Rep. Peter King (R., N.Y.) called President Obama "schizophrenic" for his leadership on Syria Thursday, criticizing him for backing away from earlier comments about his "red line" and deflecting responsibility on taking military action there while simultaneously advocating for it.
"He seems to flinch when he's under pressure," King said on America's Newsroom. "He backs away and, you know, somebody should remind the president that he's President of the United States, not the president of the world."
Obama claimed Wednesday he did not set a red line, saying instead "the world" set one. However, Obama spoke last summer about the use of chemical weapons by Syria being a red line:
BILL HEMMER: Why did he say what he said yesterday?
KING: I think for the same reason on Saturday that he passed it on to Congress. He seems to flinch when he's under pressure. He backs away and, you know, somebody should remind the president that he's President of the United States, not the president of the world. This international community he talks about, somehow he's always trying to deflect responsibility. Now, if this goes well and the vote passes and we're successful in Syria, he'll be claiming the credit, saying it was his operation all along. But to me, whether it's Harry Truman or George Bush or Ronald Reagan or John Kennedy, you have to assume responsibility early on, show leadership and drive it forward. He's not doing that. He seems to be running away from a policy that he's advocating at the same time. You just can't have that type of schizophrenic leadership.
HEMMER: We're watching right now in the split screen. I know you can't see it. St. Petersburg with the leaders of the G20 now gathering. Would you expect him to walk out of that summit with four or five, half a dozen leaders from around the world saying that we support you, Mr. President, on Syria?
KING: I would certainly hope so. Again, he's very secretive about what he's doing. I don't know what leaders-- I'm hoping for instance David Cameron would be able to say at least he personally is supporting the president whether or not the British government is. Again, I don't know who he's working with. He should be. As President of the United States, as the leader of the free world, as the most dominant economic and military power in the world, we should be able to get a number of countries to stand with us. I hope the president does that. Whatever criticism I make of the president, the fact is he is my president, he's your president, and I want him to succeed at that summit, or that conference, and one way to do it in the eyes of the world would be to come out with a number of leaders standing with him, at least endorsing his policies even if they're not taking military action.