John Amato at C&L caught this tense exchange this morning between Congressman Ted Lieu and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. Pompeo is the surliest, most obstreperous “diplomat” in world history. His skills are better suited to the WWE than the State Department:
Earlier in the day Trump’s Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney claimed the media is focusing on the coronavirus just to bring down Donald Trump and he also told Americans (not making this up) to ignore what was happening.
“The press was covering their hoax of the day because they thought it would bring down the president,” Mulvaney concluded. “The reason you’re seeing so much attention to [the coronavirus] today is that they think this is going to be what brings down the president. That’s what this is all about.”
During his questioning of Mike Pompeo, Rep. Lieu asked if he agreed with Mulvaney’s assessment that the coronavirus was the “hoax of the day?”
Instead of answering the question directly Pompeo said the State Department was doing everything it could to protect American citizens.
Rep. Lieu, once again asked him if he believed the coronavirus was a hoax of the day and Pompeo continued to refuse to answer.
Then the California Congressman directly asked him, “Do you believe the coronavirus is a hoax?”
“You can’t even answer that question?” he said.
Pompeo hesitated and Rep. Lieu said it’s not even a gotcha question.
Pompeo replied it’s “a gotcha moment.”
I don’t understand how directly saying the coronavirus is not a hoax is a gotcha moment, but Trump surrogates have a completely different set of priorities than “public safety.”
“Is the coronavirus a hoax? Can you just answer that question,” Rep. Lieu continued.
Pompeo replied “we’re taking it seriously.”
Then the California congressman changed directions and asked Secretary Pompeo if he was speaking at CPAC today at 12:15.
Rep. Lieu, “Are you speaking at CPAC today?”
Pompeo replied, “Yes, I am.”
Rep. Lieu said, “Right, so you could only give two hours to this bipartisan group of members of Congress, and instead of answering questions on life and death issues — you’re going to go talk to a special interest group?
“Yes,” Pompeo replied.
Rep. Lieu said, “You sir represent all Americans, not a special interest group. It’s shameful you can’t even answer basic questions.”
He also got very angry because he said he’s only agreed to come before congress and talk about Iran. We know how ticked off he gets about that.
He apparently believes that he should not be subject to any questions from the press or the congress about topics he doesn’t wish to address. And his method of dealing with that is to get very angry and hostile. That’s what the Trump administration calls “diplomacy” — my way or the highway.
Trump, Barr and Pompeo are the real Three Amigos: a triple threat of ignorance, fanaticism and crude playground bullying.
11 more months, people, 11 more months….