A war broke out on the set of HBO’s Real Time Friday when MSNBC’s sole conservative commentator S.E. Cupp had the nerve to say that Barack Obama’s foreign policy was no different than former President George W. Bush’s.
In the midst of the shouting, actor Samuel L. Jackson said to Cupp, “You don’t want to f—k with Dick Cheney" (video follows with transcribed highlights and commentary):
After the Daily Beast’s Andrew Sullivan commented about the current White House resident’s foreign policy during the show’s web-based Overtime segment, Cupp said, “Obama’s foreign policy is Bush’s foreign policy.”
“Are you kidding me?” asked an indignant Sullivan.
“Obama went into Libya illegally without asking Congress,” responded Cupp. “We have boots on the ground in Uganda. He makes Bush look like a Quaker.”
That set off the fireworks as Sullivan practically jumped out of his chair to refute his female co-panelist.
“Quakers do not torture people,” Sullivan shouted with his finger pointing at Cupp.
“Drone wars?” asked Cupp. “A kill list? Extra-judicial killings? You guys have no credibility if you are not going to acknowledge Obama.”
At that point, Maher tried to calm everyone down.
“I’m sorry,” continued Sullivan, “but to hear someone say that this war criminal administration that tortured human beings, invaded two countries on the basis in one case of absolutely flawed evidence is the equivalent of Obama.”
“Extra-judicial killings?” responded Cupp. “Really? That’s what we’re standing for now? You’ve got to be honest.”
Suddenly, Cupp found herself surrounded by three liberal men – Democratic strategist James Carville being the third – shouting their hypocritical views at her.
“If you’re going to talk about the philosophy that is underpinning Bush’s foreign policy,” said Cupp, “it is the same as Obama’s. One hundred percent. There is no daylight.”
After the guys echoed typical Democrat talking points about Iraq, Cupp fired back, “We got Congressional approval to go into Iraq.”
Sullivan wasn’t hearing any of it and instead accused Cupp of being in a bubble.
“Did we get Congressional approval to go into Iraq?” Cupp asked. “Yes. Did we get Congressional approval to go into Libya? No. You guys got to be honest. You’re not being honest. You’ve got a double standard that no one can talk you out of.”
“What Congress gave Bush,” Maher said, “was the right to strap on the guns. It didn’t give him the right to go in there with guns blazing.”
Whatever that meant, after some additional non sequiturs were spouted by the liberals on the panel, Cupp correctly stated, “If a Republican was implementing a drone war that killed hundreds of innocent children - children! - you would be calling for his impeachment.”
“We were,” replied Maher.
“Exactly,” pounced Cupp. “Why aren’t you calling for Obama’s?”
“Why aren’t you doing it with Obama?” Cupp asked again.
“Because you don’t want to f—k with Dick Cheney,” said Jackson.
And this is the hypocrisy of today’s liberals: they despised Bush and Cheney’s foreign policy when they were in power, but Obama should completely get a pass for what he’s doing today regardless of its similarities.
As Cupp marvelously said before Maher changed the subject, “The Left’s silence on this is appalling.”
Indeed it is, but it is not at all surprising.
Please also see S.E. Cupp Makes a Fool Out of Andrew Sullivan on HBO's Real Time and Democratic Strategist James Carville Scolds Andrew Sullivan For Always Blaming Republicans.
