Who hammered Barney Frank into reversing himself last night on Hardball? (Audio here).
A day after announcing that Gaza's deprivation by Israel makes him ashamed as a Jew, Frank defended Israel's condemning Gazans to survival-rations amid ruins. The flip-flop would have been tragic--except that in the process he unwittingly promoted a world-wide Boycott, Divest, and Sanctions of Israel. Frank achieved this coup using the very best evidence--Israel's own actions--comparing Israel's siege with U.S. action against South African apartheid.
Frank admitted that, "Blockades hurt people," but he justified the infernal Israeli siege of Gaza by reminiscing about "when we were fighting apartheid in South Africa, [we were] told by Ronald Reagan, who vetoed the sanctions bill, you know you're hurting people." Frank eulogized his own past heroism:
"And we over-rode Reagan's veto to impose tough sanctions...and the Reaganites said to us, 'You're hurting the poor black people of South Africa.' But Nelson Mandela later stood in the Capitol of the United States and said, 'Thank you for doing that, because you need to put pressure on.'"
Frank interrupted himself to tell Matthews, "You remember this, Chris," and Chris sentimentally confirmed, "I certainly do."
Both Frank and Chris Matthews are evidently so uninformed that they haven't heard Mandela and Archbishop Desmond Tutu declare that Israel's Occupation of Palestine is much worse than South African Apartheid. Perhaps Mandela and Tutu will hear, and demand airtime to correct Frank's misrepresentations.
Both Frank and Chris Matthews are evidently so uninformed that they haven't heard Mandela and Archbishop Desmond Tutu declare that Israel's Occupation of Palestine is much worse than South African Apartheid. Perhaps Mandela and Tutu will hear, and demand airtime to correct Frank's misrepresentations.
After Frank repeated his mock-sympathetic admission, "The blockade hurts the people of Gaza," he deludes: "By the way it was an EGYPTIAN-Israeli blockade, and the Egyptians, for their own reasons of self-preservation were doing this." Charging Barney Frank with outright deception sounds harsh, but how can he not know that the U.S. government pays Egypt (second only to Israel in US aid) to cage Gazans by closing its crossing and blocking the tunnels, which have been the only pipeline preventing starvation?
Frank asserts that no blockade torments "in the West Bank; [but] it happens in Gaza, because a terrorist group opposed to Israel's existence took PHYSICAL CONTROL--"
Matthews: "Right."
Frank continues, "...from the elected government of the time, or the elected parliament."
Another boomerang of the truth. Disgusted by Fatah's corruption, and its inability to stem the continuing loss of lives and land, Palestinians voted for Hamas in 2006. PLO advisor Hanan Ashrawi foretold just that result in the 1980s-- the so-called "moderates" would be discredited as Israeli-U.S. stooges.
Matthews played the religio-ethnic card: "When you let Israel be judged by the Europeans, you're not letting them be judged by a panel of their PEERS. It does seem a totally prejudicial situation." Oh, yes, and the Irish who fought British Occupation over 800 years were only terrorists, too? Frank criticizes Turkey, "who should not have let themselves be used by Hamas," then adds, "The Turks can't blame this [slaughter at sea and discord with the US government] on the fact that they've already been out of 'sync' with us on Iranian sanctions."
A totalitarian edict. This so-called "Democratic representative" could be evicted for that line from any liberal party--which unfortunately does not now include the Democrats, except Kucinich, Winograd, McKinney.
Matthews played the religio-ethnic card: "When you let Israel be judged by the Europeans, you're not letting them be judged by a panel of their PEERS. It does seem a totally prejudicial situation." Oh, yes, and the Irish who fought British Occupation over 800 years were only terrorists, too? Frank criticizes Turkey, "who should not have let themselves be used by Hamas," then adds, "The Turks can't blame this [slaughter at sea and discord with the US government] on the fact that they've already been out of 'sync' with us on Iranian sanctions."
A totalitarian edict. This so-called "Democratic representative" could be evicted for that line from any liberal party--which unfortunately does not now include the Democrats, except Kucinich, Winograd, McKinney.
"Well, they've got an Islamic government," Matthews says-- "Islamist, perhaps." Is he accusing the long-standing US ally Turkey of terrorist aims? The Hardball host had already exposed his racism with his opening question to Frank, "How do you find objective truth in the Middle East?"
Frank compares the opprobrium heaped on Israel to the supposed pass given North Korea. But Secretary Hillary Clinton has unequivocally condemned North Korea, whereas she and Obama have equivocated shamefully on Israel's misdeeds--even to the point of ignoring a murdered American citizen.
Frank compares the opprobrium heaped on Israel to the supposed pass given North Korea. But Secretary Hillary Clinton has unequivocally condemned North Korea, whereas she and Obama have equivocated shamefully on Israel's misdeeds--even to the point of ignoring a murdered American citizen.
Then Frank launches his propaganda balloon anew: "The "fundamental problem with Gaza, for [Israelis is that]... .they GAVE UP GAZA, voluntarily," and then Gaza was "OCCUPIED BY a group of people [Hamas] who think Israel shouldn't exist..." How dare he fob off the deception that the resistance to illegal Israeli occupation is itself the occupier?
Israel wanted to divide and conquer the people of Palestine, and it has now done so. Every U.S. defender of Israel--and therefore its expansion--fends off pressure for peace and shrinking Israel to permanent 1967 borders, by shedding crocodile tears about Palestinian divisions, which, they say, makes "a solution" hopelessly complex. Frank claims that Hamas is on the US "terrorist list for good reason." And "a blockade that lets some shipments in" leads irrevocably to "gunrunning." "Given that," he adds, turning his ire to Turkey, "I think it was irresponsible of the pro-Hamas people who organized this set of ships to do that," for "they had to understand the potential for violence."
Hmm: we must ask, what did you, Congress, Matthews, or MSNBC do about the humanitarian catastrophe before the flotilla brought new eyes? If Netanyahu and Co had not kidnapped and killed on the ships to prove their manhood--sorry, deterrence--the corporate journos would still hide the truth.
Frank spreads his errors to defense of combat-force against U.S. and other civilians: "That does not mean that everything the Israelis did was right, but when military people are in a situation where they had to use force, which they had to do here, not everything will be done well." He then gloops the schmaItz onto Israeli courts: "I do agree that it would be in Israel's interest to have an independent inquiry," for the "Israeli justice system has a very good record of holding the Israeli government to account."
And Chris agrees, rather than howling in derision. How can any "internal" probe be "independent?"
Frank blunders anew with a third comparison, "if Hamas were in Canada, America would have a tougher blockade than Israel had." Yes, and if Canada were grabbing all 50 states and imprisoning us in gulags, America "would have a tougher" retaliation than Hamas--not mere Qassam rockets. As always, Israel protectors confuse the protagonists.
Matthews celebrates Frank's wisdom: "I hate it when I completely agree with somebody, but I do. And there's only one thing to add," he smirks, what's with "the smart people in Europe? Don't they know, don't they see the [IDF-doctored] movies we see? --The Israeli IDF guys getting beaten up on that ship? Don't they see it?"
Matthews framed the discussion by headlining the show with Netanyahu's propaganda portrayed as truth. But Andrea Mitchell immediately informed Matthews that no one can believe Netanyahu--especially his falsehoods about the acceptability of life in Gaza, for his assurances conflict with the devastation that NBC reporters had just discovered, a "great humanitarian crisis." Even about that IDF video, Mitchell disputed Netanyahu's assertions, "our own experts looked at it [IDF video] and said you can't really tell from the edited tape IDF videos who was responsible.... There is no real proof as to what happened," and Matthews even agreed. How can he so brazenly contradict himself only minutes later?
Matthews's credulity proves one point. Obtuse establishment-types pretend to yearn for the Palestinian Gandhi, while ignoring the thousands of peaceful resisters Israel holds without charge. The real question is: where's the American blockbuster of the Palestinian Gandhi--the tearjerker with Ben Kingsley and Martin Sheen--transforming the courage of all who protested Empire into a "no-brainer"? Even that easy "hero-villain" formula would be welcome.
Frank blunders anew with a third comparison, "if Hamas were in Canada, America would have a tougher blockade than Israel had." Yes, and if Canada were grabbing all 50 states and imprisoning us in gulags, America "would have a tougher" retaliation than Hamas--not mere Qassam rockets. As always, Israel protectors confuse the protagonists.
Matthews celebrates Frank's wisdom: "I hate it when I completely agree with somebody, but I do. And there's only one thing to add," he smirks, what's with "the smart people in Europe? Don't they know, don't they see the [IDF-doctored] movies we see? --The Israeli IDF guys getting beaten up on that ship? Don't they see it?"
Matthews framed the discussion by headlining the show with Netanyahu's propaganda portrayed as truth. But Andrea Mitchell immediately informed Matthews that no one can believe Netanyahu--especially his falsehoods about the acceptability of life in Gaza, for his assurances conflict with the devastation that NBC reporters had just discovered, a "great humanitarian crisis." Even about that IDF video, Mitchell disputed Netanyahu's assertions, "our own experts looked at it [IDF video] and said you can't really tell from the edited tape IDF videos who was responsible.... There is no real proof as to what happened," and Matthews even agreed. How can he so brazenly contradict himself only minutes later?
Matthews's credulity proves one point. Obtuse establishment-types pretend to yearn for the Palestinian Gandhi, while ignoring the thousands of peaceful resisters Israel holds without charge. The real question is: where's the American blockbuster of the Palestinian Gandhi--the tearjerker with Ben Kingsley and Martin Sheen--transforming the courage of all who protested Empire into a "no-brainer"? Even that easy "hero-villain" formula would be welcome.
Is Hollywood still too fond of Israel to dramatize the monstrous caging of Palestinians into the gulags of Gaza and the West Bank? Or must heart-rending exposes wait 40 years until they're unthreatening History--like the story of independence for India? Frank-n-Matthews's recollections of Apartheid show how the US corporate media only romanticizes movements of liberation in the past tense. The 1980s press actually tarred support for Mandela and the African National Congress as "promoting Communism," in the "He-said--He said" debate of that era.
Later on, Jon Stewart sucked up enough courage to sock Israel mildly, but saved the climactic contempt for Charles Krauthammer and his hideous claim that there's no deprivation in Gaza. Stewart even covertly connected the undelivered pieces of wheelchairs with the (wheel-chair-bound) Krauthammer. Stewart's years of ignoring the illegal prison camp into which Israel has locked Gaza ended only when Israel again ambushed a defenseless boat on the high seas. Perhaps Stewart will stay on the story before Israel strikes the Rachel Corrie. If he does, he just might save that little craft and its crew.
I was very much involved with the anti apartheid issue in the 70′s and 80′s. Watching ,pushing forthat divestment movement taught many of us a great deal. The roadblocks and “off limits” in regard to the BDS movement on campuses is a long time coming. Coming slowly
Israel and the I lobby have been incredibly successful at keeping the American people out of the loop about the truth in regard to the Israeli Palestinian conflict. That wall is coming down
Just a note: There’s still no real proof that NK really did sink the Cheonan. If all we’re basing that accusation on is the number 1 written in North Korean, that’s some pretty crappy proof. No wonder Russia and China don’t accept it. And the US would be much better off not baying for war with NK considering how laughably shaky the evidence is. On the other hand, when Israel attacks and kills 9 or more activists in international waters, they can barely muster any criticism at all.
Jeez, Barney Frank, that was an awfully short homecoming.
Thanks, Frances, I agree with all you say about NK. And with Israel, not a peep, just more billions for conquering and crime–against our citizens as well as the people we help deprive of citizenship in Palestine.
And Kathleen: Same here, and glad to know that about you.
Thanks, Susie. And thanks for the coverage of Shahar’s run at Roland Garros. I like tennis, but the idiotic fawning over Pe’er was getting really ridiculous. People really seemed to think she overcame modern-day Nazis in the whole Dubai affair. Don’t get me wrong, I’m sure she’s a nice girl, but still: BDS all the way.
About NK, it’s just grating my cheese a little to hear people comparing the Marmara to the Cheonan. What happened to the Cheonan was horrible and I would love to see a real inquiry into what exactly happened, but until there’s real proof that NK did it, Clinton needs to shut up. Yet when there’s ZERO doubt that Israeli commandos killed 9+ people, Clinton can barely say “regret”. And yet the Obama administration is still denounced as Israel-hating. The mind, it reels.
Apparently the cheif of South Korean Intelligence nor their Defense Minster do either.
Ed Koch apparently put on a lame and disgusting performance.
If you’re talking about the debate with Scahill, then yes, he did. Scahill would say something intelligent and honest, Koch would turn it around and accuse him of saying something completely unrelated and then when Scahill tried to clarify his position, Koch would shake his finger at him and go “Ah!”. Truly callous and heartless.
Stewart showed some unseemly protesting on the Palestinian side but none from the Israeli side. Then he further stacked the deck for Israel by showing an “international law expert” defending Israel contrasted with a member of the Free Gaza Movement of no such credentials. After that, he cracked a joke inferring the people on the boat initiated the violence, in the end gave the Moment of Zen to Netanyahu spouting the same hasbara. With that, I give up on The Daily Show.
Brilliant job of deconstructing the lies we are fed. And this was merely on MSNBC.
I had the misfortune of seeing michael Oren on Sean Hannity’s show when I was at the gym yesterday. It was sickening. Hannity did his all to out-Zionist Michael Oren. Truly shameless.
Susie, feel free to be polite and gentle and kind when describing Barney Frank’s flip flopping.
Here’s what I think about Barney Frank. He has shown that all it takes to get him to flip flop is a few threats. Someone from The Lobby (AIPAC) must have made a phone call or paid him a visit. Does the man have a spine? Is he as selfish as the rest of the corrupt politicians occupying DC? The answer is apparently NO, and Yes, respectively.
What will Andrea Mitchel say tomorrow? How about Keith Olbermann? Will either of them assume the fetal position like Barney here?
I predict that Olbermann won’t. He was one of the few newscasters who was critical at all of Operation Cast Lead — if only briefly, and only sideways. And I’ve never known the guy to back down from a position he’s staked out.
Well, ole barney is proud of overriding a raygun veto on apartheid South African sanctions. Let’s see how proud he is when the public overrides his veto on israeli sanctions, as the BDS movement is slowly, but surely doing.
Color me surprised! Goldman-Sachs whore is changing his position. Kucinich is another prog poseur. His cave in on the healtcare bill should make that abundantly clear. Please, there is no hope in the Democratic. It is simply the place where progressive movts.are sent to die.
I’m compelled to agree with you. There isn’t a single Democrat at the federal level that is getting my vote. They’re no better than the Republican Party — only slower. So why throw my vote away on them?
I don’t vote anymore, it just seems to encourage them.
Vote off ticket. When both parties stop winning majorities or even pluralities, then they’ll start reading the writing on the wall.
Yeah I voted for McKinney and Clemente, they way they were savaged by people like Amiri Baraka for daring harsh their Obama mellow really pissed me off. I don’t think I want to participate in this system anymore.
It’s up to you. I don’t recommend not voting, I think even going in to write in “Elmer Fudd” on your ballot (I mean actually writing in the cartoon character’s name, rather than voting for John McCain, just in case there was any unintentional ambiguity) sends a message to both parties because it becomes clear that more and more people are not voting with either of them.
But, I can respect your decision to withdraw from it entirely. Myself, I’ve lost hope for the United States. The impending and utter catastrophe that is the Deep Horizon oil spill is easily the best kept secret in American media — because it will be a LOT worse than anyone is willing to say on air. And when the economies of the Southern coastal states collapse, the US will really start to fall apart.
Democratic Party.
Not really on topic to this article, but it’s not on topic with any others recently posted, either, that I could see. Revealing info of off shore gas deposits off israel and Gaza.
Israel : Tel Aviv Stock Exchange romps ahead on news of exploitation of off-shore Natural Gas
link to members5.boardhost.com
Sea blockade of Gaza was “temporary” – 15 years ago
By Stuart Littlewood
link to redress.cc
Under the section called “A very bad smell”.
TV infotainers like Matthews are more dangerous than politicians. They aren’t accountable to anyone, think they know everything and one can’t even lobby them!
The good news about Matthews is that he is widely regarded as a buffoon for reasons having nothing to do with the I/P conflict. His nickname on some of the mainstream liberal blogs is “Tweety”–it ain’t flattering. His fawning over Bush’s flight deck appearance on the aircraft carrier (the “Mission Accomplished” moment in the first few months of the Iraq War) is often derided. And that’s the liberals. The conservatives hate him because they think he’s a liberal.
The NYT Sunday Magazine had a piece on him within the last year (I think) and he came across as an idiot.
Phil has said some wildly complimentary things about Chris in the past, for some reason.
Who hammered Barney Frank into reversing himself last night on Hardball?
-They’ve got the dirt on Barney and threatened him with it. That is the most logical explanation. Threaten him with his questionable past.
Like Bill Clinton, go to war for us (PNAC letter) or this scandal gets full blown! Note that their were 9 days between the scandal and the letter to Clinton.
Letter to Clinton: 1/26/98
link to newamericancentury.org
Lewinsky Scandal reported on Drudge: 1/17/98