This morning on "Meet the Press" David Gregory pressed Netanyahu directly and repeatedly to respond to Republican charges that President Obama has "thrown Israel under the bus."
Netanyahu danced around the question and refused to get in the middle of American politics, but it was clear from his non-answer that he was neither willing to accuse the president or to excuse the president. He knows the president is likely to be reelected, and is not willing to burn bridges, but clearly he would like for the president - any president - to give Israel the green light of unconditional support for bombing Iran. But he knows it is not in the longterm interests of Israel to throw President Obama under the political bus at this critical time.
Mitt Romney and his Republican surrogates have no such qualms, and their willingness to undermine the President of the United States in time of crisis is inexcusable. At one time this would have been widely condemned as disloyalty, and I personally will call it that right now - disloyalty not just to the president, but to the United States. It's telling when Benjamin Netanyahu expresses more loyalty to the United States than a major U.S. political party and it's nominee for president.
Mitt Romney is not president. Barack Obama is president. No matter what Mitt Romney thinks Obama should be doing, Romney can do nothing until January 20 at the earliest. Therefore, as a loyal American he and the Republicans should be deferring to the president's leadership in a time of national and international crisis.
If he would do something differently, that's fine, tell us, but be specific, and suggest a course of action to the president. Bomb Iran right now? Fine, say it, Mitt. Get it off your chest. And what the hell do you want to do about the radicals in Libya, Egypt and elsewhere who are attacking Americans and American institutions?
Don't talk to me about "apologies" and "projecting a tough image" when you are talking about the people who killed over 3,000 Americans on September 11, 2001 and have been doing their damnedest ever since to kill more Americans. Are you @#$%% kidding me?
If you can't differentiate between dealing with radical extremists and nascent democratic governments, then you are not qualified to criticize a president who can and has walked that perilous tightrope with considerable success.
So, Mitt, if you have some specific suggestions for YOUR president, let's hear them. Now. Tell us exactly what you would have the president do RIGHT NOW.
Otherwise, Mitt, with you're strutting dangerously close to the red line of aiding and abetting our enemies. So, put up constructive suggestions, Mitt, or shut your disloyal pie-hole.