The right wing has been apoplectic over President Obama's words and actions while in Europe. A large amount of their outrage has been over the fact that Obama briefly bowed to King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia.
Today on MSNBC, right-wing commentator Frank Gaffney joined in, boldly declaring, "I'm a member of Dick Cheney's fan club," alluding to the former vice president's comments that Obama is making Americans less safe. Gaffney said that today, for example, Obama told our "Muslim enemies" that the United States is "willing to submit to them."
When asked by MSNBC host David Shuster and Mother Jones's David Corn for proof of this supposed submission, Gaffney pointed to a secret "code" Obama is using — which apparently only he, al Qaeda, the Saudis, and the Taliban understand:
CORN: Where in that speech does he say we're going to submit to anybody?
GAFFNEY: I think what he is using is code — … When he uses the word "respect," in the context of a waist-bow to the king of Saudi Arabia, for example, and talks about respectful language, which is code for those who adhere to Sharia that we will submit to Sharia. We will submit to the kind of program –
SHUSTER: We have to know the code? We all have to know the code to understand how we're making ourselves more vulnerable? … David Corn was asking you for a specific example, and you're referring to code. You're referring to code!
GAFFNEY: I'm telling you the code as they receive it in the Taliban headquarters and in al Qaeda's cave and in the kingdom of Saudi Arabia. They perceive this as submission.
Watch it:
The "respectful language" that most likely galled Gaffney was from Obama's speech to the Turkish parliament today:
Now, I have made it clear to the people and leaders of the Islamic Republic of Iran that the United States seeks engagement based on mutual interest and mutual respect. We want Iran to play its rightful role in the community of nations. Iran is a great civilization. We want them to engage in the economic and political integration that brings prosperity and security. But Iran's leaders must choose whether they will try to build a weapon or build a better future for their people.
Apparently, the American public also doesn't know this secret "code." A new Washington Post-ABC News poll finds that 82 percent believe that it is important for Obama "to try to improve U.S. relations with Muslim nations." Additionally, two-thirds believe Obama will handle this diplomatic outreach "about right."
No comments:
Post a Comment