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Obama’s Annoyance Shows Major Garrett Asked the Right Questions
Daily Signal ^ | 7/16/15 | Genevieve Wood

Posted on 07/16/2015 4:34:42 PM PDT by markomalley

I know Major Garrett. We co-hosted a morning television program back in the mid 1990s. And Major is nothing if not a solid news reporter.

That is why it shouldn’t be surprising that he asked very pointed questions when President Obama called on him during his press conference on the Iran nuclear deal Wednesday.

That’s a reporter’s job—to ask questions many in the audience want to know the answer to, and in this case, that will provide the American people with relevant information about a very important matter that affects the security of the country.

And yes, Mr. President, many Americans would like to know why we cut a deal with a terrorist regime that is holding four Americans hostage and why our government wouldn’t make the return of those hostages a deal breaker. People might also be interested in knowing why part of the agreement included giving Iran further access to ballistic missiles.

Here are Garrett’s questions verbatim:

Question 1: “As you well know, there are four Americans in Iran—three held on trumped up charges according to your administration, one, whereabouts unknown. Can you tell the country, sir, why you are content, with all of the fanfare around this [nuclear] deal to leave the conscience of this nation, the strength of this nation, unaccounted for, in relation to these four Americans?”

Question 2: “And last week, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said under no circumstances should there be any relief for Iran in terms of ballistic missiles or conventional weapons. It was perceived that that was a last-minute capitulation in these negotiations, making the Pentagon feel you’ve left the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff hung out to dry. Could you comment?”

What is illegitimate about these two questions?

It’s not a secret that the four American hostages exist. Is it out of bounds to question why securing their freedom was not part of any deal? And when you consider that this White House has had no problem negotiating with terrorists in the past to gain the release of American hostages like Bowe Bergdahl, the U.S. soldier subsequently charged with desertion, it makes one wonder why Garrett was the first reporter to ask this question.

Regarding the lifting of the weapons ban, Iran is without question one of the main sponsors of international terrorism. Heritage Foundation national security expert Michaela Dodge says, “Lifting an arms embargo at any time will give Iran ability to threaten and kill U.S. troops and its allies more effectively. President Obama is doing a major disservice to his successors and U.S. military in conceding on these embargoes.”

And perhaps that is why just last week the president’s own defense secretary, Ashton Carter, when asked about the matter told the Senate Armed Services Committee. “No, we want [Iran] to continue to be isolated as a military … ” and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Martin Dempsey, replied in the same hearing that ” … under no circumstances should we relieve pressure on Iran relative to ballistic missile capabilities and arms trafficking.”

Hmmm… Garrett had asked some tough questions and it was immediately clear Obama didn’t have very good answers. If he had he would have started with them. Instead, he began by scolding the questioner:

I’ve got to give you credit, Major, for how you craft those questions. The notion that I am content, as I celebrate with American citizens languishing in Iranian jails—Major, that’s nonsense. And you should know better…

Perhaps Obama was annoyed with himself for not having mentioned the hostage situation earlier or addressing why he knows better than his military advisors about arms bans. Regardless, his reaction was that of someone who has been called out and they know it, who has had their victory dance interrupted, and who would rather lecture his audience than answer legitimate, albeit prickly, questions.

Major Garrett has reported for Fox News, CNN and is now with CBS News—I’d call that pretty fair and balanced. He was simply doing his job yesterday. The fact Obama reacted the way he did shows he did it very well.


TOPICS: Editorial; Government
KEYWORDS: 0pos; major
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1 posted on 07/16/2015 4:34:42 PM PDT by markomalley
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To: markomalley

Obama the undocumented Terrorist was just DREAMING
of the Marine murders to come today ... and tomorrow.


2 posted on 07/16/2015 4:36:27 PM PDT by Diogenesis ("When a crime is unpunished, the world is unbalanced.")
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To: markomalley
The left always personalizes & attacks where they can't compete in good faith. Which is on just about any issue.

So, when are we gonna start attacking back?

3 posted on 07/16/2015 4:36:37 PM PDT by skeeter
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To: markomalley

Obama is a gutless wonder who would rather make friends with terrorists because he stupidly thinks that matters to them. He really has a childlike view of how the world operates and so does his supporters.


4 posted on 07/16/2015 4:37:26 PM PDT by bcr100
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To: skeeter

Trump seems willing to fight back.


5 posted on 07/16/2015 4:37:29 PM PDT by Little Ray (How did I end up in this hand-basket, and why is it getting so hot?)
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To: Little Ray

Aye, he seems to be. Which is why he makes the balless GOP so uncomfortable.


6 posted on 07/16/2015 4:38:41 PM PDT by skeeter
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To: markomalley

The bigger question is, why even “negotiate” with Iran in the first place. Why even talk to them?


7 posted on 07/16/2015 4:39:47 PM PDT by Extremely Extreme Extremist
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To: markomalley

He was squirmy looking and kept looking to his right as if hoping for some one to tell him what to say.
He was very uncomfortable. No one is supposed to question his obvious stupidity. Trying to ridicule Major Garrett, made him look petty and thin skinned.


8 posted on 07/16/2015 4:41:16 PM PDT by two23 (Ignore the media. It isn't propaganda if we don't listen.)
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To: markomalley

It was nice to see a reporter slinging a fastball at the Democrats for once.

So...when does he become Lieutenant Colonel Garrett?


9 posted on 07/16/2015 4:43:28 PM PDT by Riley (The Fourth Estate is the Fifth Column.)
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To: markomalley

I think the question was given to the regime before the news conference.


10 posted on 07/16/2015 4:48:38 PM PDT by Oldeconomybuyer (The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people's money.)
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To: markomalley

Apparently mocha skin is especially thin....


11 posted on 07/16/2015 4:56:06 PM PDT by clintonh8r
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To: Riley

Given that he’s now at SeeBS, a Sharyl Atkisson is more likely...


12 posted on 07/16/2015 4:59:11 PM PDT by nascarnation (Impeach, convict, deport)
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To: markomalley

Yep, Obama’s PO factor is always a good gage. I’d say Major made a direct hit.


13 posted on 07/16/2015 5:10:26 PM PDT by conservativejoy (We Can Elect Ted Cruz! Pray Hard, Work Hard, Trust God!)
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To: conservativejoy
made a direct hit

Right in his little black heart.

14 posted on 07/16/2015 5:13:18 PM PDT by Fightin Whitey
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To: markomalley

Yeah, but we STILL don’t know what his favorite color is.

Oh, wait - never mind.


15 posted on 07/16/2015 5:13:59 PM PDT by The Antiyuppie ("When small men cast long shadows, then it is very late in the day".)
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To: Extremely Extreme Extremist

Yes, why?


16 posted on 07/16/2015 5:16:46 PM PDT by Inyo-Mono
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To: markomalley

I would expect Obama to ban Major from his press conferences from now on—to the limited extent he even holds them. Or maybe that was the last time Obama will allow questions at his press conferences.


17 posted on 07/16/2015 5:24:06 PM PDT by Avid Coug
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To: two23

I thought he was just thoroughly pissed and trying to hold his temper, you know how dare this peon try to show me up kind of thing..


18 posted on 07/16/2015 5:26:30 PM PDT by Kenny (,)
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To: markomalley

Why stop there? Ask him point-blank if he is a foreign agent.


19 posted on 07/16/2015 5:31:06 PM PDT by SpaceBar
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To: SpaceBar

Oh what a wonderful moment that would be! Bamma Boop, have you ever been or are you a foreign agent?


20 posted on 07/16/2015 5:34:44 PM PDT by jayrunner
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