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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I am now beginning to wonder if there is a Senate mechanism that can recognize the diminished capabilities of what was once a thoughtful man but has now devolved into a nonsensical man who has earned his retirement and should immediately remove himself. Just imagine if he had won the election...OMG!!!
John McCain: "Please David, help us perpetuate this lie.."
David Gregory: "How can I help, you don't have anything..."
John McCain: "That doesn't matter.. We can just pretend stuff..."
David Gregory: "I don't think so John.."
John McCain: "Well I am still not voting for Hagel because he isn't qualified.. I should be in there dammit.. Don't you understand we need to be fighting in Syria.. We need to be fighting in Iran.. We need to be fighting dammit, we are Americans and we are supposed to be fighting..."
David Gregory: "Um we'll be right back, apparently John is taking a nap..."
Those who believe it is a cover up apparently do not know the definition of a cover up.... A cover up is when someone tries to hide something so you do not find out about it happening.. That isn't the case - nothing was hidden.. The worst case scenario was misinformation but Ambassador Rice clearly stated in all the media transcripts that this was the earliest information they had and that things could change when more information came in...
Why in the hell do serious journalists (Gregory et al?) keep this pitiful, confused, angry old man on the air constantly? All the networks. He is a senile media whore AND what is worse is that the networks keep booking him. Explain that!
I think the senior Senator from Arizona deserves answers to his questions. Why not! Those honorable people, their families and we Americans deserve the truth. At least he's committed to his job and not brushing government shot comings under the carpet.
I use to respect Mr. McCain's opinion, but as of late he is getting off ...
Bitter, partisan rage? Yep, and as I recall, the Republicans felt the same way about Pres Clinton as well. Unfortunately, with the incredible gerrymandering of the House districts and the filibuster threat in the Senate, the minority party, which is what the Republicans are destined to be popularly, can tie up the nation''s business forever with their partisan rage. It is certainly something the Framers never anticipated.
I can't even imagine where we would be if he had won his bid for presidency!
McCain has driven off the cliff and completely lost his mind. Where was this old man when two planes struck the Twin Towers killing 3,000 plus American citizens and others? Where has he been about finding out why we felt a need to invade Iraq instead of going after those who perpetrated the attack in New York, Washington, D.C. and in our skies? Why is Benghazzi so important to this old man? He has tried to sully the characters of the President, of Hillary Clinton and Susan Rice, but he gave a pass to the Bush administration - perpetrators of the biggest hoax on the American people - Weapons of Mass Destruction my A— _!!
Is this a sign of Alzheimer's? Reagan had it while in office.
You sheep don't get do you. There was without a doubt a cover up. Seven hour fire fight with no help what so ever, two generals fired. With some simple web searching you could find out that there were many different options to send in to help them. SOMEONE decided not to help them and let them die. Seven Hours you can't say or there was no way to send help when you can put a drone overhead to see what was going on. John McCain. is not the problem. YOU are the problem for not demanding an answer. BUT IF IT WAS YOUR FAMILY YOU WOULD WANT AN ANSWER, BUT WAIT IT'S NOT IS IT. Keep following along little sheep.
What with that big @!$%#ing tumor on his face!
4,486 dead American troops from the Iraq war. 4,486. (More than four.)
Pure fiction? I would still like to know why the Obama administration spent $75,000.00 in taxpayer money on making a commercial, with Clinton and Obama, and airing it in Pakistan apologizing for that stupid video that had nothing to do with this attack. You media geniuses should think about maybe asking that question instead of writing these ignorant opinion pieces.
Man this is one goofy bunch on this site.
I love how there are so many negative opinions when not one has walked in John McCain's shoes. He asked a great question when he asked...do you care that American's lost their lives in Benghazi... if they were your family then would you not want answers? Do you care? I hope no one here ever has diminished capacity...heaven's no...such an awful thing to get old, right?
Where was John McCain on:
January 22, 2002: US Consulate at Kolkata, 5 Killed.
June 14, 2002: US Consulate at Karachi, 12 Killed.
February 28, 2003: US Consulate at Islamabad, 2 Killed.
June 30, 2004: US Consulate at Tashkent, 2 Killed.
December 6, 2004: US Consulate at Saudi Arabia, 9 Killed.
March 2, 2006: US Consulate at Karachi, 2 Killed.
September 12, 2006: US Consulate at Syria, 4 Killed.
March 18, 2008: US Consulate at Yemen, 2 Killed.
July 9, 2008: US Consulate at Istanbul, 6 Killed.
September 17, 2008: US Consulate at Yemen, 16 Killed.
Total Deaths 60.
Outraged Republicans 0.
McCain, like many from the Tea Party/GOP, are suffering from P.D.D.S., (Post Defeat Derangement Syndrome).
That's "pretty" (Rachel, NOT!) funny, considering it was Gregory who looked to be blowing the "partisan fog"!
Other than RobDon & Chuck, there has been very little discussion of issues. If a Republican president had systematically withheld information as Obama does routinely, you witty little name-callers would spout your venom like geysers. "Cover up of information" is a substantive answer to Gregory's question. Gregory just didn't want to continue the discussion in that vein, and neither do you witty little name-callers. All that is needed to put Benghazi in context is a look at a calendar in relation to the presidential election, then compare the actual occurrences to Obams's campaign rhetoric.
I really used to like McCain the maverick, but he has lost it and has become senile. I lost all confidence in McCain when Sarah Palin was accepted as a VP candidate.
Retire John!
McCain is clueless. Not only did he almost get whipped for his "bad judgement" in the Keating investigations years ago, ...when I asked him in town hall meeting that he ran during his last run for the Senate...what he he was going to do about the corruption on Wall Street?? His response was bashing OBama's regulations, and that there was no corruption on WAll Street. McCain and Flake are both party pundits. McCain used to be a bit more moderate, but these days all he wants to talk about are Wars. Doesn't anyone remember when he was trying to run for President in the debates he claimed that he didn't know that much about economics? He doesnt' know that much about anything. His war hero days are quickly coming to an end, and he is still trying to send more young men to their deaths,...even if the war is a bogus hoax like Iraq!
I think McCain is going round the bend. His remarks lately plus his questioning? of Hagel were nutso. Maybe time to retire?
I wouldn't have clicked on this link had I realized whose blog it took me to. Ugh, Rachel Maddow, you're just a biased b*tch. Waste. Of. Time.
"...Even for McCain, whose capacity has deteriorated sharply in recent years, this was a pathetic display."
It takes a certain brand of sleaze to make these kinds of back-handed, vicious attacks. Only MSNBC is up to that level of sleaze. I will take John McCain's capacity over the collective capacity of every single person associated with your network - ANY DAY!
I would like to know why our people were not defended. Why the White House stood by watching the attack take place real-time and did nothing. I want to know why the White House did not stand up like men and tell the truth, instead of allowing the publid believe the attack was due to a crappy home-made film. Obama is the worst president since Hoover by far. He is now completely impotent leaving his own self as an empty suit for any bandwagonist demagoguery group to wear. Diane Feinstein wears the Presidential Suit at the moment, a convenient diversion fast becoming a nagging irritation.