Andrea Mitchell, John Heilemann Scold GOP 2012 Hopefuls for Disagreeing with Obama's Israel Policy
In lockstep with Atlantic's Jeffrey Goldberg, who scolded Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to "please don't speak to my president that way," MSNBC anchor Andrea Mitchell cautioned of the "political pitfalls" for Republican presidential candidates who dared to challenge Barack Obama's speech on the Middle East.
On the May 20 edition of "Andrea Mitchell Reports," NBC's chief foreign affairs correspondent warned against criticizing the Democratic commander-in-chief and bewailed the "angry reception" he's received over his desire to see Israel surrender territory it acquired in the six-day Middle East war of 1967.
"The political pitfalls of wading into the Israeli-Palestinian stalemate was on display today, with Republican presidential contenders piling on the president," chided Mitchell, who went on to ask New York magazine's John Heilemann, "Whatever happened to politics ending at the water's edge?"
For his part, Heilemann appeared equally despondent that Republican presidential hopefuls would criticize Obama for taking a position that Netanyahu called "indefensible."
"Well I think we left that age a long time ago, Andrea, unfortunately," lamented the magazine's national affairs editor.
After reading critical press statements from the Romney, Pawlenty, and Bachmann camps, Mitchell fretted, "That's pretty categorical," before moving on to another subject.
A transcript of the relevant portions of the segment can be found below:
MSNBC
Andrea Mitchell Reports
May 20, 2011
1:08 p.m. EDT
ANDREA MITCHELL: The political pitfalls of wading into the Israeli-Palestinian stalemate was on display today, with Republican presidential contenders piling on the president. 2012 hopefuls slamming Mr. Obama for saying that Israel should give up lands occupied since 1967, even as some Senate Republicans offer a more measured reception – those not running for office, not running for president.
John Heilemann is National Affairs editor for New York Magazine and joins us from New York. So first of all, the angry reception that the president got, was that predictable? Whatever happened to politics ending at the water's edge?
JOHN HEILEMANN: Well I think we left that age a long time ago, Andrea, unfortunately. Predictable? I think utterly predictable. I think most Republicans who are running for president believe that it's going to be a very close election in 2012 if they get the nomination and they're looking at states particularly like Florida. And they're looking at what they see as the president's political weakness with Jewish-American community and they're trying to get themselves in a good position to capitalize on that if they happen to be the nominee.
MITCHELL: We had a strong statement from Mitt Romney saying that "President Obama has thrown Israel under the bus. He has disrespected Israel and undermined its ability to negotiate peace." Pawlenty saying "President Obama's insistence on a return to the '67 borders is a mistaken and dangerous demand." The city of Jerusalem must never be re-divided. Michele Bachmann, who could be entertaining a run, "President Obama has again indicated his policy toward Israel is to blame Israel first." That's pretty categorical. Newt Gingrich was also on the bandwagon here.
--Alex Fitzsimmons is a News Analysis intern at the Media Research Center. Click here to follow him on Twitter.
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Comments
I'll tell you what, let's
Submitted by dscott on Fri, 05/20/2011 - 5:39pm.
I'll tell you what, let's trade Bibi for Obama and call it even: http://hotair.com/archives/2011/05/20/video-netanyahu-lectures-obama-on-...
Now after listening to that piece, who would you rather have as the leader of your country, any country? A feckless Obama who gives away the store to every passer by (heck, he even gives away the products of other people's stores) or Bibi who stands up for his people?
Netanyahu Schooled Obama
Submitted by Gat New York on Fri, 05/20/2011 - 5:51pm.
Bibi Netanhayu is an MIT and Harvard grad who was a Captain in Israel's elite commando force. He was an Ambassador as well as a former :Prime Minister. Most of all Netanhayu is a Statesman and a Leader.
Today Obama got schooled. All of the spin by slugs like Jeffrey Goldberg and Andrea Mitchell will not make a dent on the damage done by Obama to himself.
You had liberal Congressmen like Anthony Weiner and Elliott Engel slamming Obama's speech this morning.
To watch Bibi sit there next to the clown prince and tell the world - NO was a tremendous feeling of confidence in the future of Israel and pride as a Jew.
So, Weiner criticized the President, eh?
Submitted by Galvanic on Fri, 05/20/2011 - 7:34pm.
He deserves a scolding from Mitchell.
I apologize
Submitted by MadRat on Sat, 05/21/2011 - 1:29am.
What would happen if hundreds of thousands of Conservatives wrote letters of apology for Obama's actions, pledging not to vote for him and sent them to Queen Elisabeth and Benjamin Netanyahu?
...what's amazing to me is that
Submitted by nonncom on Fri, 05/20/2011 - 5:40pm.
neither of these ass-hats has a clue that "the one" was way off base with these comments, and Netanyahu would have been well justified to tell him to STFU and mind his own business....most of the civilized world would have agreed.... LOL....obama....in the dictionary under "unjustifiably arrogant"...
It's a miracle conservatives ever get elected
Submitted by NickDeringer on Fri, 05/20/2011 - 5:46pm.
Assistant White House Press Secretary, Andrea Mitchell carefully and lovingly clarified the president's position and pointed out the real evil in the world is not suicide bombers, but those evil Republicans.
Barry rightfully
Submitted by bkeyser on Fri, 05/20/2011 - 5:49pm.
got his ass handed to him. Yesterday he demanded Israel commit to the 1967 borders while demanding Palestinians to commit to nothing. Today he called the Palestinian government a non-starter. Why would you call for Israel to commit to anything if you know the other side isn't even going to be allowed at the table in it's current form? Obama and his Middle East team are a bunch of naive imbeciles and he deserved to be excoriated in front of the entire world. Good on Bibi; at least there was one leader in the White House today.
It was a sight to see
Submitted by jon_torlin on Fri, 05/20/2011 - 5:55pm.
Even better was that the Chairman was glaring daggers at Netanyahu like he did to the Republicans at the Health Care "Summit."
You can be sure that the damage control from all that is going to be creative as hell.
-Jon
jon, It was hard to tell...
Submitted by Dave. on Fri, 05/20/2011 - 6:44pm.
...because standing next to Bibi, Obama looks to be about 0.25" tall.
-Dave
Vote for the American in November
That's true
Submitted by jon_torlin on Fri, 05/20/2011 - 7:19pm.
That was made obvious when he just told the press "ok, thanks" or whatever and just walked out the room. Bibi was definitely the bigger man.
I wouldn't be surprised if the shrunken man-child is trying to plot some sort of retaliation through someone like his contacts in the Bro'hood.
God, what a right awful mess.
-Jon
Oy. The Mummy loves her Obama more than Israel.
Submitted by SickofLibs on Fri, 05/20/2011 - 5:51pm.
Very unusual for a liberal Jew.
/s
How damn stupid IS Andrea Mitchell?
Submitted by Bill Brasky on Fri, 05/20/2011 - 6:03pm.
"Political pitfalls" for the Republicans? What is Mitchell smoking? More like Obama served up a nice fat batting practice meatball that will be turned into a political home run for the Republicans.
How damn stupid is Andrea
Submitted by motherbelt on Fri, 05/20/2011 - 9:15pm.
How damn stupid is Andrea Mitchell?
Galactically stupid.
The nitwits blather on about sovereignty and allegiance...
Submitted by Thalpy on Fri, 05/20/2011 - 6:10pm.
"The political pitfalls of wading into the Israeli-Palestinian stalemate was on display today, with Republican presidential contenders piling on the president," chided Mitchell, who went on to ask New York magazine's John Heilemann, "Whatever happened to politics ending at the water's edge?"
Who is it that has allegiance to the United States?
"Whatever happened to
Submitted by dscott on Fri, 05/20/2011 - 6:42pm.
"Whatever happened to politics ending at the water's edge?"
What happened? Bush lied, thousands died, that's what happened, liberals played politics to the bitter end. What goes around comes around and now its time for the incompetent in chief to take his lessens. He refused advice and constructive criticism that could have saved him lots of face, now he gets the face plant in a pile of BS of his own heaping. When Mr. Bipartisan starts acting his age, then we will treat him accordingly.
That's another one of those rules
Submitted by motherbelt on Fri, 05/20/2011 - 9:14pm.
that only apply when there is a Democrat president.
it all depends
Submitted by MidAmerica on Fri, 05/20/2011 - 6:21pm.
Andrea is using one of the medias most often used tricks of 'journalism'.
If someone criticizes a person they oppose then the criticism is reported as genuine. If the criticism is directed at someone they support then the criticism is derided as just politics.
What is it??
Submitted by grammajane on Fri, 05/20/2011 - 6:24pm.
What is it that the media is so agreeable with everything "the one" does or says? Do they get paid by the White House to spew his uneducated remarks and no knowledge of history? I find it really hard to believe these "hosts" are so in bed with this guy. None of them have a mind of their own and come across as brainwashed. I could see one or two agreeing with him but, all three networks and most of cable news hosts all say the same things. Their stupidity is so obvious and wonder if anybody listens/views any of them. It is a very sad day for TV
They work for the WH
Submitted by jon_torlin on Fri, 05/20/2011 - 7:23pm.
To answer your question, yes, they do work for the white house. NBC is owned by GE, GE reports directly to the WH.(have you noticed how GE's been pushing the green campaign so hard especially through their commercials? That's on orders from the WH)
The rest(CNN/ABC/CBS) just follow in lockstep except for Fox News which they don't consider a "real" news organization, nevermind the fact that you will get more information from Fox News (unless Jerry Rivers who will make an ass of himself as usual, or Shemp who also makes an ass of himself as usual).
As for who listens, well, they all get lower ratings than Fox News unless their ratings are combined.
That's pretty much it.
-Jon
Whatever happened to
Submitted by mustango on Fri, 05/20/2011 - 6:42pm.
You want to talk about a "whatever happened to...?", how about, "whatever happened to dissent being the highest form of patriotism (as stated by Thomas Jefferson)?"
Amazing how quickly those bumper stickers disappeared from the backs of PT Cruisers one day...
Once again
Submitted by HockeyKid on Fri, 05/20/2011 - 6:45pm.
Obysmal is shown for the shallow weakling he is. But the sycophants behind the news desks are going to present a real challenge next year. Their fawning reportage will mean there is actually a chance that the Great Pretender could be re-elected.
That would spell disaster for the free world. We can only hope that the majority of Americans won't fall for the spin, and do our best to educate our friends and neighbors.
"Beauty is only skin deep, but liberal's to the bone." - me
You gave me a laugh, thanks.
Submitted by hbnolikeee on Fri, 05/20/2011 - 10:38pm.
Obysmal is just right for duh wonz moniker.
Disaster for free world
Submitted by jon_torlin on Fri, 05/20/2011 - 10:59pm.
This isn't quite on topic but I wonder if it's related. Given how the Chairman got schooled by Netanyahu, I wonder if that was the reason for the statement given by the WH for their justification of attacking Libya. Basically, he said he didn't need Congress' permission even though he really does.
So if something doesn't happen the way he wants it to, he'll do it in a different area. Will he get schooled and proven wrong on this as well?
-Jon
She always looks heavily
Submitted by jm1656 on Fri, 05/20/2011 - 7:00pm.
She always looks heavily sedated
hey...
Submitted by michiganruth on Fri, 05/20/2011 - 11:48pm.
...if you had to sleep with Alan Greenspan you'd be heavily sedated too!
THE TRUE RELIGION.............................
Submitted by Herbster on Fri, 05/20/2011 - 7:01pm.
Do not forget, the TRUE religion of liberal Jews is LIBERALISM, not Judiasm.
That said, Mrs. Greenspan, Mr. Heilemann, Mr. Goldberg and their ilk are a disgrace to our country and to themselves. Today we saw a statesman in action defending his country vs. a lightweight ideologue who hates his own country.
When I suffer through listening to the present occupant of the White House speak, I am reminded of 1Corinthians 14: "For if the trumpet makes an uncertain sound, who shall prepare for battle?" Are we prepared? No. We have a regime who wants to see the downfall of our great country. We need to heed the Book of Joel, 3:10. "Beat your plowshares into swords and your pruning hooks into spears."
So let me get this straight, Andrea
Submitted by djwolf12 on Fri, 05/20/2011 - 7:36pm.
is your network REALLY going to consider using opposition to Obama's flaming anti-semitism a political talking point to use the race card?
I hope that
Submitted by UpNorth on Sat, 05/21/2011 - 1:29pm.
Israel has license agreements with Boeing, and the other aviation companies. It would seem that they'll have to produce their own copies of the AH-64, F-15, F-16, AWACS and a few other items. I really, seriously doubt that Obysmal will sell them a thing, in the future.
However, I'm sure he'd love to start selling to that new market, the Democratic Islamic State of Palestine.
Isn't she supposed to be
Submitted by rbosque on Fri, 05/20/2011 - 7:46pm.
Isn't she supposed to be "unbiased"? If not, why call it journalism or "news" for that matter? Obama has broken a long line of American Presidents in supporting Israel and she doesn't understand why anyone would oppose Obama? Is this idiot serious?
Netanyahu and Obama... Man
Submitted by liberalsarefunny on Fri, 05/20/2011 - 7:58pm.
Netanyahu and Obama...
Man and boy...
Andrea Mitchell - It's time to retire!
Submitted by iamsaved on Fri, 05/20/2011 - 8:05pm.
It does get very tiring listening to these Obama cheerleaders that have infested the public airways. And she's Jewish. You'd think she'd be supportative of Israel rather than its enemy. Go figure.
Amen, brother! My sentiments
Submitted by pvujo on Fri, 05/20/2011 - 9:18pm.
Amen, brother! My sentiments exactly. Not sure why I have less tolerance for this liberal nitwit infobabe than I have for the rest...
Knowledge is Good
- Emil Faber
"You'd think she'd be supportative of Israel"
Submitted by hbnolikeee on Fri, 05/20/2011 - 10:42pm.
As a reminder, GEORGE SOROS...
Remember the old moves where
Submitted by ricklail on Fri, 05/20/2011 - 8:23pm.
Remember the old moves where they refer to the dumb broad? I think they were talking about Mitchell..
dscott Has it Wrong
Submitted by Avitar on Fri, 05/20/2011 - 8:38pm.
"I'll tell you what, let's trade Bibi for Obama and call it even" We can't ask the Israel to accept a raw deal like that . How about we throw in the services of two SEAL teams to be named later.
And now a little cultural
Submitted by dscott on Fri, 05/20/2011 - 8:38pm.
And now a little cultural enlightenment:
RICHARD II
A monologue from Act III, Scene ii
by: William Shakespeare
No matter where. Of comfort no man speak!
Let's talk of graves, of worms, and epitaphs,
Make dust our paper, and with rainy eyes
Write sorrow on the bosom of the earth.
Let's choose executors and talk of wills.
And yet not so -- for what can we bequeath,
Save our deposèd bodies to the ground?
Our lands, our lives, and all are Bolingbroke's,
And nothing can we call our own but death
And that small model of the barren earth
Which serves as paste and cover to our bones.
For God's sake let us sit upon the ground
And tell sad stories of the death of kings!
...
http://www.theatrehistory.com/plays/shakesmono011.html
Tell us your sad tale Obama, how you took revenge on the British and Americans who rejected your father.
If the Lame Stream. . .
Submitted by rickbren on Fri, 05/20/2011 - 8:41pm.
thinks the GOP piling on Barry is bad for them, then it really must be a good thing for them!!
I guess I must have been deaf
Submitted by TheHistorian on Fri, 05/20/2011 - 8:59pm.
I didn't hear Andrea calling for the Dems to quit criticizing Pres Bush. In fact, didn't she do that herself? Andrea, Dems get all the respect they give. No more, no less.
Besides, I don't see why we will treat a strong ally in this manner.
Dennis Prager
The MSM is breakin' a sweat today.
Submitted by Boil It Down on Fri, 05/20/2011 - 9:03pm.
I said that NBC and the rest of the Obama Media Machine would be putting on a full court press for the next few days, but they're really embarrassing themselves. I can just hear the alarms and visualize the flashing red lights over at MSNBC, signaling the emergency. The "but Bush started it" routine has been worn out. Other than outright lies, how are they going to attempt to save him this time? -bidn-
Once again a liberal media
Submitted by Reaver on Fri, 05/20/2011 - 10:02pm.
Once again a liberal media pundit looks into her crystal ball and sees doom in the offing for the republicans. No surprise that they are lining up to defend the indefensible, didn’t they also tell us that the republicans would face a huge voter backlash in 2010 for opposing obamacare?
Breaking News
Submitted by Redrowan2000 on Fri, 05/20/2011 - 10:46pm.
Andrea Mitchell has been reprimanded for biased news reporting on MSNBC . She has been suspended for 2 weeks and will be replaced by Helen Thomas in the interim. MSNBC feels this is a positive move towards unbiased journalism.
"Don't let the bastards grind you down."
I'm white, so I can't
Submitted by Thoreau on Fri, 05/20/2011 - 10:55pm.
I'm white, so I can't comprehend what she's talking about. I'm sure she'll understand.
NOW
Submitted by KornKing on Fri, 05/20/2011 - 11:50pm.
FiFi wants politics to end at the water's edge, eh?
What does that mean exactly
Submitted by Calypso Jones on Sat, 05/21/2011 - 12:33am.
ending at the water's edge. Do you think SHE knows what the hell she's talking about? Cause I sure don't.
Dumb Broad?
Submitted by KornKing on Fri, 05/20/2011 - 11:53pm.
A compliment to this idiot
Obama is wrong on domestic policy & wrong on foreign policy
Submitted by lrgon on Sat, 05/21/2011 - 12:05am.
Obama's arrogant demands that Israel redraw its border to accomodate Palestinians may cause a few more conservatives to reconsider the entire foreign policy of both Dems and Repubs as one of failure.
How can some people see how wrong BHO is on his failed domestic policy but get into a fog when it comes to his war policy? Iraq, Afghanistan and it appears even Libya are ok to them.
those who claim to admire the Founding Fathers need to read what the Founders said about conducting our foreign affairs. George Washington advised the nation to avoid entangling alliances.
The "father" of modern conservatism, the late Russell Kirk spoke out against an aggressive and interventionist foreign policy and was critical of George H.W.Bush's Gulf war. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russell_Kirk
Obama wants to dictate domestic policy ( Boeing) and dictate to governments abroad telling them to reshape their territory. Both are wrong.
Someone didn't get the memo. All ugly Liberal ...
Submitted by jawebster1 on Sat, 05/21/2011 - 2:44am.
commentors were to be replaced by nice looking ones. Why is this woman still on TV?
Don't blame her, it's Soros
Submitted by jessieH on Sat, 05/21/2011 - 9:43am.
Don't blame her, it's Soros that tells them all what to say.
Oh good Joy Baher without the
Submitted by Right2thePoint on Sat, 05/21/2011 - 10:33am.
Oh good Joy Bahar without the cleavage. I wonder if she will convince me to go to her side.
Just to demonstrate how wrong
Submitted by dscott on Sat, 05/21/2011 - 11:15am.
Just to demonstrate how wrong Obama is on the border, Bibi did a great snark:
http://bigpeace.com/dfriedman/2011/05/20/netanyahu-urges-u-s-return-to-1...
So using Obama's logic is he going to give back Texas to Mexico??? How about New Mexico and Arizona? The entire Southwest? Hey, should we give Cuba back to Spain? How about Puerto Rico? Philippines? The Virgin Islands? Guam? Maybe we need to give back the Louisiana Purchase to Spain as well since France took it from them? Heck, everybody in the US leave your homes, you are illegal settlers, Obama has declared all the land to be given back to the Indian tribes. Hawaii goes back to the Hawaiians. So that leaves us with Alaska...wait a minute, we bought that from the Russians who took that land from the Eskimos. So what does that leave us with???? Manhattan, the only place we bought from the original inhabitants.
I have a bad feeling
Submitted by Boudin on Sat, 05/21/2011 - 11:31am.
Obama is contemplating just this type of crap.
I always wondered
Submitted by okie-pastor on Sun, 05/22/2011 - 1:57am.
Why do so many jews vote democrat? That baffles me to no end. A guy stands with your enemies. Wants you to give up your land and always blames your country for the problems in your region. That's just bizarre!!!