Mrs. Wasserman Schultz: "NEVER MIND!"

To date I’ve viewed Debbie Wasserman Schultz as a curiosity – she seemed to be a perfect combination of Gilda Radner’s SNL characters Roseanne Roseannadanna and Emily Litella (“Never Mind!”).  Mrs. Wasserman Schultz’s hair seemed to be from central casting – blustery and full of vigor.  In short, she was the perfect selection to chair the Democratic National Committee.

The Fact that this choice was the most prominent Jewish-American woman in Congress was also from the delegate rich State of Florida was no coincidence.  This choice was Political Calculus 101 – the Democrats need to make a play for this swing state and Mrs. Wasserman Schultz was a commando who exudes youth and energy.

Any concerns about her reputation as a tipsy bomb-thrower were abandoned at the DNC.  Last Tuesday the wisdom of this choice is now in doubt.

The Washington Post put it this way: “Democratic National Committee chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz on Tuesday denied a report from Washington Examiner columnist Philip Klein, who quoted the Florida congresswoman as saying that Israeli Ambassador Michael Oren described Republican policies toward Israel as ‘dangerous’ for the Jewish state…The report from Klein quoted Wasserman Schultz saying, ‘We know, and I’ve heard no less than Ambassador Michael Oren say this, that what the Republicans are doing is dangerous for Israel.’ ”  Yikes!

 

There was an immediate response (that very morning) from Ambassador Oren: “I categorically deny that I ever characterized Republican policies as harmful to Israel. Bipartisan support is a paramount national interest for Israel, and we have great friends on both sides of the aisle.”  Mr. Oren’s denial was articulate and to the point. 

The same cannot be said of Debbie Wasserman Schultz.  She denied ever suggesting the Oren criticized the Republicans. “I didn’t say [Oren] said that,” she said. “And unfortunately, that comment was reported by a conservative newspaper. It’s not surprising that they would deliberately misquote me.”  Regarding this feigned calumny - Let the truth be told. 

She might have gotten away with this treachery except that The Washington Examiner’s Columnist Philip Klein had a recording of the DNC Chair saying exactly what he claimed she said to a group of Democratic Jewish Delegates – the purpose being to win back Jewish-American voters who are defecting to recent Israel Tourist Mitt Romney.  The audio transcript is clear what she said: “We know, and I’ve heard no less than Ambassador Michael Oren say this, that what the Republicans are doing is dangerous for Israel.”

Mrs. Wasserman Schultz is now not merely a high voltage dynamo for the Democratic Party but she has proven herself both stupid and a liar.  Think about it – Did she actually think Ambassador Oren would remain silent, jeopardizing Israel’s relationship with the Republican Party?  But worse than her stupidity is her brazen lie that borders on treason.  The politics of the middle-east are volatile enough without a U.S. Congresswoman manufacturing malicious confusion to the benefit of our enemies.

Some could argue that it is to the advantage of Republicans to have Mrs. Wasserman Schultz stay on the job.  Her mess is the president’s mess – remember it was her convention that just nominated President Obama for a second term.  However, for the benefit of our country’s position in the world, especially in the Middle-East, she needs to resign both her office as DNC Chair and her office as the U.S. Representative from Florida.  Mrs. Wasserman Schultz, Have you no shame?

Mrs. Wasserman Schultz needs to channel Emily Litella about now – “NEVER MIND!”

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Geoffrey G. Fisher is a certified history teacher working in southwest Florida as a guest teacher.  He holds a BA in History from the University of Connecticut and a MA in Public Policy from Trinity College in Hartford, CT.  In addition to teaching he is a former elected official and speechwriter.  Mr. Fisher now writes the political blog: THE THINKING CAP at www.theamericanthinkingcap.blogspot.com.