Earlier this week, Senators John McCain and Lindsey Graham traveled to Egypt to meet with government officials, ostensibly to discuss an end to the country’s raging political discord. According to AP, they were handpicked for the mission by President Obama: “The McCain-Graham visit was carried out at U.S. President Barack Obama’s request.”
Deputy Secretary of State William Burns was also in Egypt. But according to a State Department spokesman, it’s Burns who was sent to represent the Obama administration:
State Dept: Bill Burns (not McCain) represent adminstration position in #Egypt.
— Joyce Karam (@Joyce_Karam) August 7, 2013
State Department repeats 4 times that Bill Burns represents administration in #Egypt when asked about McCain remarks.
— Joyce Karam (@Joyce_Karam) August 7, 2013
Take note RT “@HannahAllam: State Dept: Not going to give an analysis (of McCain take on #Egypt). Dep Sec Burns was on ground as the US rep”
— Hafsa Halawa (@HafsaHalawa) August 7, 2013
https://twitter.com/RawahBadrawi/status/365179326548811776
OK, so, if Burns is the official White House representative, what are McCain and Graham doing there? Besides annoying the Egyptians, that is:
Egyptian govt rejects McCain's 'clumsy' statements on Morsi's ouster – #Egypt http://t.co/UpxV5oMzL8 #MB #Fail @FoxNews
— Color Me Red ? (@ColorMeRed) August 7, 2013
#Egypt's interim president Adly Mansour condemns remarks by #US Senator John McCain – state agency MENA quoting pres media adv Meslemani
— Rawya Rageh (@RawyaRageh) August 6, 2013
Does the Obama administration even know?
State Dept does not confirm that #McCain was sent by White House to #Egypt
— Joyce Karam (@Joyce_Karam) August 7, 2013
Press Secretary Jay Carney explained that McCain and Graham were in Egypt to represent the U.S. Congress. Not the Obama administration. Even though the two Senators reportedly went there only because Obama asked them to.
Last we checked, the legislative and executive branches are separate. So the President now gets to decide who speaks on behalf of Congress?
So #McCain/#Graham trip to #Egypt about #MB/#Morsi was #Obama sanctioned, but doesn't represent #WhiteHouse position! Yep, that makes sense!
— EW-NewYorker (@77hannac) August 6, 2013
https://twitter.com/RawahBadrawi/status/365180614552457216
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