Scarborough Says 'Perhaps' Obama's Cairo Speech Inspired Egyptian Protests
On Monday's "Morning Joe," MSNBC co-host Joe Scarborough hinted that President Obama may have been a major catalyst of the current protests against the authoritarian Mubarak regime in Egypt. Scarborough referred to the president's 2009 Cairo speech and wondered if it inspired the present protests.
"Barack Obama, he goes to Cairo, he gives a speech, and he inspires – perhaps he's the one who inspires a lot of these Egyptians to get out into the streets eventually," Scarborough proposed.
The "Morning Joe" panel was discussing the transition of power in Egypt and how it might affect American politics. Scarborough characterized President Obama as on the one hand a possible galvanizing figure in the current push for freedom in Egypt, and yet on the other hand a world leader accused of inaction during oppression of Iranians by their government in 2009.
Time magazine senior political analyst Mark Halperin expounded upon the difficulty the president faces in siding with either embattled Egyptian President Mubarak, a U.S. ally, or with the popular opposition. President Obama called this past weekend for an "orderly transition" in the Egyptian government through fair elections.
A transcript of the segment, which aired on January 31 at 6:43 a.m. EST, is as follows:
MIKA BRZEZINSKI: So how will [Mubarak] handle the transition to power, and will he? Can he?
MARK HALPERIN: We have this sort of forgone conclusion that he's going eventually. But the guy's been in power for a long time. He's got a lot of decisions to make. He's got to get over the disappointment that his son is not going to succeed him. He's got to think about the role of his legacy, and how people view him, whether he stays in the country or not. He's got a lot of decisions to make. And he can be a force for good in the transition. If he handles it with an attitude towards helping the country, versus if he tries to hold onto power, if he tries to choose a successor –
JOE SCARBOROUGH: What's the impact in American politics? Barack Obama, he goes to Cairo, he gives a speech, and he inspires – perhaps he's the one who inspires a lot of these Egyptians to get out into the streets eventually, but this is the same guy that was accused of being feckless in the face of Iranian protests in 2009.
HALPERIN: It is hard for any president, particularly a Democrat, to flip instantly. I mean, I'm sure the President's instincts are to go with the aspirations of people seeking democracy and freedom, but America's reliance on Egypt as a military partner and a diplomatic partner is very strong. And so the President, I think again, has moved farther and faster then he might have.
- Matt Hadro's blog
- Login to post comments
Comments
OMG
Submitted by SickofLibs on Mon, 01/31/2011 - 5:56pm.
Sure, Shmoe, I'm sure most of the protestors even have the speech on their islamoPods.
I hope State is putting together a list of all the other international speeches Obama has made, because those other countries may also be vulnerable.
Having heard The Word and all.
Oh he is good. Islamopod. A takeoff on Ipod. That is wicked good
Submitted by The Vet on Mon, 01/31/2011 - 6:02pm.
You make me want to be a better wit slinger Sir.
Thanks, Wyatt,
Submitted by SickofLibs on Mon, 01/31/2011 - 7:39pm.
but my only aspiration is to be a worthy deputy.
ROFL,
Submitted by UpNorth on Tue, 02/01/2011 - 12:56pm.
SoL. The word of the month, and we'll carry it over to February, Islamopod.
Having read pertinent portions of the speech, and his statement this past week, the only thing the Egyptians could have come away with is "I". I doubt they picked up anything beyond Owebowma fawning over Owebowma.
It's Chris Matthews Fault
Submitted by donabernathy on Mon, 01/31/2011 - 6:18pm.
Now the Egyptians know someone stole the Panama Canal from them and they're mad!!!!
roflmao
Buffoon
Submitted by miss911ninja on Tue, 02/01/2011 - 2:08am.
It wouldn't have been so bad if he'd said "Erie" canal, because it's got that "E" thing goin' on. His excuse could be that he was thinking of Egypt. But PANAMA?
What a buffoon.
Joe stikes-out again!
Submitted by Grumpy in Arizona on Mon, 01/31/2011 - 6:37pm.
Look, we already know that Egypt is a Nation steeped in the traditions of Denial. But for Scarborough to suggest that Obama’s speech was “a major catalyst of the current protests is so far from reality as to be certifiable.
Now had “Morning Schmoe” suggested it is the Obama Administrations complete incompetence in foreign affairs (and domestic ones to boot) I might have given his opinion some little credence.
→ Yeah, Joe
Submitted by Cool Arrow on Mon, 01/31/2011 - 6:40pm.
It's not as though Al Baredai successfully played a shell game with Iran's nuclear inspector.
OOPS! There I go again.
Hey, it's possible. Just look
Submitted by Captain Repus on Mon, 01/31/2011 - 7:10pm.
Hey, it's possible. Just look how Dear Leader has inspired us here at home, tea party, town hall protests, federal judge ObammyCare rejection, multiple terrorist attacks, ObammyCare repeal vote, skyrocketing oil and food prices, near 10% unemployment, housing collapse, mid-term election slaughterhouse, and on and on.
Yup, the guy definitely inspires lots of folks. Just watch how much more we are inspried in November 2012 if he allows elections and doesn't throw the kill switch on the internet.
→ Actually, Repus
Submitted by Cool Arrow on Mon, 01/31/2011 - 7:18pm.
He inspired millions to revolt with his Apology Speech in Cairo.
It's kind of a knack he has.
Submitted by Captain Repus on Mon, 01/31/2011 - 7:28pm.
It's kind of a knack he has. I have found practically every speech he has given to be revolting.
First Louie reporting for duty Sir!
Submitted by Tomorama on Mon, 01/31/2011 - 8:54pm.
Captain Sir, I was thinking the same thing.
A group of people united against the policies of an overtly far reaching entity that has the backing of the media (or at least control of).
In the last few days previous I have heard TONE DEAF and ARROGANT to describe Egypt's leader. Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.
Obama, look at your future, no matter how much they lie about you being a centrist.
Maybe these people are biased against the elderly as of course we are just racists.
Reality Check
Submitted by JustAl on Mon, 01/31/2011 - 7:22pm.
The only way his speech could have caused this is if he spoke at length about Bush causing global warming that endangers Egypt's polar bears and drives cartoonists to draw pictures of mohamad.
Actually, Morning Jerk, I think it was more Obama's collusion...
Submitted by Dave. on Mon, 01/31/2011 - 7:39pm.
...behind closed doors with the Camel-Washer Brotherhood than it was that vapid speech he gave in Cairo.
-Dave
Vote for the American in November
Oh this gets better and
Submitted by dscott on Mon, 01/31/2011 - 8:14pm.
Oh this gets better and better, circling Obama's complicity in instigating the civil unrest in Egypt the MSM now gives us the explanation that maybe, just maybe it's Obama's fault indirectly. Obama's awesomeness was so great he didn't know his own power...to move people.
Give it up MSM, you're just dying the death of a thousand cuts here. Just like taking off a bandaid on a hairy arm, don't rip it off gradually, just get it over with and just do it. Report the facts, Obama met with the Muslim Brotherhood and the State Department knew of the plot in 2009 to destabilize Egypt in 2011 just prior to the Egyptian elections.
Left REALLY believes this bunk
Submitted by The_Pumpcrop on Mon, 01/31/2011 - 9:00pm.
Joe Shmoe, who IS a libboe leftist, make NO mistake, said it, so the cool aid guzzlers I know (three who watch this show, mainly to see what shoes Granpa Munster Mika is wearing) believe it. Maybe Obama does know the Muslim Brotherhood and his speach WAS a code.... Oh, man, when that is said they come ALL unglued. "Joe is a Republican," they say. "So even the Republicans believe it." I've stopped laughing and just go ahead and puke on THEIR shoes....
What's Your Proof Joe?
Submitted by stratman on Mon, 01/31/2011 - 9:45pm.
What's Joe's proof? All those man-on-the-street interviews that spontaneously say Obama was their muse?
You didn't hear that? Yeah, me either.
I'm surprised this meme wasn't circulating large within minutes of the unrest. The Left is slipping.
Next week
Submitted by donabernathy on Mon, 01/31/2011 - 10:18pm.
Joe will explain how the Holocaust was a simple Alphabetical error. When Hitler exclaimed "Kill the (N)ews"..... history changed by the n word.
roflmao
BSSSSSSSS
Submitted by Jerry Mack on Mon, 01/31/2011 - 11:52pm.
I have been watching and listening to the talking heads voice opinions about Egypt. For as I can determine no one knows how how it got started or who is behind it. Where are the transcripts of the actual so called social network messages that are said to be behind this? As for Joe S. he can urinate into the wind. Then he will know what his opinion means to me.
Maybe I am missing something, but
Submitted by hbnolikeee on Tue, 02/01/2011 - 12:03am.
didn't tingles just say BO incited a riot?
→ Well, yes he did
Submitted by Cool Arrow on Tue, 02/01/2011 - 12:10am.
But he did it in a loving, Dreyfuss-like style.
Funny how form over function sucks in the Liberals every time.
"didn't tingles just say BO
Submitted by stratman on Tue, 02/01/2011 - 1:15am.
Isn't that what community activists do best?
Take his show on the road
Submitted by Dan Diego on Tue, 02/01/2011 - 9:16am.
Maybe we can book the Organizer for public speeches in China, North Korea, Burma, Vietnam...
On The Road
Submitted by stratman on Tue, 02/01/2011 - 2:31pm.
I see an updated "road" movie with Biden and Obama as the new Progressive Hope and Crosby.
From Wikipedia:
Hope and Crosby would usually play some form of con-artists trying to make a lot of money, with Bing (Obama) coming up with the ideas and Bob (Biden) usually doing the dirty work.
When confronted by the villain, Hope and Crosby would use a "patty cake" routine before throwing punches, though this would sometimes not work (Defines Obama's foreign policy)
Both characters would usually promise to not allow women (Hillary) to interfere with their plans, and both would immediately see a woman (Palin) and forget that promise.
Hope's character usually would have a nickname with which he would be referred to throughout the film, as in Road to Morocco, when he was called "Turkey", and Road to Zanzibar, in which he was called "Fearless". (Biden = Plugs, Bite Me. Idiot and Turkey work well also)
A case of life imitating art?
Noise from the mountain top...
Submitted by zachlind on Tue, 02/01/2011 - 12:13am.
Ah, Morning Bigot speaks. In Bigot's case the mountain is a couple of sand dunes.
Of course,
Submitted by malthus on Tue, 02/01/2011 - 1:18am.
a reporterette in Egypt said this was the case. Now Barry wants the Brotherhood to be a part of the new government. If there was ever any doubt where Soetoro's affections lie, watch the results. I am amazed Moochelle doesn't wear a burkha.
→ Moochelle in a burkha?
Submitted by Cool Arrow on Tue, 02/01/2011 - 1:21am.
It would certainly make it easier for POTUS to sneak Larry Sinclair into the WH.
NTTAWWT.
Mourning 4 Joe
Submitted by bluedognomore on Tue, 02/01/2011 - 1:48am.
Is a gathering of the stupidest people in America who think they are playing intelligent on TV.
Joe may be correct but not
Submitted by inquiringmind on Tue, 02/01/2011 - 10:01am.
Joe may be correct but not for the reason he gives. I think the Middle East sees Obama as a weak president and not willing to back Mubarak. The Muslum brotherhood foments the protests under the guise of freedom and then when a vacume in govermental power happens they step in as the saviors.
Hitler did it. So can these loons.
All the while Obama is too frozen to act or worse unwilling to act.
"Perhaps" sub-prime mortgages
Submitted by Cowboy on Tue, 02/01/2011 - 2:05pm.
"Perhaps" sub-prime mortgages had something to do with the financial meltdown...
financial meltdown
Submitted by Agnostic on Tue, 02/01/2011 - 2:15pm.
the natural result of extended economic prosperity is greater waste, greater risks and government over spending. Therefore at some point the prosperity must end and a downward cycle will begin. This is part of the economic cycle that isn't in the text books but is none the less true. Economic cycles would exist without these components but to date it hasn't happened.