As we all know, the Texas congressional delegation boasts some of the craziest Republican congressmen in the nation. Even by those standards, Louie Gohmert stands out as particularly rabid. Well, on yesterday’s edition of “America’s News Headquarters” on Fox News Channel, weekend anchorwoman Arthel Neville found out what most of us already knew. When Gohmert suggested that we consider bombing Iran, Neville came to the same conclusion that any reality-based American would–that suggestion is insanely crazy.
Raw Story got a clip of the exchange. Watch here.
Gohmert told Neville that the effort to reach a deal with Iran on its nuclear program was a bad one on its face because Obama was allowing Tehran to go “all the way to full-blown nuclear.” He claimed that the United States should have never lifted any of the sanctions until Iran gave the P5+1 nations–the United States, France, the United Kingdom, Russia, and Germany–full access to Iran’s nuclear facilities. The sanctions have been ramped down while negotiations are underway, but–as Neville pointed out–some still remain in place. That wasn’t good enough for Gohmert, who was adamant that Iran “should not have centrifuges spinning” while negotiations were underway. But have no fear–Gohmert has a solution.
“You step up the sanctions full-blown. And, uh, I think maybe it’s time to look at a plan to go in and bomb them. Because as Michael Oren once said, until Iran believes that the U. S. is a credible threat to bomb them, they will not stop.”
Neville didn’t like this at all. She hinted that Russia wouldn’t stand for an American bombing campaign. Gohmert wasn’t too concerned; he said that the Kremlin was “bogged down too many places” to be in a position to object. An incredulous Neville pointed out that bombing Tehran was “a volatile option,” especially considering that there was no guarantee Russia would keep quiet about it. She bluntly said that this was a “dangerous” idea. Gohmert argued that Russia might actually join in a bombing raid, saying that Vladimir Putin’s government didn’t want “a radical Islamist nation with nukes.” When Neville pointed out that Gohmert had no real plan, Gohmert replied, “I think once Iran realizes we’re serious about taking it out, they’ll come to the table.”
Even without Russia’s opinion to consider, Gohmert’s proposal–such as it is–is out to lunch. I seem to recall that a decade ago, we went into a Middle Eastern country that we could easily steamroll head to head, but with no plan whatsoever to win the peace or undertake a major nation-building effort. That REALLY worked well, didn’t it? But considering Gohmert’s past history, this really isn’t all that surprising. Remember, this is a guy who once said that the kids who where shot to pieces at Sandy Hook had “defensive wounds.”
You’re probably wondering how someone this dense could possibly be elected to Congress–even from a state as red as Texas. But when you represent a nicely gerrymandered R+24 district in northeast Texas that would elect a comatose Republican, you can vote and act as extreme as you please. This latest burst of idiocy from Gohmert proves two things. The longer the Republicans control the House, the longer extremists like Gohmert are empowered. Plus, it’s long past time to get politicians out of the redistricting business. The great majority of the 435 congressional districts are just like Gohmert’s district–drawn in a way that the minority party cannot possibly win. When you have that many districts where the incumbent congressman never has to fear being held to account in November, you’re going to get more Gohmerts. And that isn’t good for the country long-term.
