Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch and The Penchant of The Powerful to Choose ‘The Wrong Victim’

Watching Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch respond to hours of impeachment inquiry questions was inspirational. Here was a woman who fit what I’ve described in The Secret Handshake as having both a Purist and Team Player political style. She believed that doing her job in a nonpartisan way in service to her country was expected – indeed what she’d committed to under oath. It is also what she delivered, even when that meant literally dodging bullets.

Clearly, had she been left in place, not ripped from her ambassadorial position in Ukraine by President Trump, she would have been an obstacle to what increasingly appears to be his nefarious plans to influence the 2020 elections.

When it became clear that she enjoyed extraordinary respect from her colleagues, a smear campaign attributed to Rudolf Giuliani and the president was unleashed. Here is where they made a mistake common among those possessing power: They chose the wrong victim.

There is nothing quite like the truth combined with admirable values and courage. Yovanovitch not only had these on her side, but also clarity of thought and expression. Soft-spoken at times during the impeachment hearing, still feeling the pain of presidential mistreatment, betrayal and intimidation, she responded with palpable conviction, not allowing detractors to put words in her mouth.

Yovanovitch was the first through the gap, two representatives pointed out. Her willingness to come forward, to face a barrage of criticism, to be questioned, insulted by some of the most powerful people in the world, and to risk her safety, encouraged others to do the same.

There’s one thing I’ve learned first-hand about people with exceptional power – real or imagined:  They often underestimate those they view as underlings. This is especially the case when the underling is a woman.

I’ve written about this in They Don’t Get It, Do They? And in my first novel – Shadow Campus. Such people attempt to terrify, assuming the target of their bullying will simply walk away. They enlist others to do their dirty work. Some threaten the target indirectly or by saying things like, “If you do anything about this, it will ruin your career.”

Sometimes such tormenting works. But women like Yovanovitch whose values are firmly set and whose accomplishments are indisputable, have power. So, when the opportunity presents itself, they come forward.

Yovanovitch received a standing ovation as she left the hearing. Another “wrong victim” made those who attempted to destroy her career on route to achieving reprehensible goals pay a stiff price – perhaps, despite the odds, even a lasting one.