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Defiant Clinton defends handling of Benghazi attack

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bass4funk, and the Republicans and neo-cons didn't play with the truth when asserting Iraq had weapons of mass-destruction?

They cherry picked information that supported their position when everyone else was saying it was false. Curveball's information was never vetted because it supported what the Republicans believed.

They even set up their own intelligence branch in the Pentagon and horded their information because they couldn't completely control the CIA and didn't want anyone questioning their conclusions.

There were many more lives lost on those little lies.

TK, right wing fluff to avoid dealing with real issues.

Agree. Wagging the Dog is so typical in politics.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

The media? Nah.

The problem Republicans are having is a lack of credibility. People really do see this as important but they also know that Republicans will exploit anything for political gain. This is the party who openly holds the economy hostage to "extract concessions" (their words). Will people think they are above political grandstanding on this issue? Of course not.

You made your bed, now lie in it.

5 ( +6 / -1 )

Awesome, Mrs. Clinton, just awesome.

4 ( +6 / -2 )

Bass4funk, would be fun to see what tune you play if this had happened during a GOP term. When actually the same security conditions existed.

This is GOP right wing fluff to avoid dealing with real issues. Get on with what working people need and quit wasting tax dollars on BS topics that have already been proven pointless.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

One of the reasons they stepped up their attacks was that this might be the last time to do so before she runs for president in 2016 (she is leaving as Secretary of State). So fake outrage and nasty remarks were more important than the people murdered by terrorists.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

bass4funk: Well, for one that wouldn't have happened under GWB since he had a strong disdain for the Hollywood ilk. For Obama David Letterman and Jay Z was the highest priority for him. For Obama, the most important thing is to look cool.

Seriously? What do you want us to do with that.

People want answers but they know Republicans put party before country. I really don't think anyone trusts them to handle a case like this properly. I can guarantee that there are some of them working behind the scenes whose sole purpose is to see how Republicans can come out ahead in all of this.

You've won the popular vote for President once in the last 24 years. This isn't the way to go about changing that.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

Watched a fair amount of the hearing. As expected, it was mostly political theater. It seemed like few, if any of the congressmen actually did their homework before the hearings. I wonder if any even bothered to read the ARB report. Clinton was competent, responsive. Ron Duncan, Rand Paul stood out. They of course played to their respective conservative bases with pure political theater. Neither one a credit to their States, really. Republicans and Democrats by and large uninspired in their questions, perhaps one or two interesting questions as to what we do moving forward. Liked the tone and tenor of the questions from Rep. Tom Cotton.

Hopefully, some were able to look past the the theatrics and get better understanding of the conditions and circumstances, and particular the inherent vulnerability of the folks who work at our diplomatic missions abroad.

Reading the ARB was time better spent. http://www.scribd.com/doc/121836729/ARB

Or even; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2012_Benghazi_attack

Here's remembering Ambassador Stevens, Sean Smith, Glen Doherty and Tyrone Woods.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

If Johnson’s comments drew an irritated response from Clinton, she notably ignored Sen. Rand Paul, a Republican, when he said he would have fired her if he had been in charge and found that she had not read cables from her team in Libya asking for more security. Paul is a potential 2016 presidential candidate.

I can see the posters now: Pompous Preeners for Paul.

He's a real legend -- in his own mind.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

She was just incredible and very presidential. You go Hillary!!

2 ( +5 / -3 )

The GOP are making fools of themselves by flogging this extremely dead horse. With all that faces working people in America you would think they could find something more important to work on. Useless idiots one and all.

2 ( +6 / -4 )

Sailwind, I suggest you watch Fox News. There is some fine reportin' goin on there.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

2,977 killed in 9/11 attacks. Republican outrage at Bush administration's poo-pooing of pre-attack threat: zero.

4,488 US troops killed in Iraq. Republican outrage at Bush administration's flimsy evidence for going to war: zero.

4 consular staff killed in Benghazi. Republican outrage and accusations before all the facts are in: ballistic.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

I'm outraged by the lack of outrage. Has anyone said that yet?

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Paul is a potential 2016 presidential candidate.

Oh wow -- a second Alf Landon in the works. He'll carry Texas, Arizona, Alaska and West Virginia -- if he's lucky.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

@WilliB

she was weasing out by becoming sick

She had a blood clot on her brain. Unless you want to claim that she faked that, along with her doctors, to get out of testifying about Benghazi.

Why did Obama administration ignore the warnings about Al Quaeda in Bengazi

I think it's maybe because Obama is an anointed despotic socialist Muslim who hates America and wants its citizens to be attacked. Don't ya think so?

why did they concoct the blatant lie about this being a "spontaneous" youtube movie demonstration, even to the point of stating that in the UN?

Being mistaken is not the same as lying. If you want to question the competence of how the attack was handled, fine. Accusing people of lying before you have the facts is presumptuous.

the only person who is in prison for this currently is a film maker, who did nothing criminal

He is in prison for violating the terms of his probation. Unless you think that's an Obama conspiracy too.

the liberal-biased press tiptoes around

Actually, I've read a number of articles that raise questions about the State Department's handling of Benghazi. Again, there's a difference between an investigation and blaming someone for lying.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

So fake outrage and nasty remarks were more important than the people murdered by terrorists.

It wasn't fake, or didn't look like it to me. What is completely fake is the outrage of Republicans saying the administration lied to the people. Doing this during an election period and doing it ONLY to gain political advantage. Scraping the bottom of the political barrel, but they were desperate weren't they.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

plasticmonkeyJan. 24, 2013 - 12:03PM JST

2,977 killed in 9/11 attacks. Republican outrage at Bush administration's poo-pooing of pre-attack threat: zero.

4,488 US troops killed in Iraq. Republican outrage at Bush administration's flimsy evidence for going to war: zero.

4 consular staff killed in Benghazi. Republican outrage and accusations before all the facts are in: ballistic.

Great post, plastic.

A 67% of Americans have shown positive view on Mrs. Clinton's performance today. Well, this is a miscalculation of GOP. Americans are smart and they see the way you see it. Some of GOP will be in re-election, and some of them will not make it.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Another in a long line of distracting GOP fictions: the Whitewater scandal, WMDs in Iraq, Obama's fake birth certificate, the Fast & Furious conspiracy to take away all your guns, Benghazi Gate.

The only credibility the GOP has anymore is with redneck weirdos, conspiracy theorists, self-serving millionaires, and frightened evangelicals. Faith, fear, and greed are not enough to build a respectable policy platform.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

bass4funkJan. 24, 2013 - 01:25PM JST

67% of which Americans are you talking about? Housewives? Polls don't matter in this situation!

It was a general poll tonight. Americans are basically tired of no way my way party of GOP in American politics. If you want to get the job done, you want to keep all these people on your side. Evidently that is not happening for GOP. Americans want to move FORWARD.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Bass4funk, I don't have a problem with the Patriot Act.

I am only pointing out the absolute lies the Republicans were a party to. I even thought we should go to war based on the so called evidence being offered... Decon trucks heading to front line.. were really just firetrucks, aluminum tubes for uranium enrichment, etc. It was an outright lie. You can't blame people for believing a lie told by a government they trusted. And I trusted Colin Powell, still do. But he was duped too.

The difference here, there was no lie. And a lot of people to include Congress are to blame.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

It's all just posturing. We could've learned more if the politicians actually asked the hard follow-up questions.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

@Conspirator

I thought he would find something more important to talk about than gay rights or climate change.

I suspect your average scientist with a modicum of knowledge regarding climate change might suggest that there isn't really anything more important to talk about right now.

Ask a Tasmanian.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Back on topic please.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I see that westerners have been advised to leave Benghazi due to a real threat to their lives. So, NATO countries arm rebels to overthrow a leader... and those rebels then turn on westerners... seen it all before. Would Mme Clinton have also armed the rebels?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I was shocked and appalled that Sec. Clinton would say, "What difference does it make?" That is an inexcusable attitude to take when her department so clearly failed to protect its staff, and then tried to hide the truth from the country.

It's convenient to have the hearings now, the election is over, her tenure is coming to an end, and there can be no consequences for those responsible at the top. The Obama team KNEW that they were putting out a false narrative to explain what happened. But they continued to do so for days because it was politically expedient.

Hillary 2016 just took a shot to the jaw.

-1 ( +4 / -5 )

People. There was a twenty minute video put up on YouTube and it was a video that was full of hate speech. Even though it was an amateur video Algerian people saw it (on 9-11, of all days), understood it in its hateful entirety, were outraged by it like nothing they have ever witnessed, and so they brought their rifles and guns and their RPGs to the US embassy in Benghazi. Unfortunately for the American diplomats there the building and surrounding area was a gun-free zone.Long story short four Americans got killed and the president's entire Mid East and North African policy got turned on its head and was completely discredited, weeks before a very important election. It could have happened to any president. Besides, WaterGate was way worse.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

I think the brave defenders of social justice in the media are up to the task of defending Ms Clinton. By next week most people will have forgotten about her screaming at her accusers.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

This is indeed a dead horse. Nevertheless it was badly mishandled by the Administration. If US don't want to be the target of this type of lunatic attacke they should stay out of the Sh**holes where all these lunatics come from.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

The Obama team KNEW that they were putting out a false narrative to explain what happened. But they continued to do so for days because it was politically expedient.

I'll go one better. The Obama team also knew that they didn't have to worry about the Main Stream Media doing anything at all to challenge the false narrative. They don't fear the Media at all and can count on them to be good lap dogs and cover for them while they pretend to call it actual reporting, such is the sorry state of so called Journalism anymore.

-3 ( +2 / -5 )

The media? Nah.

I would bet my entire paycheck and my life savings that if the Benghazi attack had occurred on Condi Rice's watch under these exact circumstances that the media pile on would have been so thick that she would have been forced to resign in disgrace. It would have been merciless and relentless and a pound of public servant flesh demanded to answer for the fact that our Government couldn't figure out that on the anniversary of Sept 11th in Middle East: That this isn't the smartest time to have State Department diplomats out and about on a "meet and greet" with the locals with minimal security for protection.

The press would have done its job.

And to tell the truth even I would have supported 100 percent that media pile on a Republican administration if that was the case. This really is a disgrace on how it this handled by the Government, any American Government regardless if it had D in frong or an R in front of it. Instead here we are with Clinton getting grilled in hearings that nobody will really remember or care about in next week, our next Secretary of State Kerry safely away from his seat on the Senate Foreign Relations committee with his formal nomination as the next Secretary of State providing him cover, so he doesn't have to ask to do any of the grilling that would shed her in a bad light. All of this now being wrapped up nice an tidy with a press dutifully reporting how bad the Republicans are for asking hard questions that they refused to in the first place..

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

It was a general poll tonight. Americans are basically tired of no way my way party of GOP in American politics. If you want to get the job done, you want to keep all these people on your side. Evidently that is not happening for GOP. Americans want to move FORWARD.

Whether it was a general poll or not is not the issue, the issue is: what did Clinton know leading up to the attacks and why the WH with all the intelligence gave false statements and claimed that the start for the uprising and subsequent attack on the Embassy was due in part because of a video, which we all know now proved to be a total lie, but again, you liberals don't care that the families DO want to know what is going on and STILL didn't get an honest and proper explanation as to what happened to 4 that were brutally killed. If you want to get the job done, the best way is for this WH to start telling the truth and give the families what they are asking for. They have that right! This ALL about the families that were involved in this attack. How the general public feels is totally irrelevant.

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

@superlib

People want answers but they know Republicans put party before country.

All jokes aside, I know you don't want to go there. This administration is the absolute WORST ever to occupy the WH. You can't go further left than Obama and the Dems. Obama has (and still is) putting politics way before he puts the country first, and the evidence of that is the lack of work and lack of accomplishments that Obama is a do nothing President. The last 4 years, we got nothing but skyrocketing debt that the country as ever seen!

I really don't think anyone trusts them to handle a case like this properly. I can guarantee that there are some of them working behind the scenes whose sole purpose is to see how Republicans can come out ahead in all of this.

You've won the popular vote for President once in the last 24 years. This isn't the way to go about changing that.

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

It's convenient to have the hearings now, the election is over, her tenure is coming to an end, and there can be no consequences for those responsible at the top. The Obama team KNEW that they were putting out a false narrative to explain what happened. But they continued to do so for days because it was politically expedient.

Hillary 2016 just took a shot to the jaw.

Not only is the election over, but now she doesn't have to fake...I mean, she can go out now that the coast is clear and at least, she took one for the team, letting Susan Rice take the hit and ultimately Hilary falling on her own sword, since she is stepping down, she has nothing to worry about. The damage has been done. Obama skated away uncut rom this. Funny, had that been Bush or ANY other conservative, liberals would have NOT only demanded hearings and thorough investigation, they would have called for impeachment at least someone getting arrested. They would have never let up on this. But as you said, it was all politically expedient and why not? I just feel sorry for the families that have to endure the shame and the humiliation that our government, the United States Governement, straight up, outright lied to their faces.

Astounding, this administration has absolute NO Shame, let alone honor!

-4 ( +2 / -6 )

If this is the best of what's next to come in the upcoming 4 years. With the issues that as of now the WH are making top priority as VRWC said, then we are all in a world of....

-4 ( +2 / -6 )

"Had I been president and found you did not read the cables from Benghazi and from Ambassador Stevens, I would have relieved you of your post," Paul said. "I think it's inexcusable."

So do I.

What difference, at this point, does it make?

You've shown your colors, Hillary. No "Pew" poll can whitewash that.

You have no remorse or guilt; you lied and continue to lie, and show nothing but outrage, that others have the nerve to question you, and your incompetence.

"I am determined to leave the State Department and our country safer, stronger, and more secure."

And by leaving this post, you shall.

-4 ( +1 / -5 )

Her actions are indefensible, but a sympathetic press means all the world.

-4 ( +1 / -5 )

paulinusa:

" One of the reasons they stepped up their attacks "

She did not step up to the attack. First, she was weasing out by becoming sick, and now she still refuses to address the issue: Why did Obama administration ignore the warnings about Al Quaeda in Bengazi, and why did they concoct the blatant lie about this being a "spontaneous" youtube movie demonstration, even to the point of stating that in the UN? Remember, the only person who is in prison for this currently is a film maker, who did nothing criminal and had nothing to do with the murders in Bengazi. THAT is a scandal that Hillary refuses to answer for and that the liberal-biased press tiptoes around.

-4 ( +1 / -5 )

tkoined

would be fun to see what tune you play if this had happened during a GOP term. When actually the same security conditions existed.

Well, for one that wouldn't have happened under GWB since he had a strong disdain for the Hollywood ilk. For Obama David Letterman and Jay Z was the highest priority for him. For Obama, the most important thing is to look cool.

This is GOP right wing fluff to avoid dealing with real issues.

So when did the WH pass their latest budget?

Get on with what working people need and quit wasting tax dollars on BS topics that have already been proven pointless.

God knows, this is what millions of Americans are saying right now. stop with the BS and do something to get our country out of this financial nightmare....and so far, Obama hasn't done that yet and the way it's looking, I'm not holding my breath anytime soon.

-4 ( +1 / -5 )

And it would be a tragedy if she ever made President. I don't think she was at all Presidential - more like a slightly emotional old luvvie.

-4 ( +0 / -4 )

White Water, Bengazi, Luinski, White Water, Bengazi, Bilderberg, Luinski, White Water, Bilderberg, Council of Foreign Relations, personal secret China meetings, Deaths in the park...... I heard personal accounts of her throwing dishes off camera like a spoiled brat....what else from a Corporate stooge.

-4 ( +0 / -4 )

Hilary knew she totally botched this whole thing, and her little outburst didn't phase the committy one bit especially McCain with whom she took a very lower voiced, respectable and a bit more consolatory tone. It is a complete disagrace what this administration tried to cover up, at east they could be more forthcoming with these families, the owe at least that much to them. We still didn't really learn anything. Disgusting!

-5 ( +2 / -7 )

tkoined

The GOP are making fools of themselves by flogging this extremely dead horse.

Spoken like a true liberal, always trying to weasel out of the truth. Gotta admit, they did an excellent job at stonewalling and impeding the investigation. But why would liberals be interested in knowing the truth, why would liberals care what the families think, if they get justice or not, as long as the Sainted anointed one can reign supreme and is not dethroned by Romney, nothing else matters, including the Ambassador and the 3 others that died so unnecessarily.

With all that faces working people in America you would think they could find something more important to work on. Useless idiots one and all.

Oh, now all of a sudden liberals care about the economy?? Roflmao! You guys are a crack up!

-5 ( +2 / -7 )

I'll go one better.

And I'll raise:

Hillary behaves as though she is accountable to no one. She speaks with absolutely no contrition or remorse, with all the arrogance of someone who knows nothing will stick.

Media, and what else?

-6 ( +0 / -6 )

@viking

and the Republicans and neo-cons didn't play with the truth when asserting Iraq had weapons of mass-destruction?

What that dead old argument. Like using the word "racism" liberals are throwing the WMD topic on the table again. Don't forget your pal Biden that wrote up the Patriot Act. Most of the Dems signed on to military action and believed the reports as well. You holding them equally accountable??

They cherry picked information that supported their position when everyone else was saying it was false. Curveball's information was never vetted because it supported what the Republicans believed.

You guys ought to know, you are doing an excellent on Benghazi, the economy, the debt, Oh but, please don't stop me now..... Liberals practically wrote the book on deception.

They even set up their own intelligence branch in the Pentagon and horded their information because they couldn't completely control the CIA and didn't want anyone questioning their conclusions.

I see, so Obama shucking and jiving and not answering the families quest for what happened, you don't call that hoarding vital information. I'm not saying Repubs are totally innocent, but you liberals seriously believe you walk on water.

There were many more lives lost on those little lies.

If you're going to say that, then what about the Dems that didn't speak out? Are you throwing blame at them as well. Their hands were in the pots as well.

-6 ( +1 / -7 )

@superlib

The problem Republicans are having is a lack of credibility.

The WH has even less credibility, especially when it comes to this topic.

People really do see this as important but they also know that Republicans will exploit anything for political gain.

How? When Obama and the have done EVERYTHING in their power, lie cheat, discredit, distort, deceive and every other underhandedly thing they could do to stay in power, including throwing Hillary under the bus, she's expendable, so....er...why not?

This is the party who openly holds the economy hostage to "extract concessions" (their words).

That coming from liberals that supported a president that has spent our children's money and pushed us over into a $16T debt and borrowed money from China at about 3.5 billion dollars a week just to keep the country afloat and punishes people for their hard work and success. "You didn't build that, you didn't earn that."

Will people think they are above political grandstanding on this issue? Of course not.

As I said, hypocrisy is a word liberals don't understand or how to look up in the dictionary.

You made your bed, now lie in it.

You mean Hillary? She should lie in it.

-6 ( +1 / -7 )

@global

A 67% of Americans have shown positive view on Mrs. Clinton's performance today. Well, this is a miscalculation of GOP. Americans are smart and they see the way you see it. Some of GOP will be in re-election, and some of them will not make it.

67% of which Americans are you talking about? Housewives? Polls don't matter in this situation! This is not a campaign run. This is a miscalculation of the highest at the request of the families that want to know the truth as to what happened to their loved ones when they know for a fact and one of the mothers said a few months back that she is totally disgusted at how this holy WH covered and never called this mother, nor did they provide her with ANY detailed answers as to what happened. Sorry, but the credibility issue falls squarely with the WH and Secretary of State.

-8 ( +0 / -8 )

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