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.”
Is that John Kerry in his SWIFT boat?
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!
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!
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.
Beat me to it...
But..........
Kerry ain’t STUPID...........
He remembers 9/11................
Oh, so that’s what a “swift boat” looks like.
Those ‘cwazy’ libs.
Better to keep that jackass away.
when the going gets tough, the tough go yachting
pack your bags lovie- we’re off to the Levant!
kerry is a winter soldier, don’cha know
This is 4th of July in Nantucket! Par-Tay!
He is just biding his time while Obama decides what American policy should be...Or make that Valerie Jarrett.
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.
Worst Secretary of State ever.
Second it.
Don’t know ‘bout that. Between Hillary and himself, I’d call it a tie. Hillary does have a bigger set.
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..
Hopefully one-way.
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