Senate-retired, presently senior legislative advisor @ Covington & Burling, LLC