Debbie Wasserman Schultz Denial Re: Israeli Ambassador Oren Contradicted By Audio

It's a case of she said, she said -- and in both cases it's Democratic National Committee Chairperson Debbie Wasserman Schultz.

Wasserman Schultz is now denying that she ever claimed to say Israeli Ambassador Michael Oren stated that Republicans doing something that posed a danger to Israel.

Here is Wasserman Schultz's denial, as broadcast on Fox News:




By way of rebuttal, Philip Klein -- Senior Editorial Writer of the Washington Examiner -- responds: DWS attacks Examiner for ‘deliberately’ misquoting her, but here’s the audio:



Here is the transcript of the key portion of the audio:

We know, and I've heard no less than Ambassador Michael Oren say this, that what the Republicans are doing is dangerous for Israel. They're undermining Israel's security by suggesting that the United States and Israel don't have anything other than a unique and and close and special relationship. It undermines Israel's security to its neighbors in the Arab world and to its enemies.

Compare that with what Wasserman Schultz claims she actually said in her interview above:

It’s not surprising they would deliberately misquote me. What I always say is that unfortunately the Republicans have made Israel a political football, which is dangerous for Israel. And Ambassador Oren has said that we can’t ever suggest that there is any daylight between the two parties on Israel, because there isn’t. And that that’s harmful to Israel. That’s what I said, and that is accurate.”

Debbie Wasserman Schultz clearly said -- and in Israeli Ambassador Michael Oren's name, no less -- that it is specifically the Republicans that are doing something dangerous for Israel which undermines Israel's security.

What Oren said was a general statement about bipartisan support for Israel in the US. Thus Ambassador Oren's rebuttal of Wasserman Schultz:

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.

Now Wasserman Schultz may not have meant to say it that way, but blaming her aggressive political rhetoric on the Republicans cannot hide the accuracy of the audio record of what she did in fact say.

Let Debbie Wasserman Schultz admit her unintentional error to clear the air and let the Democratic National Convention continue without being marred by her mistake.

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