Nothing signals dissension in the GOP over Senator Tom Cotton’s letter to Iran like a bit of a grilling from Megyn Kelly on prime time Fox News.
As The Guardian (via Raw Story) noted, several Republican lawmakers and Fox News' sister publication The Wall Street Journal have also criticized the letter, signed by 47 Republican senators and designed to undermine President Obama’s nuclear negotiations with Obama. Kelly’s skepticism last night made it clear where the powerful Fox News stands.
The fact that Cotton was booked on The Kelly File instead of the Hannity show was Clue No. 1. In case Cotton missed that, Kelly’s opening question drove the point home:
KELLY: It’s not just Howard Dean, it’s not just Vice President Biden, The Wall Street Journal calling you out, saying this is not helpful and it sets the Republicans up to take a hit as being political beings on something that is important here, namely what happens with this deal with Iran.
Later, Kelly made Fox's criticism more explicit:
KELLY: What’s the point in writing to the Iranian mullahs? What are you going to do? They dismissed it already like "pfff, whatever." And you’ve offended the Obama administration. And you may have offended some of the Democrats who would have come over with the Republicans if, depending on what happens with this deal, to have a stronger say in the Senate.
Believe me, Kelly would not ask such tough questions of a GOP rising star without the approval of her superiors.
However, before you get all misty-eyed over the possibility of Kelly really acting like the “straight news anchor” she claims to be, make sure you check out the rest of the interview in which she gave Cotton and the Fox News viewers a wink, wink signal that she’s really a GOP pal.
First, she all but asked Cotton to gratuitously attack a Democrat:
KELLY: Let me ask you about (Democratic) Representative Jared Polis, of Colorado, who sent out a tweet today. It looks like it may have been deleted since, calling you – a man who served the country in uniform – “Tehran Tom.” Tehran Tom!
Cotton declined the bait.
Later, after Cotton claimed that the response of Iran’s foreign minister demonstrated “his ignorance of the American constitution" and "the need for the letter to begin with,” there was no challenge from Kelly. The only question she asked was, a playful, “Did it start with, ‘Dear Tom, hi! Thanks for your letter. It’s great catching up. By the way, forget everything you said. I’m talking to President Obama.’”
She smiled and giggled – and let the Fox base know that despite this little disagreement, Kelly (and Fox) are part of one big, happy GOP family.
Watch it below, from last night's The Kelly File.
I guess, since we’re the greatest, bestest country that ever existed or will exist, leaders of other countries SHOULD know the American constitution backwards and forwards.
The arrogance of Cotton’s statement is glaringly obvious.
Why are the American people allowing these 47 Senators even one more second in United States office? They should be recalled and have new elections on each of their seats. To write a letter to another country to warn them that dealing with the Executive Office of the US is not in their best interests, is complete and utter treason. What the heck were they thinking? they have demonstrated they are INCAPABLE for their seats. Dangerous too.
I’ve never been so angry politically in my life. This one really takes the cake. I now fear it IS possible for them to go even lower. This is dangerous nonsense and only appeals to those who desire sedition and anarchy.
And Cotton knew that what barbs he got was an act- I found him reacting to more genuine contempt from the right, he would not have had his head in his own lap like this if he wasn’t in on it.
Rehab for Cotton, meme reference for Kelly. Nothing more.
