White House Chief of Staff Denis McDonough ripped Ted Cruz for his al-Qaeda’s air force line, and once again explained to the Texan that his point is totally wrong.
Transcript from ABC News:
STEPHANOPOULOS: Meanwhile, our next guest, Senator Ted Cruz, Republican of Texas, suggested American forces who were part of the strike against Syria would be serving as al Qaeda’s air force. You’re seeing opposition from both the left and the right. Your response.
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MCDONOUGH: I am outraged for somebody to suggest that our people would be serving as allies to al Qaeda, one. Two, on this question about what this is and what this isn’t. What this is, George, is very clear. Targeted, consequential, limited attack against Assad forces and Assad capabilities so that he is deterred from carrying out these actions again. Here is what it is not. It is not boots on the ground. It is not an extended air campaign. It is not Iraq, Afghanistan or Libya. This is a very concerned, concentrated, limited effort that we can carry out and that can underscore and secure our interests.
McDonough was right. It is an outrageous line that is so exaggerated that it has nothing in common with reality. The al-Qaeda’s air force line originally came from current Fox News employee Dennis Kuchinich’s mouth, so it is no surprise that grandstanding Republicans are now quoting it like it is biblical. What is becoming obvious is that the interests on the far left and far right don’t care about holding a serious debate on Syria. They were handed a voice in an important national security decision, and have turned it into a circus that is being used to push their pet causes.
This disappointing fiasco disguised as a political debate will be a history lesson for all future presidents. Never again will a president come to Congress and ask for authorization.
Our country should be having a thoughtful debate. Instead, radicals on both the left and the right are hijacking the discourse in order to push their personal agendas. Sen. Cruz isn’t contributing anything of substance to the Syria discussion. Much like Rand Paul, he is using the debate to grandstand and hype his 2016 presidential campaign.
It was historic that the president gave Congress and the American people a voice in the decision. What the country has chosen to do with that voice has been disappointing. It isn’t about the outcome of vote in Syria. This is about our country’s ability to come to a collective decision. The America that Obama believes in. The one where people can come together and debate the facts doesn’t actually exist. No matter the outcome of the vote on Syria, this whole spectacle is a disappointing display of the erosion of substantive discourse.
The White House should be disappointed in what they have seen. The president gave the country a chance to seriously debate something, and what he has gotten back is jokers like Ted Cruz using cheap lines for political gain.
Congratulations Republicans, you’ve just insured that no president will ever ask you for your opinion again.
Jason is the managing editor. He is also a White House Press Pool and a Congressional correspondent for PoliticusUSA. Jason has a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science. His graduate work focused on public policy, with a specialization in social reform movements.
Awards and Professional Memberships
Member of the Society of Professional Journalists and The American Political Science Association
