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Updated 5:20 p.m. - Senate Republicans managed to achieve their goal of blocking U.N. Ambassador Susan Rice from becoming the next secretary of state after Rice, on Thursday, withdrew her name from consideration by President Barack Obama.
MSNBC's Andrea Mitchell and NBC's David Gregory joins The Cycle to report on Ambassador Susan Rice's decision to withdraw her name from consideration for Secretary of State and what this means going forward.
Republicans were more measured in their responses to the withdrawal than they had been in their earlier criticism of Rice, whose prospective nomination had come under fire for her role in publicly explaining the Obama administration’s assessment of the Sept. 11, 2012 attacks on a U.S. consulate in Benghazi, Libya.
"I respect Ambassador Rice’s decision. President Obama has many talented people to choose from to serve as our next Secretary of State," South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham said in a statement.
Related: Rice drops out of running for secretary of state
Graham, along with Sens. John McCain, Ariz., and Kelly Ayotte, N.H., had led an effort to pre-empt Obama from naming Rice as the successor to outgoing Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
"I respect Susan Rice's decision and appreciate her commitment to public service," Ayotte said in a statement. "However, my concerns regarding the terrorist attack in Benghazi go beyond any one individual."
Rice told NBC News in an exclusive interview on Thursday that she no longer wished for Obama to consider her for the position. In a letter to the president, Rice said she feared a confirmation fight in the Senate "would be lengthy, disruptive and costly." The full interview with Rice will air tonight on Rock Center with Brian Williams at 10 p.m ET.
McCain’s office said: “Senator McCain thanks Ambassador Rice for her service to the country and wishes her well.”
U.N. envoy Susan Rice is dropping out of the running to be the next secretary of state. Brian Williams will have an exclusive interview with Rice on tonight's "Rock Center With Brian Williams" at 10p/9c.
Each of the Republicans, though, expressed continued concern about the Benghazi incident in their statements, and said they would continue their efforts to probe the matter.
Obama said he has accepted Rice's decision, hailing her as an "extraordinarily capable, patriotic, and passionate public servant." He said Rice would continue to serve as U.N. ambassador, and as a member of his national security team.
The trio of Senate Republicans had vowed to work to block Rice's nomination if Obama settled upon the United Nations ambassador as his nominee, stemming from her explanation for the Benghazi attacks. Rice had appeared on public affairs shows the weekend after the attack to assert that the assault -- which left four Americans dead, including Amb. Christopher Stevens – to assert that it was the outgrowth of a spontaneous rally to protest an American video that was offensive to Islam.
An investigation in subsequent weeks revealed that the attack in Benghazi was actually a coordinated terrorist attack, which prompted pointed questions from Republicans about why the administration had first put Rice forth to assert otherwise. Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney tried for a series of weeks to effectively tarnish Obama politically with the mixed public explanation.
McCain, Ayotte and Graham pressed the matter further after the election, winning a meeting with Rice last month amid speculation that Obama wished to name the trusted adviser to fill the top diplomatic job.
"If Sen. McCain and Sen. Graham and others want to go after somebody, they should go after me," Obama said at a press conference following his re-election to rebuff the Republican troika. "And I'm happy to have that discussion with them. But for them to go after the U.N. ambassador who had nothing to do with Benghazi, and was simply making a presentation based on intelligence that she had received, and besmirch her reputation is outrageous."
But there were indications that the critiques had started to wear on the public perceptions of Rice. In the NBC/WSJ poll released Wednesday, Rice was rated positively by 20 percent of respondents, while 24 percent of said they had a negative perception of her.
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Yeah, more anti-black anti-women bigotry from the Republicans. Let's not pretend otherwise. The GOP is always fighting against anyone not in their club. African-Americans, remember this day in 2014, 2016,...
All minorities, racial and otherwise, remember this day! The Republicans are not your friends!
When all else fails, blame Bush or racism...To blindly accuse someone of racism is racist in itself...I know you don't understand, you poor pathetic fool
The GOP did not attack Hillary Clinton, and she is Sec of State and in charge of the Benghazi consulate. Makes you wonder.
Seems to me that both SOS's under Bush were african american. Selective memory or just stupidity on your part, Mr Mudd?
McCain, Ayotte and Graham should just keep their mouths shut now. The idea that they are expressing "respect" for Rice and her career of public service is sickening. They maligned someone who has done more to ensure the security of this nation than the three of them combined (including McCain whose years as a POW were the result of a war that had nothing to do with the safety and security of the US.)
This was just gross politics at its worst because they had to come up with an excuse for how badly they and Mitt politicized Benghazi to begin with and I respect Ambassador Rice for saying, in essence, "bite me."
While I have a great respect John Mc Cain and his service to our country I think it is time for him to retire. I thank him for his service but the time has come for his retirement. Thank you Mr. Cain. As for Susan Rice I think she would make a good Secretary of State. I have heard her speak and she seems to understand the job.
Wait, are you conveying reasonable and thoughtful opinions? I'm afraid you're in the wrong room!
I do believe that you have just provided another justification for Term Limits ! No one, and I mean no one should be allowed to make public service in the legislature a career. I can not and will not be conviced that the framers of our Constitution ever envisoned what has came to pass.
Obama should now nominate so done the Republicans can heartily endorse for Secretary of State. I suggest Rush Limbaugh. Would any of them dare oppose him?
Republicans continue to disrespect our fallen in Benghazi by shamelessly using their service and sacrifice for political gain and spin style opinionated news. The rest of America has paid our respects for their service and moved on. If Mitt Romney had won, Republicans wouldn't even be talking about Benghazi anymore. My God they are so fake!
Bad precedent - get bullied out of SOS position.
Bully and hold a gun to US and world's head RE: debt limit debacle. They're looking excited to go into Round 2. Oh boy, can't wait for the Markets to roil! Who cares as long as the US GOP get their way, right??
As long as the members of Congress are immune from the outcome of their actions, you can pretty much bet they "Frankly, my dear...don't give a damn". I would imagine that most are well off if not wealthy and can manage.
Measured response............Can't wait to see their measured response after they loose the house and senate.
Republicans are a Disgrace to this country!!! Yeah, I Said It!!!!!!!!
Bottom line: McCain, Graham and Ayotte represent the ultimate scum of the earth. History will not be kind their kind of excrement.
She's a stand-up person. I guess faux news will have a big party.
Susan Rice has, unfortunately, fallen victim to the president and vice president of the Grumpy Old White Guys Club. But I guess that's what happens when these old white guys feel threatened by someone who is way smarter and more capable than they are and has, unlike them, chosen to put her country first.
A pound of coal in their stockings!!!!!
I think we can come to the conclusion that republicans and democrats can not communicate. Congress would a good example of this. I think I know why. As DNA testing becomes more sophisticated, they will find that democrats and republicans are a slightly different species. Like they did with chimpanzees and bonobos. Chimpanzees are violent, unpredictable and the males totally dominate the females – like republicans. Bonobos are calm, civilized and the males and females are more equal – like democrats. While they can cross breed, you can not put chimpanzees and bonobos together as they will fight. Just like democrats and republicans.
Republicans are primitive people. Violent and superstitious. Guns and bibles. But we must continue to drag them into the 21st century kicking and screaming as usual but it’s for their own good.
One more thing to despise Republicans for. I just hope they keep the obstruction and bitterness and hatred and contempt going. 2014 is going to be fun, and 2016 should be even better.
I doubt that the combined intelligence of this "gang of three" could come close to that of Susan Rice, but then again why should we expect them to have any respect for Ambassador Rice. When will "the people" change the old guard, its getting more than partisan...its beyond rediculous, it getting dangerous. Yeah, I'm an Ex-Republican.........seemingly now a party of old fools with whom I want no part.
McCain the War you fought in Vietnam is over.
Your were a POW for 5 years and you were maimed in the line of duty. We are aware and appreciate and we salute the sacrifice you made for the Country.
Now, go away McCain.
The Country is paying too high a price to you for your service more than 30 years ago. Many others have paid the ultimate price in Vietnam and during countless other wars that you always advocate for. Now you must retire and take with you the anger, the mean spirit and the dirty politics that has become your signature accomplishment.
Retire and let a younger, smarter person from Arizona occupy the Senate seat from the State of Arizona. You have overstayed your welcome and the price paid to you for your service in Vietman is now out of line with the value you represent, which is a negative value as of today.
As for Sen. Ayotte and Graham, let the President name any SOS but John Kerry and let them eat crow.
Another Republican Sucker Punch followed by numerous below the belt punches.
Racists anyone
Talk about Kabuki theater--- GOP fawning over John Kerry, the man they swiftboated. A lot of maneuvering to try to get a senate seat back in Mass. Won't happen.
John McCain has just sealed his legacy... forget "war hero" or "maverick", let's all just remember him as the bitterest, most sour grapes, sore loser in recent history.
Uh-oh. Frantic search is now on among Repubs, to find the NEXT Obama admin item to find fault with and bitch about. Shouldn't take 'em long, huh? They're EXPERT finger-pointers and blame-layers... except when it comes to looking at THEMSELVES. Meanwhile, Dems and progressives go about trying to run the country.
Eh... The Republi-Nos are trying to gain every inch of ground they can. They lost on the big stage.
The GOP is my great grandfathers party. And of course.. they still are. Grandpa died in 1974.
This isn't going to end until a Civil War breaks out in this Country. Its pretty bad between the Democrats and the Republicans. You can't do anything anywhere without it being Politicized. Lets get it over and done with.
I wish good people would stop buckling to the stupid repugs, they're just a bunch of bullies!
These three "Mean Girls" decided to take the Low Road.
This ain't your Fathers Republican Party anymore.
Pretty Low Class...
I have to wonder what they (the three stooges) will have to come up with next to be able to bitch about. Could their little end game be any more obvious? They want a GOP shot at Kerry's seat, and are hoping that the president is so dumb that he can't see past their little political game. I am sure they will be out there tomorrow in full support of Sen Kerry's nomination.