Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Republicans: Put John Kerry on a plane (Kerry vacations while Egypt burns)
Boston Herald ^ | July 5, 2013 | Chris Cassidy, Gayle Fee

Posted on 07/05/2013 4:26:19 AM PDT by abb

U.S. Secretary of State John F. Kerry — who spent the Fourth of July on sun-splashed Nantucket even as the chaos from a military takeover rocked Egypt — drew fire from Republican critics who said it’s a bad time for the nation’s top diplomat to be seen cavorting on an island getaway.

“It doesn’t look good, and I think it sends the wrong message” said Republican strategist Brad Marston. “If I were advising him, I’d already have him on a plane.”

As first reported on bostonherald.com, Kerry, who owns a house and a yacht on the ritzy retreat, was seen yesterday strolling down Federal Street away from July Fourth festivities on Main Street in jeans and a light-colored polo shirt.

Later in the afternoon, Kerry was seen offloading bags from a single-person kayak to a boat in Nantucket Sound after launching from the beach behind his home at 5 Hulbert Ave.

Republicans pounced on the image of the vacationing secretary of state and sought to use it as a symbol of what they deem a big Obama administration failing — the inability to convey a clear message on foreign policy on hotspots like Syria, Turkey and Egypt.

“I would think the secretary of state would interrupt his vacation and at least send a very clear signal — even by flying back to Washington for a day or two — that on our Independence Day we are very concerned about the freedom and democracy that we hope is instilled for some period of time in the Arab World,” said Patrick Griffin, a New Hampshire-based GOP strategist.

Added Republican operative Ford O’Connell: “Egypt’s in a very fragile place, and the U.S. needs to be out front doing what it can to return Egypt to civilian rule. Having the nation’s top diplomat vacationing on Nantucket doesn’t send the right message to the international community.”

Kerry’s staff yesterday insisted he’s fully engaged and has been logging long hours and high miles, including a recent 12-day, 25,000-mile trip to the Middle East and Asia.

Yesterday he dialed into a meeting with President Obama and members of his national security team in the Situation Room, according to the State Department. Kerry also called foreign dignitaries from Egypt, Israel, Norway, Qatar, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates.

“Secretary Kerry has been working tirelessly around the clock since he returned from his 10-day trip and there has not been a moment where he has not been focused on doing everything possible to communicate with his team in Washington and in Egypt, within the administration and with his counterparts around the world,” Kerry spokeswoman Jen Psaki told the Herald last night.

Former state Democratic Party chairman Phil Johnston said these days the secretary of state can effectively work out of anywhere in the world.

“The man’s been working 24/7 for weeks to create peace in the Middle East — I think he’s entitled to a day on Nantucket,” said Johnston. “If there’s anything we know about John Kerry, it’s that he’s a very hard worker. The American people don’t need to worry about that.”


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Front Page News; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: egypt; kerry; middleeast
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-57 next last
To: abb

Is that John Kerry in his SWIFT boat?


21 posted on 07/05/2013 4:51:13 AM PDT by ThomasMore (Islam is the Whore of Babylon!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: abb
What is going on in Egypt is great for all of us.

You have a fairly sophisticated group of people forcefully rejecting the muslim brotherhood's influence on their new government. Best thing that has happened in the region in 2 years.

We should be fully behind this; take the opportunity to push for secular leadership and hope the anger spreads throughout northern Africa and the Middle East.

But, I'm sure, Kerry is tired from trying to negotiate a settlement between the Israel hating Palestinians and the best friends we have in the region, Israel. No one cares! Get the middle east to move more secular and less Islamic and things will cool down. Egypt is the perfect example. Seize on it!

22 posted on 07/05/2013 4:53:14 AM PDT by dan on the right
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: abb

But...but...but Kerry was fully engaged with the regime’s National Security team as all of this was going down. The State Department PR stooge said so!


23 posted on 07/05/2013 4:56:17 AM PDT by Timber Rattler (Just say NO! to RINOS and the GOP-E)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: Biggirl
.....Sadly until we attack again on our soil.

Look, I am very aware of the need to prevent terrorist attacks on "our soil", as well as on Americans anywhere.

Here's a question for you: Why are young Japanese men not crashing planes into our aircraft carriers anymore? Is it because we encouraged Japan to embrace freedom and democracy? Or is it because we kicked the living s*** out of them, incinerated their women and children by the hundreds of thousands if not more, made them so afraid to displease us that they accepted an occupation government and the re-education of their children?

Instead of idiotic social reform chatter punctuated by periodic Vietnam-type wars, let's either get on with it or stay the Hell away from Raglandia.

24 posted on 07/05/2013 4:57:46 AM PDT by Jim Noble (When strong, avoid them. Attack their weaknesses. Emerge to their surprise.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]

To: abb

Beat me to it...


25 posted on 07/05/2013 5:00:06 AM PDT by Eric in the Ozarks (NRA Life Member)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: abb

But..........
Kerry ain’t STUPID...........
He remembers 9/11................


26 posted on 07/05/2013 5:00:51 AM PDT by Flintlock ("The redcoats are coming" -- TO SEIZE OUR GUNS!!--Paul Revere)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: abb

Oh, so that’s what a “swift boat” looks like.


27 posted on 07/05/2013 5:01:21 AM PDT by Fresh Wind (The last remnants of the Old Republic have been swept away.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: abb

Those ‘cwazy’ libs.


28 posted on 07/05/2013 5:02:21 AM PDT by duckman (I'm part of the group pulling the wagon!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: abb

Better to keep that jackass away.


29 posted on 07/05/2013 5:12:05 AM PDT by SC_Pete
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: abb

30 posted on 07/05/2013 5:12:07 AM PDT by Errant
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: abb

when the going gets tough, the tough go yachting


31 posted on 07/05/2013 5:18:38 AM PDT by silverleaf (Age Takes a Toll: Please Have Exact Change)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: Errant

pack your bags lovie- we’re off to the Levant!


32 posted on 07/05/2013 5:20:18 AM PDT by silverleaf (Age Takes a Toll: Please Have Exact Change)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 30 | View Replies]

To: stevem

kerry is a winter soldier, don’cha know

This is 4th of July in Nantucket! Par-Tay!


33 posted on 07/05/2013 5:21:34 AM PDT by silverleaf (Age Takes a Toll: Please Have Exact Change)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]

To: abb

He is just biding his time while Obama decides what American policy should be...Or make that Valerie Jarrett.


34 posted on 07/05/2013 5:21:56 AM PDT by csmusaret (Will remove Obama-Biden bumperstickers for $10)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: abb
No problem John has done his job time for a vacation..His job was to give money away and that is what he did.. $250 Million.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/04/world/middleeast/kerry-announces-millions-in-us-aid-for-egypt.html?_r=0

In a statement issued after his two-hour meeting with President Mohamed Morsi, Mr. Kerry said the aid decision reflected Egypt’s “extreme needs” and Mr. Morsi’s assurance that Egypt would reach an agreement with the I.M.F. after more than a year of talks over a $4.8 billion loan package.

35 posted on 07/05/2013 5:25:53 AM PDT by PLD
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: abb

Worst Secretary of State ever.


36 posted on 07/05/2013 5:26:29 AM PDT by Hoodat (BENGHAZI - 4 KILLED, 2 MIA)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: dan on the right

Second it.


37 posted on 07/05/2013 5:26:46 AM PDT by Biggirl ("Jesus talked to us as individuals"-Jim Vicevich/Thanks JimV!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 22 | View Replies]

To: Hoodat

Don’t know ‘bout that. Between Hillary and himself, I’d call it a tie. Hillary does have a bigger set.


38 posted on 07/05/2013 5:32:45 AM PDT by Errant
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 36 | View Replies]

To: abb
What difference does it make?

Once again this buffoon is MIA. He should have been sitting at the side of Morsi when he was deposed as he was when Morsi was installed. Johnny does not get any points for bravery..

39 posted on 07/05/2013 5:36:25 AM PDT by eeriegeno (<p>)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: abb
Put John Kerry on a plane

Hopefully one-way.

40 posted on 07/05/2013 5:40:50 AM PDT by ASA Vet (Don't assume Shahanshah Obama will allow another election.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-57 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson