CALIFORNIA YANKEE

Obama's terrible Egyptian optics

It was terrible optics, the next day the President goes golfing and Secretary Kerry is out on his yacht. - Reuters' David Rohde

On the Face The Nation, Reuters' David Rohde nailed it when describing the incompetent manner in which the Obama administration has handled the Egyptian coup. Rohde noted that the administration could have a much clearer public position about its goals in the region -- there's more options than simply we intervene militarily, we dictate events on the ground, we control everything and doing absolutely nothing.  He went on to mention the terrible optics of the President golfing and Secretary Kerry out on his yacht.

"What does that say to young people in Egypt across the Middle East whether-- whatever part of the debate about America's interests in the region and democracy?"

You can read the complete quote and context in the transcript provided by Face The Nation.

With regard to Kerry's role, on Saturday the National Republican Senatorial Committee reminded us that john Kerry continues to be consistent in his difficulty with the truth.

With regard to Obama, after four and one half years in office, his administration remains incompetent.

John Kerry; some things never change

The National Republican Senatorial Committee reminds us that john Kerry continues to be consistent in his difficulty with the truth.

Saturday the NRSC released a video highlighting the fact that The State Department was against admitting John Kerry was on his yacht, before they were for it:

On Wednesday afternoon as the Egyptian army was mounting its coup against the Islamist government of  Mohamed Morsi, a CBS journalist spotted Secretary Kerry aboard his yacht, the "Isabel."

 

Secretary Kerry was aboard his yacht, the "Isabel" this afternoon pic.twitter.com/R6v1UDFNGu

— Mosheh Oinounou (@Mosheh) July 3, 2013

 

The State Department initially denied the CBS report. According to Kerry spokesperson Jen Psaki, Kerry was hard at work dealing with the crisis in Egypt:

"Since his plane touched down in Washington at 4 am, Secretary Kerry was working all day and on the phone dealing with the crisis in Egypt,” Psaki said in a statement.

Kerry was absent from a White House photo showing President Obama meeting with members of his national security team to discuss the situation in Egypt, but Psaki said he had dialed in on a secure phone line for that meeting.

He participated in the White House meeting with the President by secure phone and was and is in non-stop contact with foreign leaders, and his senior team in Washington and Cairo."

Pictures subsequently made it clear that Kerry was on his 76-foot, $7 million yacht despite the State Department's denial.

 

New: @CBSNews obtained photo of Kerry on boat Weds. Asked State about it Thurs night. They stood by their denial... pic.twitter.com/hkSWWBVUxQ

— Mosheh Oinounou (@Mosheh) July 5, 2013

 

After the photographic evidence made it clear that Kerry was in fact on his Yacht Wednesday, the State Department flipped flopped in the usual Kerry nuanced style, and admitted that Kerry was on the Yacht.

This is not the first time Kerry's "consistency" has caused him difficulty. We certainly remember how he came to be known as a flip flopper during his 2004 presidential campaign. There was Kerry's infamous I was for it before I was against it. And there was also Kerry's "I have been consistent all along" concerning his inconsistent positions on the War in Iraq.

Kerry's aquatic recreation in Nantucket has caused him difficulty before. During the 2004 presidential campaign footage of Kerry windsurfing was used in this ad painting presidential candidate Kerry as a flip-flopper.

Nearly ten years later Kerry continues to nuance his consistency.

Kerry Flips Flops On Presidential Run

Less than three months after John Kerry said he intends to stay out of the 2008 presidential campaign, the Democrats' losing 2004 presidential candidate reopened the door to a possible 2008 presidential campaign.

Answering a question from a viewer on a television call-in program, whether his decision not to run could change Kerry said:

It might. It may change over years. It may change over months. I can't tell you, but I've said very clearly I don't consider myself out of it forever.

Kerry continues to be consistent in his inconsistency. In fairness, even Kerry thinks it unlikely he will seek the 2008 presidential nomination. When asked whether he would change his mind in time for the 2008 race, Kerry said:

If suddenly the field changed or the dynamics of the nation shifted, who knows? You might look at it differently, but I don't see that. I don't foresee that. That's not where I am today and that's not what I'm doing.

That was yesterday, what will he say tomorrow?

Flip-flopping Again

Bill Maher, on John Kerry changing his mind and apologizing for his joke: "Today, he said, 'It doesn't matter. It just feels great to be flip-flopping again'"

Kerry Dismisses Idea Whites Run Nomination

The Associated Press reports Senator John Kerry dismisses Idea that his support for Iowa and New Hampshire's prominent roles in the presidential nomination process means he thinks only the votes of white people count.

Yesterday, I posted about Kerry's opposition to a DNC advisory commission's plan to place one or two caucuses from more ethnically, racially and economically diverse states between Iowa’s caucus and New Hampshire's primary.

A DNC advisory commission recommended that the additional early states be chosen by the rules committee based on "racial and ethnic diversity; regional diversity; and economic diversity including union density." The commission found that Iowa and New Hampshire "are not fully reflective of the Democratic electorate or the national electorate generally," and, specifically, "do not represent the racial and ethnic diversity of the party or the nation."

On ABC's "This Week," Kerry rejected the opinion of a Democratic strategist who said Kerry's supporting the status quo was "saying only white people's votes count in those early states:"

"That's so much bunk," Kerry responded. "I don't know how to describe that comment in any other way than to say that that's absolutely ridiculous. The converse of that is to suggest that the people in New Hampshire and Iowa are insensitive to those issues and don't care about them."

Getting bashed for failing to adequately adress minority concerns is a continuing problem for Kerry. During his 2004 run the Kerry campaign's diversity was challenged. The Associated Press reported that some black officials and independent analysts were concerned that there is a lack of minority representation in the Kerry campaign, which threatened to weaken enthusiasm among black and Hispanic voters. At the time Kerry's inner circle - the dozen or so advisers who participated in the campaign's most important decisions - was mostly white.

Kerry To Visit Iraq

The Boston Globe reports that Senator Kerry will visit Iraq:

"He's going because he wants to thank the troops from Massachusetts," said Kerry spokeswoman April Boyd. ''While he's there, he'll also be meeting with military commanders, embassy officials, and Iraqi government leaders. The purpose will be to discuss the war in Iraq and the war on terrorism."

According to the Associated Press, Kerry is expected to visit several Middle East countries and meet with U.S. troops, including some from Massachusetts, to thank them for their service.

I'm not sure what to make of this. Why does Kerry have to make a solo trip? He could have accompanied Senators Biden, Chafee, Feinstein, and Hagel who visited Iraq last week.

If Kerry had visited Iraq during the presidential campaign perhaps he could have settled on a consistent position on Iraq.

While Kerry is thanking the troops, maybe the troops can thank Kerry for voting to authorize the war and then voting against funding support for our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.