Israeli official suggests Boehner misled Netanyahu on Congress speech

[brooklynite]

Source: Reuters

(Reuters) - A senior Israeli official suggested on Friday that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had been misled into thinking an invitation to address the U.S. Congress on Iran next month was fully supported by the Democrats.

Netanyahu was invited by the Republican speaker of the house, John Boehner, to address Congress on March 3, an invitation Boehner originally described as bipartisan.

The move angered the White House, which is upset about the event coming two weeks before Israeli elections and the fact that Netanyahu, who has a testy relationship with President Obama, is expected to be critical of U.S. policy on Iran.

"It appears that the speaker of Congress made a move, in which we trusted, but which it ultimately became clear was a one sided move and not a move by both sides," Deputy Israeli Foreign Minister Tzachi Hanegbi told 102 FM Tel Aviv Radio on Friday.

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/02/06/us-israel-usa-congress-iran-idUSKBN0LA1AG20150206

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...in which case, the right thing to do would be to cancel the speech, even if it embarrasses your supporters in the Republican Party...

[leftynyc]

1. I agree

Cancel the speech. This is as good an excuse as any.

[TheCowsCameHome]

2. The best thing would be total boycott by Democrats.

Leave Rep. Boehner and Senator Bibi swinging in the breeze.

[countmyvote4real]

3. Duh?

Cancel the speech now and save as much face as possible.

[Fred Sanders]

4. The right thing to do is for Boehner and Bibi and Dermer to all resign in shame. And then investigate.

[2naSalit]

26. Fred, I know you can answer this....

To my recollection, Dermer had approached Boehner to agree to the speech originally... right?

Meaning this whole speech thing was Bibi's idea to begin with... right?

It blows up in their faces now everybody knows and are disgusted about the lack of decorum to say the least... right?

After a week or so of blushing but not ashamed, Bibi is whining about how he was misled by Boehner...?

If that's so, I must say that this looks and smells like Bibi cooked up, found a willing accomplice in Boehner and is now crying victim because he's been found out.

Bibi... ever the victim.

[Fred Sanders]

27. Who knows the devilish details without an investigation? Everyone is pointing fingers at each other. Dermer is

key to getting at the truth, he is lowest on the totem pole, the one most likely to spill all the beans.

It is shocking that there are not widespread calls for an investigation.

[2naSalit]

30. I agree about the need for investigation...

at this point all we have is fodder for latenight talk shows FauxNation.

I have become numbed to the shock and awe anymore... I've been paying through the nose for a decade and a half, I've used up all my hysteria. I saw this world of up-side-down government up the road ahead back in the late 90s. I guess the thing that bothers me the most is the ignorance of the GP and lacking the knowledge to understand what's happening here and that there is a civic duty among all citizens to change it. It's what it means to be a citizen yet it seems the GP are so distracted by techno-toys and entertainment that they can barely think for themselves let alone recognize and exercise their responsibilities of citizenship.

I have been hoping for change for a long time... I'm still waiting, hope is intermittent.

[Perseus]

36. I think it is much simpler than that

Bibi has an election, he knows he has screwed up big time, he has lost ground in the polls, so now he has to play victim and throw Boehner under the bus to try to save face, which in fact should unger more people because that means he is easily dupped...

The thing is that throwing Boehner under the bus would not work because the protocol should have required for him to confirm with democrats, and the white house, that in fact it was a bipartisan invitation, and there is that small detail that John Kerry was never told about it when they had the chance.

Political move to save face, nothing else.

[Fred Sanders]

37. Will Obama let them save face? Contrary to the corporate Bibi protecting propaganda, Obama holds all the cards and

none of the blame.

[karynnj]

41. may not be possible

It is already common knowledge that Kerry met with Detmer for two hours the day it was announced and nothing was mentioned. It is hard to imagine there would be no mention if Detmer thought Kerry knew.

Not to mention this story makes Boehner look like he lied about it being bipartisan. In fact the first news stories also said. Note this would still be a breach of protocol and Democrats being part of it. It seems Boehner lied to Israel as well as the media

[mrdmk]

39. That is exactly what a liar does, tries to cheat the system then say they did not know

This move will not save face, it will only ruin Bibi's chances at a re-election win.

Too Bad!

[Cali_Democrat]

38. This!

[Thinkingabout]

5. Bibi would probably get the biggest bang for a buck by canceling speaking before Congress.

If Democrats boycott his speech in which I think they should, then whatever Bibi would have gained will be lost. Boehner doesnt have the guts to stand up to the TP so I doubt he would resend the invitation, it would further show Boehner's weakness and inability to make smart decisions.

[yellowcanine]

6. Oopsie. Will Boehner still have his sh*t eating grin from under the bus?

Nice move Bibi. Keep it classy.

[Botany]

7. Please the point of the speech was to undermine the POTUS by a foreign leader in front of Congress

And Boner, Bibi, and Ambassador Dermer were all in on it.

What would the republicans had said if Nancy Pelosi ahd invinted the President of
France to adress congress in 2007 about what a cluster fuck W & Cheney's war in
Iraq had become?

[hopemountain]

40. exactly.

reuters reporter seems to be in on this press release "ploy" to allow netanyahu an out while throwing boehner under the bus.

[ColesCountyDem]

8. Your explanation will be far more believable if you cancel your speech, Bibi. n/t

[NCjack]

9. Benjamin Netanyahu is alleged to have an IQ of 180, but he was bamboozled by

a drunken American politician -- Speaker Boehner.

[Fred Sanders]

23. IQ of 180? I have proof of his true IQ.........

[Spitfire of ATJ]

35. Uh huh, I hear Kim Jong Il was born under a star and crapped out butterflies too.

[Kelvin Mace]

10. I'm sorry, but anyone who believes John Boehner

should not be running a country. He probably also believes in Santa and the Tooth Fairy.

[George II]

11. I've been saying for a week that somehow they'll find a "diplomatic" way to cancel....

....there is more to be lost than gained by proceeding with the speech.

This is the first inkling that they're scrambling for a face-saving excuse to cancel.

And if it is cancelled, Obama will have WON again!!!!

[mpcamb]

15. I agree.

About the face saving and especially the scrambling that goes with it.
And while it will prove embarrassing to Netanyahu, I'd also hope the outcome will be the most damaging to his re-election campaign.
Whatever replaces him is going to be better.

[libdem4life]

12. How's the view Under the Bus, Boehner? I'd bet he'll cancel, which would at this point, get him the

best bang for his political buck.

[BillZBubb]

13. You would think, if that were true, Netanyahu would cancel the speech.

Of course, if Netanyahu wasn't such an ass, he would never have agreed to it without first consulting the president.

[Baitball Blogger]

16. Neti is a political being.

He knows how American government works and he would have known that this would have grated Democrats that are finally finding their backbones.

[Baitball Blogger]

14. This is getting better and better.

The GOP manipulation tactic is going to blow up in Boehner's terra-cotta face.

[jwirr]

17. Looks like Netanyahu may be regretting his acceptance at this time. He can always ask to change

the date.

[cosmicone]

18. If Netanyahu were smart..

he'd do a mea culpa immediately and cancel the speech. The longer it drags on, the more damage he is causing to his chances of him getting reelected. As it is, the delay of two whole weeks has caused serious damage to Likud.

He should have cancelled immediately when POTUS leaked that they were livid.

[George II]

19. Perhaps he'll cancel later today? Friday afternoon is a good time to do such things.

[mehrrh]

20. Not enough fabric

This CYA attempt with a tea towel is not going to exonerate Bibi.
He is a savvy politician,and no one should believe he was 'misled."
This is a blunder he made with Boehner and they will both pay for it.

[Nitram]

21. And so the spinning begins in earnest

[Iliyah]

22. He won't because he thinks the Dems will come over to his side

and give the GOPers 2/3 majority to veto Pres O on Iran.

[libodem]

24. Ah heck

Now that the Pope is coming this fall it's all fair and balanced. Where do you think the right gets its other marching orders from besides the Koch Heads?

Surprised the First Presidency of the LDS Church hasn't been invited to address congress. Or a secret invite to The House Of Saud for some foreign policy imput.

[oldandhappy]

25. They each knew exactly what they were doing, and

sure, great excuse to cancel!

[1StrongBlackMan]

29. I wonder how Netanyahu would respond ...

if one of his country-men were to invite President Obama (or John Kerry) to address the Israeli equivalent of the US Congress for the purpose of opposing Netanyahu's agenda ... and in response to the flap, President Obama (John Kerry) said, "Well ... why should we pass up this opportunity to influence the Israeli government?"

I'm pretty certain that shoe wouldn't fit.

[Gman]

31. Very good pivot

Throwing Boehner under the bus while blaming the Democrats. That's the equivalent of a 3 point play.

[douggg]

32. Looks like an escape hatch.

Just enough that it can be used or forgotten.

[Duval]

33. Yes, he did! nt

[Spitfire of ATJ]

34. What a crock. Fact is, this blew up in his face as a PR disaster globally.