Secretary of State John Kerry’s loss of patience with Sen. Rand Paul at this afternoon’s hearing on Syria was obvious to anyone watching or listening. Paul, who opposes military intervention, asked for Kerry’s reassurance that a vote from Congress would be taken seriously by the Obama administration. Suppose that Congress votes against the president’s plan?
Rand Paul praised Obama for coming to Congress, but disappointed didn't commit to necessarily abide by vote
— Laura Rozen (@lrozen) September 3, 2013
Rand Paul to Kerry: Make me proud of you and say if Congress votes no to act on #Syria (which is unlikely) that you will not act.
— Elise Labott (@EliseLabott) September 3, 2013
Rand Paul says he was "proud" of POTUS when heard he was seeking cong. auth., but not so much upon hearing he might strike even without it
— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) September 3, 2013
What if Pres Obama loses Syria vote in Congress? "He intends to win," says Kerry. "We're not contemplating not…because it's too dire."
— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) September 3, 2013
Rand Paul, channeling Obama: "If I lose the vote, I'll probably go ahead and do the bombing anyway…"
— Rick Klein (@rickklein) September 3, 2013
#Brutal: @SenRandPaul says "you are making a joke of us" if you say the resolution isn't binding. #Syria
— Eli Lake (@EliLake) September 3, 2013
Rand Paul to Kerry: ‘you are making a joke of us. You are making us into theater”. #Syria
— Elise Labott (@EliseLabott) September 3, 2013
Rand Paul has a point. Only meaningful to go to Congress and ask for authorization on #Syria if you are going to abide by their vote
— Elise Labott (@EliseLabott) September 3, 2013
Recommended
Rand Paul does have a point. However, Syrian lives aren’t the only thing on the line; the president’s ego is at risk, too.
Kerry: "The president intends to win this vote."
— John Bresnahan (@BresPolitico) September 3, 2013
Paul dares Kerry to say that he will abide by Congress' vote. He won't do it.
— David Freddoso (@freddoso) September 3, 2013
SecState Kerry showing visible irritation while being questioned by Sen Rand Paul.
— Charlie Kaye (@CharlieKayeNews) September 3, 2013
Not only is Kerry certain that the president will receive authorization from Congress; he gave Paul his guarantee that Assad would use chemical weapons again if not stopped by the United States. “It’s too dire” a scenario to contemplate.
Kerry adamant that "it's a guarantee" Assad will use chemical weapons again if there's no response to his previous use of chemical weapons.
— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) September 3, 2013
Kerry slaps down Rand Paul: "It's a guarantee Assad will do it again. I urge to go to the classified hearing and learn that." #SFRC #Syria
— Robert Caruso (@robertcaruso) September 3, 2013
John Kerry "guarantees" Assad will use chemical weapons again if we don't strike. How can John Kerry GUARANTEE a future act of a dictator?
— Gina C Maddox (@GinaCMaddox) September 3, 2013
Sec. Kerry pointed his finger at Sen. Rand Paul and said it is a guarantee Assad will use chemical weapons again if US doesn't act now.
— Anup Kaphle (@AnupKaphle) September 3, 2013
How can Kerry guarantee anything?
— Pat (@grammy620) September 3, 2013
Kerry reminded Paul that he and others at the hearing had been to war, and that whatever the administration was planning, it wasn’t war “in the classic sense.”
Kerry; We are not going to war in the classic sense. #Syria
— David M. Drucker (@DavidMDrucker) September 3, 2013
Oh, well in that case let's do it. RT @DavidMDrucker: Kerry; We are not going to war in the classic sense. #Syria
— Dave Rubin (@RubinReport) September 3, 2013
Seriously, Kerry just tried to say this isn't a war at all.
— David Freddoso (@freddoso) September 3, 2013
https://twitter.com/bfinstock/status/375014016449777664
No, he really did.
John Kerry just used finger air quotes when he said "war" regarding Syria.
He and Rand Paul are in a smackdown session
— Dimitri Vassilaros “Live & Dangerously Local!™️” (@Dimitri2020LLC) September 3, 2013
This man is sickening..Kerry throws up "air quotes" saying "we are not going to war" making a MOCKERY of the use of military power #randpaul
— ®️3️⃣?️?iCoolKid ??⚔️? (@icoolkid) September 3, 2013
https://twitter.com/wyodime/status/375016758488227840
ruuuhhh rooohhh Kerry is serious…he's using "air quotes" talking to @SenRandPaul … get him Rand…for the people
— Sherن (@ZephyrK9) September 3, 2013
If it’s not war in the classic sense, what is it?
https://twitter.com/GregoryMcNeal/status/375013917808164864
https://twitter.com/BecketAdams/status/375013889001287680
It's not war-war. It's like junior varsity war.
— Sunny McSunnyface (@sunnyright) September 3, 2013
Airstrikes aren't war. They're more like… Preseason War. We're just going to use the starters for the first quarter.
— Jim Geraghty (@jimgeraghty) September 3, 2013
Join the conversation as a VIP Member