MSNBC's Wolffe: 'Experiment of Democracy in Mideast Best Demonstrated by Hamas in Gaza'
MSNBC political analyst Richard Wolffe on Tuesday said, "The experiment of democracy, of untrammeled democracy inside the Middle East is most clearly demonstrated by the Palestinian authority with Hamas taking power in the Gaza strip."
Such transpired in the same lengthy "Hardball" segment wherein Chris Matthews called Sarah Palin "a cuckoo clock" and Newt Gingrich "a mortal enemy to our civilization" (video follows with transcript and commentary):
RICHARD WOLFFE, MSNBC POLITICAL ANALYST: And Chris, there’s a third came here, which I think Senator Graham kind of represents here, which is conservative opinion, which is more realpolitik, more realistic in saying, Let’s deal with the world as it is out there. And there’s that tension that played out between the conservatives and the neo-cons through the Bush years.
What’s remarkable is seeing the sort of conspiracy side of this take ahold Newt Gingrich who is a self-styled historian or student of history, making some of the same kind of mistakes. You cannot see this region, never mind the rest of the world, purely in terms of the post-9/11 American political framework. You cannot just project out everything from the Bush era. And if you are, at least going to study the Bush era properly. I mean, the experiment of democracy, of untrammeled democracy inside the Middle East is most clearly demonstrated by the Palestinian authority with Hamas taking power in the Gaza strip.
For those unfamiliar with the term, untrammeled means "not limited or restricted; unrestrained."
If that's how Wolffe sees Gaza at this point, it is him making political and historical mistakes, for Hamas has been preventing new elections in Gaza that could result in it being tossed out.
As Commentary's Noah Pollak wrote in October 2009:
[One man, one vote, one time] is the oft-repeated formulation that describes the problem with the participation of Islamist and terrorist groups in elections. They pretend to be committed to democratic politics so long as democratic politics provide a vehicle for them to take power. But the moment elections no longer favor them, they no longer favor elections.
This has been the case in Gaza since Hamas took over. As the New York Times reported Tuesday:
The Palestinian Authority announced on Tuesday that it would hold delayed local elections on July 9. The vote was originally scheduled for last summer, but it was postponed by disagreements over candidates within the Fatah movement...Elections were supposed to be held in both the West Bank and Gaza, but Hamas, which rules in Gaza, has said it would not allow them to take place. No election has been held in either territory since 2006.
According to the Jerusalem Post, Hamas is still preventing these elections to occur in Gaza:
The Palestinian Authority announced on Tuesday that it plans to hold municipal elections on July 9. Hamas responded by declaring that it won’t allow the vote to take place in the Gaza Strip...Hamas’s decision to boycott the elections means that they would take place only in the West Bank.
Is this what Wolffe considers "untrammeled democracy" - when the party in power is preventing elections?
*****Update: Washington Post blogger Jennifer Rubin responded to my e-mail request for comment...
I don't know Mr. Wolffe well enough to know what he means. Let's remember two things. First, the decision to allow a terrorist group that is dedicated to the destruction of the state of Israel and that rejects democratic values was a grave error, an unmitigated disaster for Israel, for the PA and for the region. There were those within the Bush administration who warned against this but they did not carry the day. Second, prior to 2006 when the Bush administration was studiously trying to promote democratization - that is to expand freedom and help support institutions that would form the building blocks of secular democratic government - the left was no where to be seen. The left punditocracy and their kindred souls in the Obama White House have showed nothing but contempt for the Bush freedom agenda. It is rather poor form then to pop up now to instruct us on the topic of democracy in the Middle East.
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Comments
One wonders if and when Comcast will give
Submitted by virginia republican on Tue, 02/08/2011 - 11:30pm.
fools like this their walking papers. Or will they be satisfied with the same in-the-crapper ratings for their on-air so-called "talent"?
Richard Wolffe
Submitted by Jerry Mack on Wed, 02/09/2011 - 12:09am.
RW can't have a lot brains in his head. No way can that skinny neck support much weight. Then again maybe he has a single cell solar powered brain and he has not been in the sunlight for several days.
Good for The Goose Good for the Gander
Submitted by Avitar on Wed, 02/09/2011 - 12:31am.
I am soo glad he approves the thousands of lynching Hamas has committed to retain pover and defeat the Palestinian Authority .There are so few traditional Democrats out there with full support for their political wing the KKK.
I can't even see a flaming
Submitted by mostlymoderate on Wed, 02/09/2011 - 1:29am.
I can't even see a flaming liberal in Berkeley, CA saying such ridiculous remarks. Is this guy somehow joking? No way he just said that.
By the look on his face you
Submitted by LAM SON 719 on Wed, 02/09/2011 - 1:33am.
By the look on his face you know Crissy is fondling him and he's enjoying it.
THATS "WOLFFE," WITH TWO "Fs" - BLITZER ONLY GETS ONE.
Submitted by Herbster on Wed, 02/09/2011 - 1:46am.
Richard "TWO - F" must be on, (Or off) the same meds as Chrissy. Is there a psychiatrist in the house?....we have a "Twofer" waiting for you.
COMCAST...please send these two over to the Al Gore network....they could attract at least three more viewers.
Simply unbelieveable
Submitted by TexasMom0517 on Wed, 02/09/2011 - 6:37am.
Just when I think the Left cannot jump the shark any further.....
So the civil war in Gaza
Submitted by Cowboy on Wed, 02/09/2011 - 7:09am.
So the civil war in Gaza where Hamas killed so many of its opposition is his demonstration of democracy...
Playing The Clown For A Gingrich Slam?
Submitted by Boil It Down on Wed, 02/09/2011 - 8:22am.
Why on Earth would Wolffe present the absurd supposition that the Palestinians and Hamas are some how a model of a free democracy? What is so vital to him that he would willingly expose himself as a fool? Was it that important to Wolffe to frame Gingrich as a conspiracy nut? If so, then he has shown himself less informed than most news outlets and bloggers on the threat of the Muslim Brotherhood and their role in forming Hamas.
This particular incident is Wolffe's normal posture, of course, which is shamelessly prostrating himself before the liberal media gods for his little scrap of attention. So far as I know he has never displayed any glimmer of integrity. That, alone, has given him a place of honor at MSNBC. I guess he values his place as a "useful idiot" with his nonsensical uttering of support for the enemies of real free democracies. What place in their world would they have for someone like him... Oh, Yeah..a shallow grave. Wolffe, of course, cannot think that far ahead.
NBC Nightly News compares MB with Hamas
Submitted by ctyankee on Wed, 02/09/2011 - 8:14am.
On NBC Nightly News Tuesday, Ricard Engel reported that we should not fear a Muslim Brotherhood takover of Egypt. He stated that the MB are not radical like Al Qaeda. He said the Muslim Brotherhood is more moderate and democratic, like Hamas and Hezbollah.
You can't make this up!
Yeah the Brotherhood in
Submitted by Dan The Man 2 on Wed, 02/09/2011 - 9:31am.
Yeah the Brotherhood in charge of a country like Egypt? For years Egypt has been friendly to teh US for one reason or another. I wish the public would realize propping up dictators is not a bad thing, not the best but the best for now.
Wolffe.....
Submitted by adamsmith on Wed, 02/09/2011 - 9:36am.
He should move to Lebanon for awhile seeing it's so democratic. He'd fare well over there with those democratic freedom loving Muslims, especially as he's a little light in the loafers and all....
Suicide bombers & Qassam rockets: building blocks of democracy
Submitted by SickofLibs on Wed, 02/09/2011 - 9:45am.
But all Olby's ex-girlfriends are nuts.
Here is the dealeo -
Submitted by Ashrak on Wed, 02/09/2011 - 9:45am.
The progressives, especially the lefties (but this pertains to some of the rightees too) are scared to death of a couple things. 1) They have invested themselves so deeply in this "religion of peace" political correctness and 2) they have made so much apology for Islamic terrorism that when democratic exercise happens in that part of the world then the rest of the world gets to see it for what it is - the Hamas Example. One man, One vote, One time.
No more can progressives hide the reality when it comes to pass. And one thing the progressives cannot control is militant Islam. Progressives have not yet accomplished the defeat of all other enemies in order to confront Islamic terrorism and they fear being exposed as not really all that different from it.
I opine it is time for cards on the table. If Egyptians want to elect Islamic fundamentalism after decades of American aid, go for it, and then watch that aid go bye bye. We get two positive things out of that - proof that buying friends is impossible and also that there is indeed a global war on terrorism that simply has to be waged with its defeat by eradication being the number one goal.
Enough!
Submitted by Cappmann1962 on Wed, 02/09/2011 - 9:59am.
Can ANYONE explain to me WTF it is with these idiotic, moronic, brain-dead newsies where they continually make excuses for, justify the actions of, and outright lie to protect and put in the best light all these TERRORISTS? This is becoming a common thread across the spectrum and over a years-long period. It became the most obvious during the 2006 Israel/Hamas conflict when Reuters actually photoshopped images to make the Israelis look worse. The UN condemned Israel. Media outlets around the world jumped on board. And it's gotten more prevalent since. Newsies do this whitewashing for Hamas, Hezbollah, Al Qaeda, domestic terrorists, dictatorships around the world, and so on. What is their deal? First off, don't they realize how WRONG these terrorists and despots are, both socially and morally? Secondly, don't they realize that if people such as they're excusing were to ever actually take power, these same newsies would be the first stood against the wall and shot? Not to mention that terrorists and despots are antithetical to the very ideals and philosophies liberals espouse. I can't wrap my head around their reasoning (or even the lack thereof).
I highly doubt that the colonists thought stoning an adulteress
Submitted by im41 on Wed, 02/09/2011 - 10:17am.
the majority believe in, and would follow, Sharia Law
Wolffe is right about one
Submitted by bassndude on Wed, 02/09/2011 - 12:59pm.
Wolffe is right about one thing. You let the muslims have an election, they will elect the extrimest group. The proof is in Hamas in Gaza. Islam will always elect the violent. They crave death, either their own or the infidels. Sometimes both.
It is beyond me how so many people can be duped. May as well have a nation of monkeys.
Save a SeAL, club a liberal/troll!!
Ain't that the truth
Submitted by jon_torlin on Wed, 02/09/2011 - 4:59pm.
Boy ain't that the truth. Case in point, Iran's conviction of a software programmer who was sentenced to death because his software was used for porn photo downloading without his knowledge, sounds like some trumped up charges. He's a Canadian citizen, but they arrested him when he visisted Tehran and now he's going to be killed according to Islam.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/feb/09/iranian-death-sentence-porno...
Islam = death. People can ask "How do they live like that?" In a culture of death, there is no living.
-Jon
This sounds like he was doing
Submitted by Dan The Man 2 on Wed, 02/09/2011 - 7:28pm.
This sounds like he was doing business with the devil. And sometimes you get burnt.