On special pre-State of the Union coverage on MSNBC moments ago, Hardball host Chris Matthews unwittingly admitted President Obama's weakness vis-a-vis Iran as regards the Islamic Republic's capture of 10 U.S. sailors.
"You said he should demand [release of the sailors]. Where are we in the position of issuing an ultimatum,ultimata, to the Iranian Revolutionary Guard?" Matthews demanded of his lone Republican panelist, former McCain adviser Steve Schmidt, adding:
They're not going to respond to an ultimatum. They're going to say, "Great, we want a fight. You've given us one." How does this talking tought not serve a political purpose?
Video: @hardball host thinks Obama not in position to issue ultimatum to Iran to return sailors immediately. #sotu pic.twitter.com/7tdNxNEs96
— Ken Shepherd (@KenShepherd) January 13, 2016
For his part, Schmidt reminded Matthews that the president can always use the nuclear deal as leverage. "Then this deal, then this deal does not get implemented," he shot back.
Matthews, of course, made the conservative point without even realizing. The fact is that Obama issuing a threat has no currency because the Iranian regime has discerned he is a weak and feckless leader who has made empty threats before.
