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From Insult to Injury: Obama Owes Netanyahu An Apology

By: Chairman Reince Priebus (Diary)  |  November 9th, 2011 at 11:30 AM  | 

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Promoted from the diaries

Allies are people you work with.  Garden pests and leaky faucets are things you “deal with.”

President Obama doesn’t seem to know the difference.

At the G20 summit last week in France, he let out his true feelings on Israel.  And a live mic was there to catch it all.

Here’s the exchange between President Obama and French President Sarkozy on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu:

–Sarkozy: “I cannot bear Netanyahu.”

–Obama: “You’re sick of him, but I have to deal with him every day.”

Deal with?

The State of Israel is America’s closest ally in the Middle East.  It’s a democracy surrounded by radical autocracies and extremists who would like to see it wiped off the map.  Due to our shared strategic interests in the region, our countries depend on each other’s support.  Our alliance and friendship is one to be vigorously defended and actively cultivated—not disinterestedly dealt with.

If the President finds working with Israel so terribly irksome, Republicans will gladly relieve him of that burden.  We’ll send a Republican to the White House who truly values the American-Israeli alliance.

To be sure, President Obama’s attitude toward Israel could hurt him in 2012.  And it’s already damaged his party’s electoral prospects before.  Earlier this year, Democrats lost control of the 9th District of New York, which includes a large Jewish population.

Democrats won decisively in the last three presidential elections there, but in a special congressional election earlier this year, the district flipped Republican—due in large part to voters’ perception of Obama’s lukewarm attitude toward Israel.  Less than a year earlier, they elected a Democrat 61-39.

Similar scenarios may now play our on a larger scale next November.  In swing states like Florida and Pennsylvania, Jewish voters and other pro-Israel groups dissatisfied with the President’s stance, could turn their states red in 2012.

Americans across the country recognize Israel’s important to our own country’s security.  In a region where terrorists threaten American interests, Iran seeks nuclear weapons, and unfriendly regimes control the world’s energy supplies, we need Israel and Israel needs us.

The stakes are too high.  And failing to recognize that could create much more daunting problems for the president to “deal with.”

I urge President Obama to put this issue behind him by publicly apologizing to Prime Minister Netanyahu.

COMMENTS

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  • http://www.doctor-bob.biz rsklaroff

    …was that Bibi is a “liar.”

    Rather than counterint this smear, BHO reinforced it.

    His anti-Semitic training was manifest [school/church]

    No one should be surprised.

    WE KNOW this is “hot” because MSNBC hasn’t cited it on its broadcasts, despite awareness thereof on its website.

    http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/45203101#.TrrAQ0O5PX4

    • docnick

      The two men have very different goals….. One is protecting his home….The other? It seems clear what our President wants…

      Could anyone have imagined a US President not interested in protecting Jews in the mid-east?

    • ericblair00

      So not getting along well with a paticular person who happens to be Jewish makes Obama an anti-semite? Is that really what you are saying?

      • jakeofalltrades

        It’s 46 words – even a kindergartner should be able to intelligently respond to so little.

        • ericblair00

          What makes him an anti-semite? No jewish leaders think he is an anti-semite, why do you think he is?

  • mikeevergreen

    The U.S. and Israel have been close allies over the years. That doesn’t mean that we have to like everyone who leads their country. This writer seems to be saying that the U.S. president needs to like whoever the leader of Israel is. If the relationship is reciprocal, shouldn’t that mean that Netanyahu like whoever the U.S. president is, even Obama?

    • http://impudent.edublogs.org/ kyle8

      it would help if he stood up for an ally in front of another world leader.

      It was impolitic to say the least. disingenuous

      • edintexas

        Rather than disputing, or at least remonstrating with Sarkozy, Dear Leader’s comment gave the accurate impression that he agreed with Sarkozy.

    • edintexas

      Dear Leader doesn’t have to like Netanyahu, but it is harmful to US foreign policy to have the President denigrating the leader of an ally, particularly when doing so with an open microphone on his lapel.

      Frankly, a politician calling another politician a “liar” is pretty hypocritical. Reminds me of the old saw about the pot commenting about the kettle.

    • geoph

      To make nice in the world of diplomacy?

      If Obama doesn’t like what America is, he surely can not support Israel or the path they have travelled.
      Should we need to suffer through an obviously disingenuous apology?
      Should he apologize for the carelessness of where he spoke?
      Should he admit he is sorry that the mic picked this up, or that it was released?

      Obama expressed candidly what he thought.
      He no more needs to apologize for it, than he does for any of the many slurs and statements he makes against Republicans and Conservatives, and even his “allies” such as the CBC.
      Personally, I prefer the openness of how he views others. Things are much more clear when viewed as black or white, with no shades of grey. Hopefully, these stark revelations being exposed to the world, will only focus to more – the need to replace Obama as the leader of the free world come November.

      No, Obama has nothing to apologize for. In fact, we should thank him, but perhaps WE owe the world an apology for electing him in the first place.

      • edintexas

        Indeed we do, but most of those who voted for him would never consider doing such a thing.

  • Locked and Loaded

    revealed a national security detail about which he should keep his burger-hole shut.

  • finbar

    Netanyahu, Shmetanyahu. Obama owes the WORLD an apology.

    • Common_Cents

      Remember that stupid apology web page the libiots started for Bush?

      • ericblair00

        What exactly must Obama apologize for? :)

  • mspector

    For one thing, he would not mean it. Obama is mean-spirited and petty and I’m certain believes he did nothing wrong, and is incapable of admitting a mistake even if he recognized it. He is simply too small for the office.

    The only problem in this imbroglio was that George Bush was handling the microphone. Obama can blame him.

  • DefendUSA

    I’m not. As Obama just continues to show his true colors over and over. Don’t hold your breath waiting. Because I am sure all reporters have been briefed not to discuss what was said, and it’s obvious that the LSM is ignoring it.

    I have seen this here and on Townhall.com and the links provided from The Blaze.

  • earlgrey

    I don’t think he is capable of apologizing.

  • jakeofalltrades

    As long as it incriminates America and not himself.

  • i8bugs

    That’s how long it took him to call Tony LaRusso

  • paco12348

    If Obama apologized it would be just another lie to add to his already long list. He lies every time he opens his mouth. I am shocked that America can have a President so bent on destroying Allies, the Economy and Constitution and cannot be impeached. He is America’s shame.

  • boonerdan

    Are you really surprised by a Muslim hating the Israeli PM? Obama does not hide his antisemitism because he is arrogant and is leading the growing wave of antisemitism running rampant in this country.

    Personally, I am surprised at Israel’s patience.

  • barry915barry

    nt. Barry

  • hendrig

    Absolutely nothing. Every Jew in the United States should be screaming bloody murder right now. Have they forgotten what antisemitism did in Germany or are they now starting to believe that the Holocaust was a hoax? It wouldn’t surprise me if all the Jewish voters still voted for Obama because they will not vote for a Republican no matter what. Do they think they will still be safe in this country if Sharia Law gets into our justice system? Do they think that a Holocaust could never happen in this country? It will if George Soros has anything to say about it. He will be right there to help just like his family did back in the 1940s. WAKE UP AMERICA!

  • edintexas

    Sarkozy is likely just another person of Jewish descent who hates his background. Just like virtually all of the “Progressive” Jews here in the US. Unlike the other party to the conversation, Sarkozy didn’t spend his early years in a Muslim school and listening to the Muezzin’s call to prayer, later to describe it as

  • woody3691

    In WWII the allies had to fight the axis countries and De Gualle. His hubris drove Churchill and Ike nuts. But publicly they treated him respectfully. Don’t know what Sarkozy was referring to calling Bibi a liar and Obama dealing with Bibi was unfortunate choice of words. But if the West or the UN can’t get it’s members on board re: Iran, Israel will take action and that’s in no one’s best interest. Can’t figure out Russia’s play in refusing further sanctions.

  • edintexas

    Might be nothing more than anything which obstructs US wishes, and ticks us off, is a plus for regaining what Putin sees as Russia’s rightful place as a world power.

  • geoph

    That with the offensive statements he seems unable to censor about his “enemies”, the ranks of we who must “ride in the back” will grow.
    Who knows, if we gather enough “knives” we may still prevail agains their “guns”.

  • geah

    and I do believe the Jewish people in this nation are watching and talking among themselves, We don’t always jump up and hollor as they used to say at school when Jonnie hit a home run, but watch and wait, nope not speaking for the Jewish race but of the ones around me,

  • ericblair00

    1) No serious politician is considering Sharia law anywhere in the US, certainly not Obama.

  • http://www.reddit.com/user/pi_over_three/ Pi Over Three

    is the “journalists” present conspired to keep it a secret.

    The only reason the story came out is because it percolated through lower level French media and then got noticed in lower level media on this side of the pond.

    Maybe that is why those in the media have a such a bad view of capitalism: they do so much closed-door (or jounoList secret forums) collusion on what they report, they must assume that every industry is the same way.

  • jussmartenuf

    You can’t seem to get things more wrong. It is Netanyahu who owes the world an apology for continuing to allow the settlement of Palestinian lands by Israeli land grabbers.
    Of course Obama has to deal with him on a daily basis, just like he has to deal with Republicans who would daily rather see our government fail than cooperate for the good of the middle class. Who spread lies that it is the government rather then the representatives they send to congress that are the problem.
    He has to deal with people so stupid they continue to spread lies about his and now Sarkozy’s religious beliefs in order to fan the fires of religious and racial hatred that abounds in the far right wing of the Republican party.
    It takes a strength of character to admit mistakes, something the far right and the religious evangelicals do not possess, so they fear and hate the truth.
    Amazing how much vitriolic hatred for a man who is hated for who he is, a man of mixed race, not for what he does. Hatred that comes from prejudice and stupidity with an absence of decency. Shades of Joseph McCarthy.

  • http://www.reddit.com/user/pi_over_three/ Pi Over Three

    just accuse the other guy of being racist.

    So typical.

    There really is nothing else to say to someone who is do desperate find fault with the “other team” they imagine that only reason they don’t like %10+ unemployment, restriction of energy, an exploding Federal debt that was fueled by waste of hundreds of billions of taxpayer dollars, campaigning for reelection on taxpayers dollars, driving up the total cost of health care, and bailouts and government handouts to politically corperations on never before seen scale because the President has deep tan.

  • jussmartenuf

    The comment was full of argument, but like i said, you choose to not see other then what you want. I guess you have also conveniently forgotten (again) that Geo W. Bush and the Republicans put the economy where it is, Obama is left with trying to salvage the problem only to have people like you falsely blame him. Wake up, like i said, Republicans are not capable of admitting a mistake and Bush made a boat load full of them which you want to blame on his successor. You have proved my point.

  • gekster

    He said a year and a half ago that the recession was over.
    When do you stop Blaming Bush and put this economy quarly where it belongs, on Obamas shoulders.
    And if you would quit looking at only what you see, you would see it was the Democrats who spurred the subprime mortgage crises, that led to the economy you blame on Bush and the Republicans, by forcing banks to loan to people who could not afford them. When the bill came due, they didn’t have the money to pay thier loans, which the banks knew would happen.
    It was Bush who warned about the houseing collapse, About Fannie and Freddy, but the Dems ignored him and said he was wrong.
    And durring Bush, it was Dems as well as Republicans whi spent.
    The President can’t spend a dime, he can only sign the check.
    Get educated son, then come back.
    I would say something about your monicor, but you wouldn’t get it.

  • mspector

    Why we are on Bush and the economy, but it would do you well to remember that the “Bush wars” both were approved by Congress (including many Democrat votes) and TARP was approved by a Congress controlled by the Democrats. Not to let Bush off the hook: I considered him a tax-and-spend machine and I opposed the war in Iraq. On the other hand, Obama’s policies have accumulated more total debt in just under three years than Bush did in eight. Can’t Democrats take responsibility for anything?

  • http://www.reddit.com/user/pi_over_three/ Pi Over Three

    you wouldn’t have to accuse your opponent as racist and simply not liking policies because of the skin color of the one implementing them.

    That is exactly what you did.

    Therefore, you are have no valid arguments.

    Now, if you want to admit that you said a stupid thing and say that conservative are not racist and are not basing their positions on the Presidents polices on his race, then you can try again.

  • MF

    You’re obviously a far-left believer, and you’re not going to pursuade any of the readers at RS to your point of view.

  • geoph

    So let me get this straight, some three years later – all that is evil in the world (and a poor economy) are Dubya’s doing and Obama is blameless; yet, the tremendous growth of the early ’90′s had nothing to do with Reagan’s policies, but were Clinton’s achievement?

    First, take out the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to Remove the speck from your brother’s eye.
    Goodness, the Liberals are a hypocritical and tiring lot!

  • barry915barry

    You are right, I did know that. 99.9% of the good folks here at RedState know that. But, we also know that what you responded with is completely irrelevant. Boonerdan, was being well, boonerdan. Making silly, unsubstantiated allegations that really have no place here at RedState. Barry.

  • Common_Cents

    Obama is nothing but a country club gossipper elitist.