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Subscribe to RSSA House Foreign Affairs hearing on "Benghazi and Beyond" quickly turned into a shouting and accusations forum.
It began when Republican Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA) said this: "What is clear is that this administration, including the president himself, has intentionally misinformed, read that LIED, to the American people in the aftermath of this tragedy. Now President Obama has the gall to float the name as possibly secretary of State, the name of the person who is the actual vehicle used to misinform the American people during this crisis."
Karen Bleier / AFP - Getty Images
National Intelligence Director James Clapper arrives for a closed door hearing conducted by the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence November 15, 2012 on Capitol Hill.
Rep. Brad Sherman, a Democrat also from California, called the attacks on Rice "unfair" and leveled that Colin Powell testified that there were weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, because that's the information that was given to him.
Rohrabacher shot back, going further, intimating that what the White House has done is worse than Watergate.
"This is not simply a cover up of a third-rate burglary," he alleged. "We have four of our personnel dead, and it is not a McCarthy-era tactic to demand accountability and to demand that American people are not misinformed about it to the point that they don't know what the threat is."
The back and forth continued when Rep. Jean Schmidt, a Republican from Ohio, also accused the administration of lying.
Key Republicans on the Senate Armed Services Committee are calling for a broader investigation into the attack on Benghazi and vowing to block UN Ambassador Susan Rice from becoming Secretary of State, if she should be nominated, because of her initial comments about the fatal incident. Sen. Kelly Ayotte, R-N.H., discusses.
"This administration continues to put out things that are just not quite true," she claimed.
Rep. Dan Burton (R-IN) began by saying he was not going to attack the White House or malfeasance at the State Department. But he then instead spoke for six minutes and didn't ask a single question of the GAO witness.
Naturally, Democrats responded. It began rather timidly and escalated.
"Barack Obama was no more responsible for what happened in Benghazi than George Bush was for Sept. 11th or Ronald Reagan was for the blowing up of U.S. Marines in Beirut," Rep. Eliot Engle (D-NY) said.
Rep. Gary Ackerman (D-NY) unloaded, first sarcastically: "Let's just hang the guilty parties."
"The stench of hypocrisy that hangs over this city today emanates from this room," Ackerman said. "I've listened to my colleagues talk about the President of the United States and others in the administration using [the] terms 'deliberate', 'lies', 'unmitigated gall', 'malfeasance,' which is malicious and knowing evil-doing, 'disgust', 'coverups'."
He continued, "If you want to know who is responsible in this town, buy yourself a mirror!"
Ackerman went on to say that Republicans had "the audacity to come here" when the administration requested, for worldwide security, "$440 million more than you guys wanted to provide. And the answer is that you damn didn't provide it! You REDUCED what the administration asked for to protect these people. Ask not who the guilty party is, it's you! It is us. It is this committee, and the things that we insist that we need have to cost money."
He added, "Could you tell me which of my colleagues on this committee was as bodacious in their insistence that we provide more money for American security in the State Department budget. I would appreciate it."
Ackerman then asked them to raise their hands and gave them a count of five to do so. None did.
Rep. Gerald Connolly (D-VA) picked up the push back. He held up a letter, dated yesterday, in which he was asked to co-sign saying that Susan Rice is unfit to be secretary of State.
"Smear, character assassination, judgment before all the facts are in is McCarthyism," Connolly said, "and that's an attempt to besmirch, in my opinion, the reputation of a very talented and capable public servant. I want no part of it."
He added, "The election is over. The president won reelection. The voices of the public were heard. They want us to cooperate. If you want an honest investigation of this tragedy, we will join you. But if you want to persist in trying to put this, lay this somehow at the doorstep of the president or the secretary of State or the United Nations ambassador, you will find us ready and willing to resist to the teeth."
And that was just the first half of the hearing.
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A mass march on Washington might get some attention. Who do you think could organize it?
The GOP is DESPERATE to have "something",..."annnything" to condemn Obama's administration for,...
..."Why". It comes back to blocking reversal of the Bush tax cuts for their wealthy constituents.
Distraction, lies, misrepresentation, subterfuge. Political leverage,...to be applied where and how they want it.
I kid you not. Anyone who is paying attention can see it.
The GOP is shamelessly self-serving. Goal number one,...guard the financial elite. They are not here to govern the people of the country.
The new right wing is DANGEROUS,...and uniquely un-American. They will stop at nothing, undermining the well being and progress of the middle/working class.
The GOP are snakes in the grass,...looking for their chance to strike. They are hoping they can "use" Benghazi to "get a leg up",...for completely unrelated purposes.
Look out America,...you are being undermined by the new farrrrr right wing.
It's practically like a coup. They have no attention of honoring the vote of the people - or - the leadership of our DULY ELECTED PRESIDENT. We honestly may need to take PHYSICAL action against them before this term is over.
Benghazi will be used as their "excuse" to override YOUR VOTE and this election.
They will use this to divert our energies away from the real issue of the Bush tax cuts and the fiscal cliff,...which is largely a problem being created by their non-stop 100% obstructionism.
We need to fight these guys (the combative GOP leaders) with EVERYTHING we've got.
Remember what the GOP does in this time during next election.
ALERT ALERT ALERT.
What the GOP/RNC is doing in 2012 was 'conspired' on Janruary 20, 2009. Hey America! Have you read the book by Robert Draper yet? It is entitled. "Do Not Ask What Good We Do." It is a must read my fellow citizens. Progressive Think Tanks are not shocked at all of what the GOP/RNC are doing. The "Fourteen GOP Felon's" are still in the Congress, and they are still keeping to their "Blood Oath." Hey! Hey! All of the Party Of NO has got to GO."
Oops guess they are not perfect like the Left.....self righteous much? How bout we keep them all honest ? I'd rather neither employee I have lies or commits crimes against anyone or anything. Im tired of being lied to,sorry I haven't been more vocal when the other Bad guys were in charge...I do not blindly follow anyone Period.
Now exactly what is it Obama's supposed to be hiding and where did they ever come up with the idea riots that broke out all over the world on the the anniversary of 9/11 and the following week were because of a anti muslim movie
I mean where on earth did that idea come from
Apparently from the White House
the party responsible for lying to the American people for months about WMD's in Iraq, about Pat Tillmans death (and then used his funeral to further their illegal war no less, against his last wishes) has the gall to pull this?!?! WOW, i have now seen the ultimate hypocrisy in my life...
Well I'm bothered that republicans keep missing the obvious. The attack could've happened under anyones watch. The question is who's idea was it to lie to the American people about why? And what was the point? For a president that seems all too interested in delaying the story until well after the election you would think he wouldn't throw Rice to the wolves with a fake story.
So, John McCain skipped the committee meeting where the CIA, NSC, State Department, etc. briefed the Senate Intelligence Committee, then goes out and shoots of his mouth, speading lies and inuendo and demanding information, while intentionally remaining ignorant of the facts since facts do not fit into the GOPOX agenda. One of the reasons the American People rejected the Republicans in the elections was that they constantly lied and misled. "We don't need no stinking facts". Facts are for Dems, the GOPOX is a fact free party of outed liars.
Gopox is that the new Bully word the left propaganda wheel spun for you? Lol, you belligerent children...go to bed without supper,so you can get used to it.And get used to it you better,because you have caused division of this Country,U perpetuated lies repeated over and over just like Obama and his media want you to,And now America will be brought to her knees,And will cause so many to starve,because a huge amount of people do not know how to be self-sufficient and have relied on Big Gov and the Promises made to them,And we just cannot sustain them the promises made by this administration will never produce,because those that contribute is barley enough to provide for those that truly are in need,so we will all suffer your ignorance.
Can we make Obama King for Life?
Thats coming as soon as he makes more people depending on the govt.
Is there anyone that was alive on Sept 11th and watched planes falling out of the sky that would not have connected the murder of 4 Americans in Libya this past Sept 11th to a terrorist attack?
Seems Obama and Hilliary both falled to answer that 3am phone call and then lied about it putting more Americans at risk across the middle east when they blamed it on a movie.
Only thing worse is 53% voting put in back in office so he can finish destroying our country.
Intelligence still does not know if the attack was triggered by the video or not. Appearently they are some who believe the attack was still because of the video in other words there would not have been an attack if the video had not provoked it.
Speculation and wild eyed accusations are not actionable intelligence obtained through investigation or sworn testimony.
So you would rather they investigate what generals are having sex than how 4 people were murdered on 9-11 in Libya.
Do you really think Romney is your savior? How can you run for President for eight years and know nothing about 99% of the people you want to lead. 'This is no country for old men' I elected someone who can relate to problems we have now, not forty years ago when they were relative to Romney!
And what problems has he solved?? He has created more . Incompetence will not solve problems. WHenever he is asked a question he denies knowledge or blames someone else.
there is'nt a politician in washington that can relate to working paycheck to paycheck.They are not paid an hourly wage and have to work 40+ hrs a week.You can't tell me that someone making 125k a year can identify with someone making 35k.Please dont spin this,I say this about ALL politicians in general.
You have no Idea what you are talking about,you don't even have the Lib talking points correct,99% of who? Half of us voted for Romney and some choosing the lessor of two Evils so to speak( I wouldn't put Romney in the Evil Category( but Im sure the Left will...Whatever)So Carolyn are you going to vote for a 5th grader next time? Because Obama has the attention span of one (sorry to all the really intelligent 5th graders that do their homework and listen to their teachers and parents those that advise)He has lied to stay out of trouble and hid things till it would sute him to leak it out then play like ...no big deal nothin to see,They didn't tell me,or I haven't been told anything and Im waiting for the ever long drawn out investigation.....He is the President can he not demand answers? At least give us a truthful brief from what he does know,anything truthful at this point would be just peachy.
Why cant the President just tell the truth.??? It might be a newl experience for him.
To Bobby""
Truth to republicans ...that's funny
just when i think i have seen just how far left a person can go,Feisty proves me wrong.
They (Republican Party) are angry because President Obama is going to increase the tax rate on the top 1%.
Cry babies!!! It is time that the rich share in responsibilities for the growth of our country.
wait til they get done with the rich..Then it will be everyone else's turn.
What's so disgusting about this whole thing is the way the right wing blogesphere of dis-misinformation and blatant lies has jumped on this with such glee creating the echo chamber of lies that Obama sent a gay man to Libya to get him killed ...that Ambassador Stevens was sodomized beaten and dragged through the streets and that Obama withheld protection for the Embassy for god knows what reason ..
Who is it that's lying here
and the wingers are doing a happy dance over all this ...in their pathological hate of Obama
who has 'glee' over this you fool?
To..broke """
It's pretty obvious ...
The republicans need a scandal that they can pin on the president to show the American people that they made a mistake in re-electing him, and they are trying to produce one from the embassy attack in Libya. When the barracks was blown up in Libya in 1983 and 250 marines were killed, I don't recall the republican or democratic parties trying to lay the blame on Regan. It looks like the same old republican party that tried to tie Clinton to Whitewater, and after six years of accusations, finger pointing and right out lying, they could find nothing that would stick. I thought the republican party had sunk about as low as they could go, but sorry to say that I'm wrong.
ahhhhhhhhh the party of NO again when are these jack-a--s going to learn maybe in 2 years
Not quite sure why Republicans are drawing such a distinction between whether the terrorists who carried out the attacks in Benghazi were motivated by revenge over the al Qaeda Libyan killed by drones in Afghanistan versus being motivated by the video? What difference does it make and how could anyone know definitively one way or the other, without questioning the terrorists themselves?
At what point do we start impeachment? The white house lies and lies and lies and gets away with it all. I can remember a time that Nixon was Impeached for a whole lot less...same with Clinton...What is wrong with our congress that they don't start impeachment against this president?
To Cheezy """
You sure don't remember much then ...
I almost feel bad for mccain...
Newsmax
John McCain: Torture Worked on Me
Tuesday, Nov. 29, 2005
Sen. John McCain is leading the charge against so-called "torture" techniques allegedly used by U.S. interrogators, insisting that practices like sleep deprivation and withholding medical attention are not only brutal - they simply don't work to persuade terrorist suspects to give accurate information.
Nearly forty years ago, however - when McCain was held captive in a North Vietnamese prison camp - some of the same techniques were used on him. And - as McCain has publicly admitted at least twice - the torture worked!
Demands for military information were accompanied by threats to terminate my medical treatment if I did not cooperate," he wrote.
"I thought they were bluffing and refused to provide any information beyond my name, rank and serial number, and date of birth. They knocked me around a little to force my cooperation."
The punishment finally worked, McCain said. "Eventually, I gave them my ship's name and squadron number, and confirmed that my target had been the power plant."
Recalling how he gave up military information to his interrogators, McCain said: "I regret very much having done so. The information was of no real use to the Vietnamese, but the Code of Conduct for American Prisoners of War orders us to refrain from providing any information beyond our names, rank and serial number."
The episode wasn't the only instance when McCain broke under physical pressure.
Story Continues Below
http://archive.newsmax.com/archives/ic/2005/11/29/100012.shtml
Mitch, circa 2010= Our goal is to make him a one term President> Well, repugs and tea baggers, YOU FAILED AT THAT. So, now, switch to plan B in the repug bag of tricks- Find SOMETHING- ANYTHING (they tried Fast and Furious- sorry, you failed on that one also) and move to impeach!!
I love that fact they withheld financial backing that the state dept asked for, and now they want to know why their was no security!!! wtf Its like a cop telling you to pull over, and when you do, he tickets you for stopping!!
Save this post- If the criminal running the house committee (you KNOW, and HE knows who he is) stays in power- THEY will not stop until they can make ANYTHING stick- for reference, Whitewater started as a small inquiry into some land dealings, and millions of dollars later, ALL they got was some stuff on a dress, and contrary to what the holier than thou repugs and tea baggers say- that did not rise to the level of the US HOUSE to impeach a President of the US!!!
THESE IDIOTS LEARNED NOTHING FROM THE ELECTION- THEY ACTUALLY BELIEVE THEY DIDN'T LOSE- they keep saying that the "America" public re-elected a Repug majority in the house...AS IF THAT FACT ALONE STILL MEANS "OUR WAY OR THE HIGHWAY USA!! I hope these idiots pull another budget stunt.....PLEASE.!!!! 2014 will look like a big f**king wave of BLUE across the country!! Sure, repugs in Alabama and Mississippi WILL always be safe, but AZ, TX, and a couple of other states are turning blue as we speak, and soon, all the repugs will have left is the deep core of dixie...
With the Congress unable to act on anything, Obama should issue an executive order arresting the loudmouth Republicans and charging them as enemies of the state. They could be sent to Guantanamo. Don't stop there--swing around the country and pick up Rush Limbaugh, Ann Coulter, Donald Trump and anyone who contributed to the Republican cause.
That oughta be enough to keep the Congress occupied for awhile. And while they try to sort that out, issue a few more executive orders taking care of the so-called "deficit" we're faced with.
But I'd like to know, if the Republicans can't support scholars and scientists on global warming, why should we support their accounts regarding some "deficit?"
wow,what a tall order.Do you honestly believe you have the right to eliminate the opposition that way?If you do then you are truly a nazicrat following national socialism in it's truest form.Seig Heil!!
And what about 16 trillion in debt do you not understand? if anyone should be locked away it is Obama for check fraud since he continues to write checks he can not cover.
Good people died. What happened? Why aren't the network talking heads talking about Benghazi? They never stopped talking about Bush and the National Guard.
What is there to talk about? No one knows the facts except for you Republicans that think you do.
You are incredibly naive. And don't assume everyone who isn't a leftist like you is a republican.
Who ever thought up the muslim video lie...that is who should hang...
Who ever gave the order to stand down...he/she should hang along with his/her entire family...
Who ever protected the liars should scrub floors for eternity in the toilets of America's soup kitchens...
and I'm a Democrat...
When the Islamist Militants or who ever they were, attacked the American Embassy, by any code of International law, they declared WAR on the United States and we did nothing. I recall the same situation in Tehran a few years ago where our people were held captive for almost a year. Amazing that President Carter did nothing and it happens again. How many more before we stand our ground!!! Where we have embassy personnel, we need armed MARINES there to guard and protect our people and our property against ALL enemies foreign and domestic. I recall taking that oath when I enlisted in the USCG.
I am not wishing to place any blame but I do not wish to see it happen again.
Leave it to the Republicans to act like a bunch of jackasses.