https://youtube.com/watch?v=GdpQFyejkxo
Sentor Barbara Boxer (D., Calif.) thought she’d seen the dark underbelly of American politics during her career as a U.S. Senator. But the horror she saw in Wednesday’s Foreign Affairs committee hearing was so foul, so utterly vile, that she actually began “shaking and trembling” in response to it.
The primary offense was committed by Bob Corker (R., Tenn.), who expressed skepticism about the White House’s plan to combat the Islamic State while questioning John Kerry.
Not only did he charge the secretary of state and President Obama with exercising “the worst possible judgment,” he accused the administration of playing a “political game” with their claim that a thirteen-year-old resolution passed after 9/11 granted them authority to act in Iraq.
“You’re asking us to approve something that we know, the way you’ve laid it out, makes no sense,” Corker said. “We have a strong sense that our military leaders have urged you to put special forces on the ground, but no, we’re not going to do that. So this doesn’t even sound serious. It seems like a political answer to the United States as they cry out about this uncivilized activity. But it doesn’t seem real to me.”
The exchange immediately followed questioning from committee chairman Bob Menendez, who had also grilled Kerry.
“I think it is shocking and a sad state of affairs that we heard just now such angry comments aimed at you Mr. Secretary, and through you at our president, Mr. Secretary,” Boxer said, speaking after Menendez and Corker. “I think it’s shocking. I’m actually shaking and trembling.”
“This is not the time to show anger to the people who are working night and day — whether you agree with them or not — to protect our people,” the California lawmaker intoned. “This is just a sad opening of a hearing. I’ve never seen in it, and I’ve gone through some tough ones.”