A root canal for Debbie Wasserman Schultz?

DNC Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz has claimed that Michael Oren, Israel’s ambassador to the U.S., told her that Republican actions are “dangerous” to Israel. She reportedly made this comment at a training session for Jewish Democrats held by the Obama campaign at the Democratic National Convention. The training was designed to assist Jewish Democrats in the thankless (but sadly none-too-difficult) task of convincing Jews to vote for Obama. Wasserman Schultz concluded her remarks by saying, “We know, and I’ve heard no less than Ambassador Michael Oren say this, that what the Republicans are doing is dangerous for Israel.”

Michael Oren, however, denies making any such comment, and it would be shocking if had made it. First, Oren is an Israeli diplomat, not an American political partisan. Second, there is no evidence that his government believes Republican actions are dangerous to Israel, and no sound basis for such a belief. The danger to Israel comes from Iran. Obama has failed to mitigate it. The Republicans are likely to be of more assistance and certainly won’t be of less.

In any event, Oren’s denial could not be more emphatic:

I categorically deny that I ever characterized Republican policies as harmful to Israel. Bipartisan support is a paramount national interest for Israel, and we have great friends on both sides of the aisle.

I like the “both sides of aisle” part, a reference to Israel’s good relations with Congressional Democrats. President Obama sits on neither side of the congressional aisle.

Being at odds with Israel’s ambassador to the U.S. clearly presents a problem for blabbermouth Debbie Wasserman Schultz and the Democrats. She can either back down or call Oren a liar.

Or, as Alana Goodman suggests, she can undergo a root canal.

Notice: All comments are subject to moderation. Our comments are intended to be a forum for civil discourse bearing on the subject under discussion. Commenters who stray beyond the bounds of civility or employ what we deem gratuitous vulgarity in a comment — including, but not limited to, “s***,” “f***,” “a*******,” or one of their many variants — will be banned without further notice in the sole discretion of the site moderator.

Responses