More so than even most of his colleagues, Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) is not a fan of doing his homework. Occasionally, this causes the far-right senator some embarrassment -- and this morning offered a classic example.
At a Senate hearing on the Benghazi attack, Johnson clearly had a political goal, hoping to use the discussion to score cheap points by focusing on the intelligence community's preliminary talking points from mid-September. For the senator, the fact that some of the early details were incorrect is still critically important. For Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Johnson's pettiness is annoying.
"With all due respect, the fact is we had four dead Americans. Was it because of a protest, or was it because of guys out for a walk one night who decided they'd go kill some Americans? What difference, at this point, does it make? It our job to figure out what happened and do everything we can to prevent it from ever happening again, senator. Now, honestly, I will do my best to answer your questions about this. The fact is that people were trying, in real time, to get to the best information."
There was some talk on the right that Clinton wanted to get out of testifying, and some Republicans even accused her of faking a serious head injury so as to avoid participating in hearings on the violence in Benghazi.
After watching the hearing this morning, it looks to me like she's more than prepared to respond to whatever the administration's critics want to throw at her.
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Does the senator look like a fool? Yes.
Does Hillary Clinton suffer a fool well? No.
Acknowledged that is was terrible to have our ambassador and his security detail killed, but why is it the Republicans find it a fair target to blame the Democrats for that incident when they take no responsibility for the *thousands* of men, women, and children (U.N. military forces and civilians) killed in Iraq and Afghanistan when, in fact, it appears nothing has been accomplished? Billions of U.S. dollars spent (with a fair share of corruption by both U.S. contractors and the government involved) and McCain and Rand Paul want to make the Benghazi incident a cause celeb? Boggles the mind.
THANK YOU, HILLARY!!! What difference indeed! Does the right really believe that it's possible to know everything that's brewing around the world? These nay-sayers need to step aside and let the grownups do their jobs.
The Republicans are quickly becoming irrelevant.
All the while pretending, desperately, not to be irrelevant. Key word here being, "desperately".
The Republican Party serves no legitimate purpose.
She still has Gaddafi 's blood on her hands as well as the four Americans and hundreds of Libyans who lost their lives over her and Petraeus' obsession to take out another leader. They should not have done that. Why would anyone praise her for excuses? We have an energy crisis and any nation that has oil, coal or natural gas is on our hit list. Wake up America. We need green energy in order to stop these BS wars.
Dee: what are you talking about? The U.S. did not take out Gaddafi; the Libyans did with the aid of NATO, primarily British and French air strikes. The Libyans want a modern, Islamic democracy on the model of Turkey. They aren't there yet, but they are working on it. Give them some time. It was not until after the War of 1812 that the U.S. was secure as an independent nation, and our democracy is still a work in progress, as the President emphasized in his inaugural address.
We do need more green energy. We do have an energy crisis and fracking won't fix it. We need wind, solar, tidal, bio-mass development, and we need to use diplomacy to deal with other nations and not threats of war. We need to invest and not just spend.
I haven't watched the Q&A with Sec. Clinton, but there are some obvious questions out there.
For one, if the investigation was still "ongoing" and the reasons for the Benghazi attack were unknown, why send Susan Rice and Jay Carney in front of the microphones to strongly push one particular narrative ( that the attack was in response to a YouTube video)?
Secondly, where in the timeline of that first week did the YouTube narrative become the "best available" explanation? On what evidence was that explanation based? What evidence can be cited that is so compelling as to cause the Obama Administration to find someone to make the circuit of Sunday talk shows to get out that YouTube story? Susan Rice was out there pushing the YouTube narrative claiming it was supported by the best available information. What was that information?
Hind site is 20/20 the problem is no one can predict the future or the events especially when there is no warning in advance of the event. So you are basically saying everyone should have known in advance that the event was going to happen. Nice try.
No, what I'm asking is for the Obama Administration to provide us with a plausible explanation for the "best evidence" that led them to push the YouTube narrative. From Petreus to the low-level operatives, no one cited the YouTube connection. What compelling evidence did the Obama Administration have that the YouTube narrative was worthy of the Sunday talkshow blitz. Nice try.
Those on the right are inordinately fond of making flim-flam demands.
What I'm asking is why was the Romney so well-prepared, and so quickly, with an attack on President Obama's handling of Benghazi? It's almost as if the Romney campaign knew the video would cause riots that could be used as cover for an attack such as occurred in Benghaz.
Of course, it being the Romney campaign, they still managed to screw it up, but...
For one, if the investigation was still "ongoing" and the reasons for the Benghazi attack were unknown, why send Susan Rice and Jay Carney in front of the microphones to strongly push one particular narrative ( that the attack was in response to a YouTube video)?
There was no 'ongoing' investigation. Within hours of the initial attack, with fighting still in progress, intelligence sources had identified the attackers as a terrorist group with ties to al Qaeda. The only thing that was 'ongoing' was an effort to hide the truth until the election was over. That is why the YouTube video lie was pushed by Rice and Carney.
Secondly, where in the timeline of that first week did the YouTube narrative become the "best available" explanation? On what evidence was that explanation based? What evidence can be cited that is so compelling as to cause the Obama Administration to find someone to make the circuit of Sunday talk shows to get out that YouTube story? Susan Rice was out there pushing the YouTube narrative claiming it was supported by the best available information. What was that information?
The truth had to be hidden until after the election. That became clear within the first few hours of the attack, when the perps were identified as a terrorist group with ties to al Qaeda. The decision to lie about the video was almost certain to have originated on the first night, before the last Americans were killed. Obama would not have gone to bed early then jetted off to campaign if he didn't have a plausible lie that would provide cover until early November.
They are making a big deal out of it right now so that she will suffer if she runs for President because of it.
If they think they are making her look bad, they are mistaken. She looked impressive to me.
Finally, somebody willing to stand up for themselves on this. Hillary Clinton ≠ Susan Rice!
Hillary, missed a golden opportunity when replying to neo-con John Mccain. He left a chance for Hilary to jump down his throat for the same thing that he was accusing her for. He said something to the effect:That ambassader Stevens was a good friend and when he was in Libia a few months before the attack that ambassador Stevens told Mccain that he needed more security. Now if a friend of mine told me as a Senator that he needed more security, I think that I would press the proper authority to respond with more security or tell me why not.
According to McCain, everyone is his friend, especially when he wants to score political points with cameras present.
What was McCain vote for more funding to the state department? If this so concerned you, Mr. McCain why didn't go visit Secretary Clinton personally and convey that message. Heck as a senator I am sure you could have gotten a phone call through or message. Seems like someone should be questioning you regarding your knowledge about this incident.
I wonder, is McCain still keeping the secret that he knows where Osama bin Laden is?
To hear John McCain playing all concerned and logical over these killings just chokes me. He provided those weapons used against us, with the aim that they would be passed along to Syrian militants! There are photos of him and John McCain in Libya making the deals and in Syria wearing robes and grinning, standing among the armed insurgents.
And now he persistently and noisily keeps inserting himself into this as some sort of judge?! I think not!!
After the shootings in Newtown there were multiple reports about who the shooter was, what his relationship to the school was, about his mother. For up to eight hours after that tragedy local law enforcement AND national media were putting out incorrect information as "facts." Are the GOP leaders of the House and Senate going to call for investigations there? If not, why not? Why do they accept that there is confusion after a tragedy on our own soil where the facts get conflated and confused despite the availability of cell phones and Facebook and every other communication tool known to man, but not after a tragedy half way around the world with sketchy communications lines and people running for their lives? I wish Ms. Clinton had thrown *THAT* at them.
The GOP was busy not commenting in any way on Newtown so as not to embarrass their NRA supporters or their NRA rating.
And now, months later, Algeria reports that according to some militants they captured from the natural gas plant raid say that some Egyptians who helped them with that raid were also involved in the Benghazi raid. This is an ongoing investigation that is going to take a long time to sort out. Johnson should be ashamed of himself.
They need to publicity, 2014 elections are coming! Quick... do something to appear important and relevant. Sort of like that joke, "quick, look busy, the boss is coming."
John McCain really needs to be put out to pasture. Such an angry bitter man.
And incompetent, too.
I love Johnson's suggestion that if the State Dept. wanted to know what was going on that they simply get on the phone, call the embassy and ask them what was happening! What a dope!
Well, isn't that how it works? Ha, ha..."we tried to call but all lines were disconnected, so we tweeted..." What a dumb remark by Johnson....
This is all about the 2016 election and trying to tarnish a roadblock in the way. AKA Mrs Clinton. It's sad and pathetic.
Hillary is a class act. Republican controlled congress refused to authorize existing money for additional security at our embassies. The GOP is only interested in scoring political points. It has no interest in preventing a slaughter of innocents.
I love Clinton but I'm afraid her answer is incoherent and, as they say, non-responsive. Johnson was asking why she didn't take a certain action to find out what had actually happened and Clinton's response seems to be a) who cares what actually happened (the important thing is that four americans were dead) and b) we were trying desperately hard to find out what actually happened (so that it wouldn't happen again). It's too bad because this should be a very satisfying moment of comeuppance giving but instead it comes across to me as her trying to shout her way out of the situation.
best tweet I've seen on this: #HillaryClinton should have answered Rand Paul with "I'm sorry, you lost me at, 'if I were President.'"-@FunnyInVegas
Yeah, I actually burst out laughing when Rand Paul deigned to pull rank and scold Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
I have tried to resist this but could no longer after this mornings Senate hearing on Benghazi. Here is a copy of the letter I just sent to Senator John McCain...
Senator McCain....
As a fellow Vietnam Vet, who can relate to the trials you went through back then, I have always been a deep admirer of you and your service to this fine country of ours. However, I regret that I felt compelled, especially after viewing the questioning of Hillary Clinton earlier this morning, to pass on to you how, after all these years of being one of your most staunch supporters, even during your worst times, I must let you go as someone I look up to.
I do not know what has occurred, in your life or your public service career (possibly it was just your unsuccessful presidential campaign), but you no longer appear to be the fair-minded, thoughtful, leader you always demonstrated so well prior to your running for President I have kept telling myself, after witnessing your positions on issue after issue in the past several years, even after your seemingly totally political position recently on Susan Rice, to be patient, that you will surely show your old clear-thinking leadership. But, after this morning it became only too obvious that you have no intention to go back to being "the most bi-partisan" member of the U.S. Senate.
While I will continue to wish the best for you and your family, I am returning my ticket on the "Straight Talk Express"
Dick Brumley, Adelanto, Ca
I could not resist this after the hearing this morning. Here is a copy letter I just sent to Senator John McCain...
Senator McCain....
As a fellow Vietnam Vet, who can relate to the trials you went through back then, I have always been a deep admirer of you and your service to this fine country of ours. However, I regret that I felt compelled, especially after viewing the questioning of Hillary Clinton earlier this morning, to pass on to you how, after all these years of being one of your most staunch supporters, even during your worst times, I must let you go as someone I look up to.
I do not know what has occurred, in your life or your public service career (possibly it was just your unsuccessful presidential campaign), but you no longer appear to be the fair-minded, thoughtful, leader you always demonstrated so well prior to your running for President I have kept telling myself, after witnessing your positions on issue after issue in the past several years, even after your seemingly totally political position recently on Susan Rice, to be patient, that you will surely show your old clear-thinking leadership. But, after this morning it became only too obvious that you have no intention to go back to being "the most bi-partisan" member of the U.S. Senate.
While I will continue to wish the best for you and your family, I am returning my ticket on the "Straight Talk Express"
I thought Hillary was a real champ. Some of the dumb Questions that were ask trying to get her to lose it ..She just said back of my hand to you. I'm not sure why McCain said he was personally told by Stephenson he needed more security. Cause if that were true why didn't he talk to Hillary himself or better yet the house and tell them to release the tight hold on the money.. I blame him as much as anyone.. I'm not sure what Rand Paul was up to but i think he showed the true colors of Republicans... Down rite dirty!!! Did he ask a question or attack her..
I'm surprised Steve Benen would actually post this particular video. It should be fairly obvious from Sec. Clinton's very demeanor that she is dissembling and avoiding the Senator's question. This exchange does not make her look good.
Benen highlights Clinton telling us it doesn't matter what happened -- but that "our job" is to find out what happened.
The Senator's original question was simply to ask why it seemed so difficult to find out what the circumstances were at the beginning of the incident.
Classic troll misrepresentation.
To which we are treated the classic response!
Yes, I gave the correct response to your worthless misrepresentation.
So let me ask this where were these guys that are grilling Clinton when Bush started a war on LIES of WOMD's in Irag! Lets see over 3000 us soldiers and over 33k wounded soldiers where were these jerks then!
All I have to say is "Give 'em hell, Hillary!"...Truman would be proud of her...
and to think they thought that she was faking a concussion because she didn't want to testify?
Seems like her attitude is "bring it on!"
Good for Secretary Of State Clinton. Senator Johnson simply comes off as a fool---and well deserves to.