Looking back at the tragic and deadly attack on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi last fall, we know quite a bit about what happened. We also know, thanks to an independent investigation, that "Republican charges of a cover-up" were "pure fiction."
But as Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) argued yesterday, he can't be bothered with facts -- he has a partisan vendetta to pursue.
For those who can't watch clips online, "Meet the Press" host David Gregory pressed the Republican senator on the unsubstantiated charge that the Obama administration has engaged in a "massive cover-up." Gregory asked a simple question: "A cover-up of what?"
McCain, just a few days after explaining how important it is not to be "disagreeable," became unusually belligerent, asking the host whether he cares about the deaths of four Americans.
Gregory tried to get an answer anyway, responding, "You said there is a cover-up. A cover-up of what?" McCain, unable to think of anything substantive, said, "Of the information concerning the deaths of four brave Americans."
Even for McCain, whose capacity has deteriorated sharply in recent years, this was a pathetic display.
Remember, McCain has had several months to think about this. He's sat through classified and unclassified briefings. He's participated in a series of congressional hearings. He's (presumably) read the results of independent investigations, and had his own questions answered, verbally and in writing.
And yet after all of this, McCain is not only ignorant of the basics, he doesn't understand his own conspiracy theory. The senator, after pondering the issue since September, still believes there's an elaborate "cover-up," but doesn't know why he thinks this.
The exchange on "Meet the Press" wasn't awkward; it wasn't bizarre; it was alarming.
This was the point at which it might have dawned on everyone watching, including journalists who still consider the senator an credible on foreign policy and national security, "Good lord, John McCain has no idea what he's talking about."
I hate to be a stickler for such things, but as a rule, when the ranking member on the Senate Armed Services Committee accuses the White House on national television of orchestrating a cover-up as part of a terrorist attack, it's not too much to ask that the senator have some idea what he's talking about.
But in this case, McCain is simply lost in a fog of his own partisan rage. At this point, the man doesn't understand what he doesn't understand, and worse, he just doesn't care. McCain no longer thinks it matters that he can't back up his accusations; he simply wants to keep making them. And if you press him for details he should understand, the increasingly unhinged senator will suggest you're indifferent to the deaths of Americans at terrorists' hands.
Why? Because he's John McCain.
Incidentally, this was McCain's fourth Sunday show appearance of the new year -- that's four appearances in seven weeks -- which suggests he'll have another opportunity to answer similar questions in a national setting very soon.
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This unending cry of "Fire! Wolf!" is about two things: 1) Creating a scandal that will hobble the President in regard, and, 2) Creating a scandal that will be resurrected when Hillary Clinton runs for President in 2016.
Neither will be successful, b/c, 1) there is no scandal, and, 2) the country (outside of the FoxNewsBubble, which is the majority of the nation) does not care.
The other man to resisted the surge, by not allowing enough forces to fight a war modeled after the first war. 'Trying to get it right the second time and failing both times.'
Rumsfeld stepping down, President taps ex-CIA chief Gates to replace embattled defense secretary, NBC, msnbc.com and news servicesm updated 11/8/2006 5:39:50 PM ET
http://www.nbcnews.com/id/15622266/
The GOP obsession with Benghazi is becoming akin to the birther movement.
Hannity has been nurturing that "Benghazi cover-up" crappola with all his energy, ever since it happened. It's all he can think about.
Hannity and Faux entertainment main objective is to stir up the rabid right wing nut jobs and maximize ratings. It didn't work. Faux has fallen big time !
Agree.
I must tell you as a Vietnam vet suffering from PTSD, I am seeing some of the unmistakable signs of PTSD in Sen. McCain. As a former POW who suffered terribly at the hands of his captors McCain having PTSD is not surprising. I can't say with authority that his PTSD is the only reason for him acting the way he is. I can only tell you through experience I know this is one of the ways it manifests itself.
There's no doubt McCain is a sorry sight reaching fruitlessly for credibility and relevance...taken cumulatively, his comments yesterday suggest the so-called 'cover-up' he believes occurred is the attempt by the WH to downplay Benghazi in the run-up to the election for political purposes. Acknowledging a terrorist strike after repeatedly asserting Al Qaeda had been dismantled is something Obama wanted to avoid, according to McCain, the 'cover-up' is of the political handling and reporting on the matter. Has absolutely nothing to do with national security...pretty sad display by an angry, useless old man.
There is more afoot than being old, bitter and angry. I think there is a health issue involved more likely the onset of dementia. He is a loose cannon and mentally unable to process information or for that matter articulate intelligently. Can you imagine holding up Hagel (a fellow republican) confirmation simply because he said Bush was the worse president ever? Yes, that is what McCain spoke - out of his own mouth. This behavior is expected of children not adults ,especially not a leader.
It is time for John to retire, play golf, raise horses or take a long excursion before the decline of his mental acuity will cause further concern and public embarrassment - he will be forced into retirement......which is not a bad idea!
Senator McCain... I’m concern about the 1,500 to 1 killed in Iraq as compared to Libya… Where's the outrage regarding the worse military blunder "action" in this nation’s history (e.g. 5,000 killed, over 30,000 wounded and hundreds of billions wasted) and not to mention we destroyed a sovereign nation. Remember the faulty intelligence nonsense!! Senator McCain, start Congressional Hearings on holding the people responsible for causing this “COVERUP”…
he should be taken to a home and told he is the president of the home.
McCain has had a reputation for nastiness for decades, now his belligerence has degenerated into a pathological rage. Someone should take his family aside and ask them to get the man some help. He's beginning to demonstrate some of the classic symptoms of senile dementia and/or Alzheimer's.
McCain is still calling for answers that have been given but he refuses to listen to them. Remember the press conference he gave while he missed a secure briefing on Benghazi? I think he can't believe that anyone except himself, certainly not President Obama and his team, could possibly be competent to deal with threats to the US and no evidence to the contrary will shake that belief.
I'm not sure why the article treats McCain's refusal-and/or-inability to substantiate his claim of a "cover up" as if it were somehow remarkable.
I mean, aren't we used to this by now? Don't they all do it? Republicans vacated the reality-based community for good and all sometime in the Bush administration, and have been living in a facts-optional, often counterfactual, world ever since. They see a political hit to be scored, they take the shot, knowing that their base will believe anything they tell them about the current administration, so long as it is negative. No need for evidence, or even to get their story straight.
"Substantiation? We don't need no stinkin' substantiation!"
McCain is showing signs of more than just PTSD, or "diminished capacity." IMO, he's getting senile. Notice how he talks through clinched teeth, with anger in his voice, and never smiles or laughs. His actions during the cabinet approval sessions prove that. He's a bitter old man, and needs to retire.
Suzette, Scarborough is unwatchable. He's a big blowhard and doesn't allow much intelligent conversation on his program at this point.
On topic, though, McCain is clearly talking BS these days. His opposition to Hegel was purely personal, which he stated in a rare moment of candor. His opposition to Obama is purely personal as anything he says on the topic exposes once scrutinized.
Why does anyone listen to this idiot and why is he still hold office?
It gets tedious shoveling sh.. when you are standing under an elephant's butt.
How does Mr Mcain feel about the thousands killed in Vietnam and Iraq in wars that were wrong and we were lied into? How about those thousands killed and still being killed,for what?
John is showing some signs of dementia and I don't know why MSNBC has him on so much.What is the point?
I always thought McCain got a raw deal from his own party in 2000, when they accused him of being too mentally unstable to be President. Now, in hindsight, maybe they were right.
"Bitter old man." I've used the same epithet, but I'm beginning to think that just the word "bitter" is all that's needed to describe John McCain. I'm an old man :-)
He has been left behind, though he got much further than he should have. McCain was a legacy admission to Annaplois - two very senior flag ranks in the family - and, an ordinary man with his abilities and personality, likely would have gotten no further than LCDR before being passed over twice - a career ender. Crashing in North Vietnam kept him on the list long enough to make Captain.
Sad. John would have done well as a board member of a golf course.
Sadly he still looks and sound like a very angry and bitter old man!!! He sure needs to work on some serious meditation techniques because he's too old to be holding on to so much hatred!!! McCain do yourself a favor and retire!!! Life is so beautiful....get out and mow your lawn and get your hands dirty doing some real human work! Now that's a good start right there!!!
It seems that Senator McCain wants President Obama to admit that the administration knew from the start that the attack was a terrorist attack because if you listen to the end of the segment above, McCain says that the administration was touting the inefficacy of Al Qaeda. I could certainly be wrong, but if true, it seems an odd thing to bring up at this point and not much of a cover up; but then, the Republicans are doing a lot of politically odd things these days.
"Meet the Press" has become the John McCain Show - the show has lost its credibility - I liked David Gregory when he was a guest on MSNBC shows but he doesn't have enough push back when his questions are not answered which seems to be very often. The show has become an open mic for McCain
McCain may actually be suffering from a medical condition if he keeps this bit of crazy up. This mental disconnect of his is bordering on delusional. If someone is following a vendetta against others politically then they usually have thought out lies to tell about the person that would be vague enough to stick. But in this case, McCain is totally inept. As a long time senator I would expect a bit more song and dance to this complaint of his. But it's like the senator is "broke".
unusually belligerent?
Do you know John McCain?
This is par for the course.
Has it occurred to anyone that Senator McCain my be suffering from a biologically based cognitive decline? He's an elderly guy who has suffered the traumas of war, in his case including torture and imprisonment. These days when I hear what the guy has to say I end up thinking the Senator is truly unwell. It's a pity he is still in a position of power and influence.