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Republicans say Rice must testify on Benghazi statements

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Can't the Democrat-controlled Senate confirm Rice to any position Obama nominates her for?

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

Rice needs to testify. Gee, ya think?

3 ( +4 / -1 )

It doesn't matter what Rice, Obama, Hillary, WH, or the CIA say anymore. What matters is what do the AQ thinks. The AQ is probably laughing at the country. The government lied and AQ knows that.

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

Obama said, that he didn't want anyone to attack of criticize her integrity of how she handled the Benghazi situation. Obama also said, if anyone wants to attack someone, it should be him, (I'm all for that) since he and the WH put her out there and gave her statements that they wanted her to specifically say. This president has absolutely NO shame! Whatsoever. Rice shouldn't have been out there to begin with. Hillary should have been involved, front, line and center.

-7 ( +3 / -10 )

Why is Hillary abandoning Obama already? 4 years of serving under him is enough, I guess.

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SushiSake3Nov. 19, 2012 - 11:42AM JST : So instead of talking about jobs and the economy, the Repugs waste time talking about Benghazi. Classic deflect when they've got nothing worth saying.

The liberal press went after Watergate and the Iran-Contra Affair. Both Presidents during those terms were Republicans. How come the liberal press is all silent about Benghazi?

-6 ( +3 / -9 )

Skipbeat, I don't know but I'm sure conservatives can make up something.

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@Sushi

That's what I want to say about Obama, he's your president. He's the one that's in charge, had he NOT been so greedy and deceptive and desperate to win this election, he would have taken a moment to have been honest and to just admit, he dropped the ball. But don't take my word for it. The parents of these fallen heroes want to know where the WH f*****up on this. But as usual, they are getting the same old BS from Obama, we're investigating....and maybe it was Bush that had something to do with it. Hey, it wouldn't shock me, if liberals were to throw that in like they do with everything else Obama flubs.

As usual, Bass has the argument ar*e backwards.

Sushi, you are wrong once again. Here you go. Thank me tomorrow.

http://townhall.com/tipsheet/guybenson/2012/10/11/video_griefstricken_mother_of_benghazi_massacre_victim_rips_wh_for_outright_lies

Base's president is standing up and saying he is accountable.

As he should, a little bit too late. Now let's see, if he admits, he was primarily responsible for not acting fast enough. I guess meeting JayZ and Letterman were way to important to pass up.

Accountability .....something conservatives know absolutely NOTHING about.

To be fair, how about saying, most politicians have a problem with accountability. From BOTH parties!

Conservatives like Bass only have themselves to blame for their election shellacking.

I wasn't running, therefore, I don't blame myself for anything. On the other hand, I am happy that they have the House at least. ;-) lol

-6 ( +3 / -9 )

Meh, Benghazi was just "a bump in the road" so, nothing to see here(or there), move along.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

The liberal press went after Watergate and the Iran-Contra Affair. Both Presidents during those terms were Republicans. How come the liberal press is all silent about Benghazi?

It's because Obama is shielded by a "D" by his name. That "D" turns normally aggressive reporter types into just your typical mild manner Clark Kent reporters. It's kinda like a reverse kryptonite effect on the Media.

-5 ( +3 / -8 )

The United States Ambassador to the United Nations repeated unclassified portions of a CIA briefing within hours after the Benghazi attacks when even the CIA was struggling to understand what had happened and why; she did not touch on the other speculation in the briefings she had received, which was at any rate both unconfirmed and classified to protect assets still on the ground; she is not a direct State Department employee and has zero responsibility for American oversees missions; and the assets attacked were controlled primarily by the CIA, not by the State Department.

So: An American diplomat repeats what information she is able to disclose regarding an area beyond her purview in the most responsible way possible, and the GOP attacks her for this.

There has not been a band of more idiotic, irresponsible people since that cabal that ran Romney's candidacy. AQ couldn't have installed better moles than what the GOP is doing.

1 ( +6 / -5 )

AQ won. That's the bottom line. It no longer matter what he or she says.

-5 ( +2 / -7 )

The Republican Party is helping AQ, and here is how: Controlling AQ requires close contact with local people in order to exchange intelligence and identify loyalties; close contact requires a discrete, small-footprint presence; such a discrete presence requires secrecy; the Republican Party apparently wants all American missions abroad to wave a broad American flag and deploy a hundred Marines.

Good luck getting your average Ahmed to enter such a location.

Thanks, GOP, for making American foreign policy all the more difficult.

4 ( +7 / -3 )

The Republican Party is helping AQ, and here is how:

What a load of total unmitigated partisan B.S. Our U.S Ambassador is dead along with three other Americans because this adminstration did not provide them adequate security in a country that is still torn by the ravages of war. A country that even as we speak has armed militias still roving the countryside and are still jockeying for power in the aftermath of fall of the dictatorship. And this is now twisted as the Republican party as being partly to blame in making our U.S Ambassador an easy and tempting target to A.Q on the anniversary of 9/11.

-5 ( +3 / -8 )

Republicans have criticized Rice for appearing on Sunday morning news shows five days after the Sept. 11 attack on the U.S. diplomatic mission in Benghazi and saying that preliminary information suggested the assault was the result of protests over an anti-Muslim film rather than a premeditated strike.

A prominent magazine has posted the transcripts of the Sunday shows on which Ambassador Rice appeared. On none of them did she mention the anti-Muslim film. Where are Republicans getting this?

Americans because this adminstration did not provide them adequate security in a country that is still torn by the ravages of war.,,,And this is now twisted as the Republican party as being partly to blame in making our U.S Ambassador an easy and tempting target to A.Q on the anniversary of 9/11.

It should be mentioned how the Republicans pressed to cut funding for embassy security. Just as, in 2001, they pressed to cut funding for the FBI's counter-terrorism unit.

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yabitsNov. 19, 2012 - 02:48PM JST : A prominent magazine has posted the transcripts of the Sunday shows on which Ambassador Rice appeared. On none of them did she mention the anti-Muslim film. Where are Republicans getting this?

Rice: Libya attacks spontaneous @ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6oOxAyU8QwM&feature=related

LIBYA Susan Rice: Embassy Attack By Extremists Is Spontaneous, Heavy Weapons Accessible @ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ma6pMrMOIQ8&feature=watch-vrec

Obama UN Ambassador Tries To Claim Protests Had Nothing To Do With Obama Policies @ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xk6s5FkObt0

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

Susan Rice 'This Week' Interview: U.S. Ambassador to UN Discusses Muslim Protest (09/2012) @ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bxf77xQ_NLU&feature=related

Susan Rice Interview on Meet the Press - 9/16/12 @ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sHAIl7_ITE0&feature=related

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

Sail - "A country that even as we speak has armed militias still roving the countryside and are still jockeying for power..."

Heh, I could have sworn you were talking about America there, such is the simialarity. :-)

0 ( +2 / -2 )

yabitsNov. 19, 2012 - 02:48PM JST : It should be mentioned how the Republicans pressed to cut funding for embassy security. Just as, in 2001, they pressed to cut funding for the FBI's counter-terrorism unit.

Issa: State Dept. sitting on $2 billion-plus for embassy security @ http://www.politico.com/blogs/politico-live/2012/10/issa-state-dept-sitting-on-billionplus-for-embassy-138402.html

Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) says the State Department is sitting on $2.2 billion that should be spent on upgrading security at U.S. embassies and consulates worldwide, but the Obama administration will not spend the funds.

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

Sail - "A country that even as we speak has armed militias still roving the countryside and are still jockeying for power..."

Heh, I could have sworn you were talking about America there, such is the simialarity. :-)

A bit of a similarity but not really that much. After all Obama just only armed the Mexican drug gangs with weapons from the U.S in his sanctioned gun running operation "fast and furious" and so far only one U.S Border patrol agent has been killed. Not quite the carnage as yet as we've seen in Libya. Media could really care less about "fast and furious" also by the way.

-8 ( +0 / -8 )

Sail, I was talking about the suburbs.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

This case has been closed. McCain and Romney are beating drums for no reason. They personally hate Obama and cannot accept their political defeats. They are sour thumbs and losers, indeed. Well, McCain is desparate for the next election, and he is not doing very well as he used to. .

Rice is a UN ambassador and nothing to do with this.The intelligence report which (former CIA chief) David Petraeus has signed off and the case has been closed, period.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

SerranoNov. 19, 2012 - 11:49AM JST

Why is Hillary abandoning Obama already? 4 years of serving under him is enough, I guess.

She is preparing for the next election. She needs a break after serving for public over 20 years.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

This case has been closed. McCain and Romney are beating drums for no reason.

Of course there's reason. Political gain. The other Romney cheerleaders, claimed to mourn Ambassador Chris Stevens, Glen Doherty, Tyrone Woods, and Sean Smith, but then did their damnedest to eke out some political advantage. They're so disappointed they couldn't contrive a Watergate-like scandal to boost Romney into the presidency it's a wailing and gnashing of the teeth.

In McCain's case it's especially pathetic and desperate attempt to stay relevant; create a special Benghazi committee so that he can stay front and centre.

Politics, politics, politics.. Craven, cowardly, offensive.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

gcbelNov. 19, 2012 - 04:13PM JST

This case has been closed. McCain and Romney are beating drums for no reason.

Of course there's reason. Political gain.

You are right on that. I agree. Hope American public is smart enough to see though it. There are many Obama haters. They just hate him as he is Black. Sad.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Politics, politics, politics.. Craven, cowardly, offensive.

Totally agree, when one of your major selling points is bragging how you offed Bin Laden and how A.Q is now on the run and proclaiming it loudly in your Convention's acceptance speech and then have an A.Q terrorist attack happen on the anniversary of 9/11 just after that speech is just pretty crappy timing in a re-election bid. But as luck would have it we have a film we can blame in on instead and run with that B.S for awhile to run out the clock before the election. And of course no worries about the Obama's Media lap dog palace guards of now actually somehow being able to somehow perform a random act of real journalism to call out the administration's own B.S on this and their own concocted story.

-5 ( +0 / -5 )

@global

This case has been closed.

The case has not been closed, that's why they are having the hearings.

McCain and Romney are beating drums for no reason.

Yeah, just leave the family hanging in order to save face. It's not going to work, not this time.

They personally hate Obama and cannot accept their political defeats.

Of course they accepted defeat, we all have, now we are moving on and going to the next step, " finding out what exactly happened in Benghazi and why the WH and Obama lied to the Family and the American people.

They are sour thumbs and losers, indeed. Well, McCain is desparate for the next election, and he is not doing very well as he used to. .

Not even going to comment on that ludicrous statement.

Rice is a UN ambassador and nothing to do with this.

So why the WH put her in front of the press to give bogus answers to questions she already knew the answers too? Where was Hilary, after all, it is her job.

The intelligence report which (former CIA chief) David Petraeus has signed off and the case has been closed, period.

If only that we're true for liberals, but alas....

-5 ( +1 / -6 )

Totally agree, when one of your major selling points is bragging how you offed Bin Laden and how A.Q is now on the run and proclaiming it loudly in your Convention's acceptance speech and then have an A.Q terrorist attack happen on the anniversary of 9/11 just after that speech is just pretty crappy timing in a re-election bid.

Interesting point there, Sailwind. Say Rice had come out and said that it had been a terrorist attack - that it had been planned in advance and subsequently orchestrated to coincide with what were likely spontaneous demonstrations. How would that have hurt Obama? What could he gain by stating that the attacks were spontaneous, even if (and it still is an "if") they were not? Historically, Americans have rallied around a sitting president when America was under attack (see: Bush, 2004); logically, if Obama had wanted to make political hay out of this, he would have played up the terrorist end.

Al Qaeda is at any rate not a solid entity like Microsoft or the Koch Brothers network but a very loosely aligned group with only one common aspect, a hatred of the US. If Obama had immediately blamed it on terrorists and bombed the country, right wingers would be whining nonetheless. It is no secret that the current right-wing wet dream is to impeach Obama and that they are turning over every stone in search of some excuse. What a pathetic waste of existence.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Why only Republicans say that? Everybody should say that. That apparently the democrats want to keep a lid on this story, that is the scandal.

-4 ( +1 / -5 )

Laguna:

" Say Rice had come out and said that it had been a terrorist attack - that it had been planned in advance and subsequently orchestrated to coincide with what were likely spontaneous demonstrations. How would that have hurt Obama? "

Because Obama orchestrated the Libya intervention, Obama touted it as a great success (as the other islamist "Arab spring" takeovers), and Obama had refused improved security for the Bengazi embassy, insisting that Bengazi was full of love peace for the American "friends".

Obama would have stood like proverbial emperor without clothes, with the disaster of his foreign policy revealed like this. (Not that the voting bots would not have voted for him anyway, but still...)

-5 ( +1 / -6 )

"It should be mentioned how the Republicans pressed to cut funding for embassy security"

It's the Republicans' fault! Blood is on the hands of the Republicans!

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

skipbeat:

" AQ won. That's the bottom line. It no longer matter what he or she says. "

Yes. And with the current administration, they will ratch up more wins. But the filmmaker who was scapegoated by the Obama administration to cover up for their incompetence and lies is STILL in prison. Why?

-6 ( +1 / -7 )

Global - They are sour thumbs and losers, indeed. Well, McCain is desparate for the next election, and he is not doing very well as he used to. .

Bass - Not even going to comment on that ludicrous statement.

Not sure how much more out of touch it's possible to get.

McCain's term as head of the National Security Committee or whatever it's called runs next month due to terms limits.

The only other committee chair open to him is Indian Affairs. Look if up.

The guy is terrified of losing relevance. Global is right.

The only reason McCain wants to set up this "Benghazi commission" muppet show is to stay in the spotlight and the junket/perk merry-go-round.

Pretty typical Republican - no core and always ulterior motives.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

Four (the number of Americans killed in Libya) divided by 4,977 (the number of Americans killed in Iraq) equals 0.0008%. (Let's not get into monetary issues here; that would be crass when discussing lives - except, from a GOP point of view, when it comes to issues such as health insurance.)

Result: both countries are free of dictators; neither is free of anti-American elements.

Romney ran as a "businessman," just like Bush did: The first MBA president! If these are the captains of American industry, Lord help us.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Interesting point there, Sailwind. Say Rice had come out and said that it had been a terrorist attack - that it had been planned in advance and subsequently orchestrated to coincide with what were likely spontaneous demonstrations. How would that have hurt Obama?

If you are unable to figure out that his failure in not providing adequate security to protect his own ambassador wouldn't hurt him politically especially in an election year than I really can't help you here at all.

It is no secret that the current right-wing wet dream is to impeach Obama and that they are turning over every stone in search of some excuse.

Yes of course that's the ticket, because having a Joe Biden Presidency would also be such an absolute joy to look forward to by right wingers after Obama was impeached (he's not going to be impeached, far from it, the man is a Nobel Peace Prize winner for goodness sakes and besides with his talent and the Media's help this will somehow be all Bush's fault when its all said and done)........ummm...Though I was trying for a bit of humor, come to think of it, I wouldn't be surprised at all if that is exactly how this will try and be spun out after it is all said and done.

-6 ( +1 / -7 )

The guy is terrified of losing relevance.

Sushi, the guy is not only terrified of losing relevance; he has a huge chip on his shoulder. Remember that stroll around the market in a flak jacket back in 2009, when he said: "General Petraeus goes out there almost every day in an unarmed Humvee.... There are neighborhoods in Baghdad where you and I could walk through those neighborhoods today."

Okay, the syntax sounds like Bass, but Rice jabbed him deeply when she aptly criticized him during his campaign against Obama for “strolling around the market in a flak jacket,” which is exactly what he did. She also called his foreign policy "reckless" (which it still is: remember, he promised to bring home American troops from Iraq - by 2013! Gee, I almost miss the place.)

He may be old and doddering, but he does have a good memory for revenge. That's really all what it's been for him over the past couple of decades (notice how his "maverick" image only began after his loss to Bush in the 2000 primaries).

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Totally agree, when one of your major selling points is bragging how you offed Bin Laden

Not surprised you'd deflect. In any case your attempt runs into two counter-arguments. You might argue that the crowing over the "offing" was unseemly, perhaps exploitative (would Republicans not have milked it?), but there's really no equivalency there with the attempt to fabricate a political advantage out of a tragedy. And even if one were to concede an equivalency, which I don't, your parents will certainly have taught you that "two wrongs don't make a right".

Obama's Media lap dog palace guards

Was just juvenile, now its getting tedious.

3 ( +5 / -2 )

gcbel,

Deflection is only on the part of posters wanting to put all sort of nefarious motives to McCain or Republicans in general for wanting to form a committee to investigate this matter and as to why our Ambassador lost his life his family at the very least deserves the truth surrounding his death. As far Media being good lap dogs take this article for instance.

Lawmakers appearing on the Sunday shows expressed no appetite for the proposal by McCain and Graham for the creation of a special congressional committee to investigate the Benghazi attack.

The article left out the fact that this proposal actually has three Senators pushing for this not the two the article mentioned (McCain and Graham). The other sponsor is Senator Ayotte from Maine. As she stated .........

"Two months after this deadly attack, we still have more questions than answers. The American people deserve to know exactly what happened in Benghazi, and it's Congress' job to ensure there is a full accounting of the failures that led to this tragedy," said Senator Ayotte, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee. "We need to understand why security at the consulate was so inadequate, why requests for additional security were rejected, and why the greatest military in the world was not able to respond within seven hours to save the lives of Americans."

She continued: "A stovepipe approach, with individual committees pursuing their own investigations, won't give us the answers we need. This was a broad failure of government, and we need a single committee that can cut across agency and congressional committee jurisdictions in order to conduct a comprehensive review and make recommendations."

http://www.ayotte.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=749

I agree with her on this 100 percent, but for some reason the Media would rather totally ignore a Republican Woman's voice on the issue or the fact that she even exists, as It just doesn't fit into the media "narrative".

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

Yawn.

It is just, well, impossible to give a crap what Republicans have to say about national security after their years of silence on Bush.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

McCain's involvement in S&L loan scandal The post below is from the Washington Post.

<http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/explainer/2000/02/is_john_mccain_a_crook.html>

I do not know if everyone is old enough to remember S&L crisis McCain was involved. It was a beginning of McCain's downfall when he started associating with the Tea Party leader Karl Rove. I would not be too surprised if he will go down in history within a couple of years as Arizona is slowly changing into the Blue state, and this may be his last term.

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

@JT

Yawn. It is just, well, impossible to give a crap what Republicans have to say about national security after their years of silence on Bush.

Hmmm, judging by the way history has been when it comes to National Security and the present current situation in Benghazi, it seems like The ONLY thing Dems are good at is pointing out the flaws of other people with either whom they disagree with or over the top passifist given the chance and as we are witnessing before our very eyes that's exactly what's happening.

@global

I do not know if everyone is old enough to remember S&L crisis McCain was involved. It was a beginning of McCain's downfall when he started associating with the Tea Party leader Karl Rove. I would not be too surprised if he will go down in history within a couple of years as Arizona is slowly changing into the Blue state, and this may be his last term.

I'm old enough to remember, so what's that have to do with this topic?????

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

I'm old enough to remember, so what's that have to do with this topic?????

I see McCain's political desperation.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I see McCain's political desperation

Does Senator Ayotte from Maine also have this same "political desperation" in wanting to form a special committee also to investigate what exactly went wrong in Libya?

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

I see McCain's political desperation.

In wanting to find the truth? Desperation? I'd call it liberal WH "stonewalling."

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Well over half of the 241 Republican members of the House did not sign the letter against Rice, including the party’s top leadership.

Not a good sign for the irrational obstinate children who are being left behind by the adults in the party. Wonder who'll be last to try to hold their little fort.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Does Senator Ayotte from Maine also have this same "political desperation" in wanting to form a special committee also to investigate what exactly went wrong in Libya?

First of all, Senator Ayotte's from N.H. not Maine, as you keep posting. Second she hasn't been "shut out" by the media - it's easy to check, suggest you do so. Third, she's Republican. What's the stretch in thinking Ayotte would support Graham and McCain along partisan lines? Fourth, the tragedy is being investigated.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/sorry-senators-an-independent-panel-is-the-best-way-to-investigate-benghazi/2012/11/16/a986eacc-2f73-11e2-a30e-5ca76eeec857_story.html

These comments suggest that the Republican senators have prejudged the investigation's outcome, a conclusion that is only strengthened by their statements that they will do everything in their power to stop U.N. Ambassador Susan Rice from becoming secretary of state if Obama nominates her. In this partisan context, Senate Democrats have little incentive to agree to establish a select committee. Even if such a panel were named, it would fracture quickly along party lines.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

First of all, Senator Ayotte's from N.H. not Maine, as you keep posting.

You are correct my apologies for not being as well versed in our great countries Northeastern Political players as I should be.

Second she hasn't been "shut out" by the media - it's easy to check, suggest you do so.

I did, she's not mentioned anywhere in this article and is barely mentioned at all in any others that are ypical "Mainsteam" articles. Let me know if you can actually spot her in this article or for that matter that you even knew she was ever involved in the story.

Which brings me to this, "Your welcome, I'm happy to actually have been able to provide you more information on this story so that you can actually make an informed judgement if an independent Congressional investigation should be warranted or not in this tragedy. I think her reasoning as she posted on her website and I posted previously is pretty darn sound. One would think an article such as this would focus on that reasoning but then again that would be expecting the Media to actually be doing its job.

I'm sure you will not agree with this but for me it's pretty sad that journalism has sunk to the point where others such as myself have to step up and fill in the blanks to make up for a lame media just to get a balanced picture anymore, but it is what is in 2012.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I did, she's not mentioned anywhere in this article and is barely mentioned at all in any others that are ypical "Mainsteam" articles. Let me know if you can actually spot her in this article or for that matter that you even knew she was ever involved in the story.

Funny, I had no problem finding her view in a number of articles, yes, in the mainstream. Unless you're holding up one single article as evidence of nefarious plot to shut out the junior senator? Her view doesn't to have be repeated in every article on the subject. You see what you want to see. Your own bias is playing you.

Which brings me to this, "Your welcome, I'm happy to actually have been able to provide you more information on this story so that you can actually make an informed judgement if an independent Congressional investigation should be warranted or not in this tragedy.

Thank you for the tid-bit. And, likewise you're welcome for the counter argument in favor of an independent panel.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/sorry-senators-an-independent-panel-is-the-best-way-to-investigate-benghazi/2012/11/16/a986eacc-2f73-11e2-a30e-5ca76eeec857_story.html

*After weeks of Republican criticism of Obama administration statements about what happened in Benghazi, Sens. John McCain, Lindsey Graham and Kelly Ayotte introduced a resolution to create a select committee composed of four Republican and four Democratic senators.

...These comments suggest that the Republican senators have prejudged the investigation's outcome, a conclusion that is only strengthened by their statements that they will do everything in their power to stop U.N. Ambassador Susan Rice from becoming secretary of state if Obama nominates her.*

I think her reasoning as she posted on her website and I posted previously is pretty darn sound. One would think an article such as this would focus on that reasoning but then again that would be expecting the Media to actually be doing its job.

You're of course entitled to your opinion about how the media is doing it's job and whether Sen. Ayotte has made a good case for a special committee or not. I for one, believe you're wrong on both counts. Agree to disagree.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

gcbel,

You're of course entitled to your opinion about how the media is doing it's job

I will agree to disagree, though I do think you will find this quite interesting on the whole question if the Media is really doing its job or not when it comes to Obama and his administration.

The Final Days of the Media Campaign 2012 November 19, 2012

Obama Enjoys Surge in Positive Coverage the Last Week of the Race; Attention to Romney Drops

In the final week of the 2012 presidential campaign, Barack Obama enjoyed his most positive run of news coverage in months, according to a new study by the Pew Research Center's Project for Excellence in Journalism. Only during the week of his nominating convention was the treatment in the press more favorable.

http://www.journalism.org/analysis_report/final_days_media_campaign_2012

0 ( +0 / -0 )

John McCain was too busy complaining about Benghazi to attend a hearing on Benghazi.

http://www.theatlanticwire.com/politics/2012/11/john-mccain-was-too-busy-complaining-about-benghazi-attend-senate-hearing-benghazi/59043/

Pretty embarrassing.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Republican Senators have had their sights set on U.N. Ambassador Susan Rice lately, threatening to block her nomination as Secretary of State because she went on a few Sunday morning shows and said incorrect stuff about the terror attacks in Benghazi September 11. Today, the Senate Intelligence Committee released the CIA talking points Rice was given. Committee Chairwoman Diane Feinstein read this list out to reporters (via Politico's Scott Wong) after the hearing today:

1) The currently available information suggests that the demonstrations in Benghazi were spontaneously inspired by the protests at the United States embassy in Cairo and evolved into a direct assault against United States diplomatic posts in Benghazi and subsequently its annex.

2) There are indications extremists participated in the violent demonstrations.

3) This assessment may change as additional information is collected and analyzed and as currently available information continues to be evaluated.

4) The investigation is ongoing and the United States government is working with Libyan authorities to bring justice to those responsible for the deaths of United States citizens.

So the first takeaway the Senate saying that Rice was working with CIA information. The second point, is, and what's making Republicans like John McCain, Kelly Ayotte and Lindsey Graham so mad, is that they insist she said the killings were a spontaneous response to the Innocence of Muslims film, that she should have known sooner that the information she had was incorrect, and that she should have known better than to make those comments. Well, that isn't quite what she said. Take a look at her statements to ABC's This Week, CBS's Face The Nation, and Fox News Sunday and compared them to the two major CIA talking points Republicans are railing against (similarities are italicized):

CIA Talking Point: The currently available information suggests that the demonstrations in Benghazi were spontaneously inspired by the protests at the United States embassy in Cairo and evolved into a direct assault against United States diplomatic posts in Benghazi and subsequently its annex.

What Rice Told ABC: But our current best assessment, based on the information that we have at present, is that, in fact, what this began as, it was a spontaneous -- not a premeditated -- response to what had transpired in Cairo. In Cairo, as you know, a few hours earlier, there was a violent protest that was undertaken in reaction to this very offensive video that was disseminated

What Rice told CBS: So we'll want to see the results of that investigation to draw any definitive conclusions. But based on the best information we have to date, what our assessment is as of the present is in fact what began spontaneously in Benghazi as a reaction to what had transpired some hours earlier in Cairo where, of course, as you know, there was a violent protest outside of our embassy----sparked by this hateful video.

What Rice Told Fox: The information, the best information and the best assessment we have today is that in fact this was not a preplanned, premeditated attack. That what happened initially was that it was a spontaneous reaction to what had just transpired in Cairo as a consequence of the video.

CIA Talking Point: There are indications extremists participated in the violent demonstrations.

What Rice Told ABC: And then as that unfolded, it seems to have been hijacked, let us say, by some individual clusters of extremists who came with heavier weapons, weapons that as you know in -- in the wake of the revolution in Libya are -- are quite common and accessible.

What Rice Told CBS: But soon after that spontaneous protest began outside of our consulate in Benghazi, we believe that it looks like extremist elements, individuals, joined in that -- in that effort with heavy weapons of the sort that are, unfortunately, readily now available in Libya post-revolution. And that it spun from there into something much, much more violent.

What Rice Told Fox: People gathered outside the embassy and then it grew very violent and those with extremist ties joined the fray and came with heavy weapons, which unfortunately are quite common in post-revolutionary Libya and that then spun out of control. But we don't see at this point signs this was a coordinated plan, premeditated attack. Obviously, we will wait for the results of the investigation and we don't want to jump to conclusions before then

The common thread in Rice's statements (aside from the fact that they're all very similar) is that she never named the video which McCain and Co. said she had did. She said what the CIA had told her—that the protest was a reaction to the protest in Cairo, not to the video which sparked the protest in Cairo. And of course the baseline fact here is that Rice was only going by what the CIA had given her.

http://www.theatlanticwire.com/politics/2012/11/what-susan-rice-said-versus-what-cia-gave-her/59094/

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Senator Carl Levin, the Democratic chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, called the criticism of Rice "one of the most unfair attacks I’ve ever seen in Washington in 34 years. Susan Rice was using the unclassified talking points which were provided by the intelligence community."

Spot on. Leaves one to wonder, McCain once had integrity, not sure what he did with it.

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Spot on. Leaves one to wonder, McCain once had integrity, not sure what he did with it.

Association with the Tea Party lead by Karl Rove is his downfall. He is losing his credibility as a senate. He has been acting like a 12 years old kid throwing tantrum. I used to like him, not anymore.

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Any subject is good as long as it keeps Congress from doing something important-like helping the economy recover.

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