Posted on 10/20/2012 9:14:53 PM PDT by zencycler
Obama thought he was being clever trapping Mitt with his "act of terror" ploy, and critics piled on Romney for missing his opportunity to nail Obama on his poor response in the aftermath of the Benghazi attacks.
But actually, it's Obama who missed the opportunity. Obama needed to come up with a coherent defense, even a dubious one, which could plausibly explain his and his administration's statements on Benghazi. That should have been part of his "debate prep", and he and his staff should have taken the time to think up some substantive response.
But instead, he opted for a shortcut based on a semantic ploy. He proclaimed that the words "no acts of terror", which he spoke on Sept 12th (and whom most thought referred to 9/11/2001 at the time) was how he described the attacks on Benghazi.
It won't pay to fight this battle on his turf - semantics - because they are his words, and he'll be able to control the argument better regarding what he meant when he said it. I think Obama's confidence on this issue stems from his expectation that this is the battle he'll need to fight.
Don't bet on it. The battle that's coming, which he'll be sure to lose, is for him to now explain, if he knew it was terrorism on Sept 12th, how can he possibly defend all of the conflicting, apologetic, video-denouncing, video-blaiming, and Islam-honoring statements which followed!
His only defense of these statements would have been that there was an early belief that the video played a role in these attacks, followed by some confusion and and ongoing concern that the video would spark protests elsewhere.
The only real issue, which could be proved, was sloppy communication and confusion. Obama missed the opportunity to own up to this problem, and give a substantive response which would have put this issue to rest.
Instead, he made his problem worse. By saying he knew the attacks were an "act of terror" on Sept 12th, everything that followed is no longer just mere confusion. Now, all the conflicting, apologetic, video-denouncing, video-blaiming, and Islam-honoring statements which followed can justly be portrayed as being politically motivated, misleading, and dishonest.
Mr. President, our embassy was attacked on the anniversary of Sept 11th, you now admit you know it was an "act of terror" on Sept 12th, and yet you and others in your administion spent the next two weeks blaming a video, apologizing for a video and confusing everyone about what really happened.
I can't see anyway Obama can now defend against this.
Great points.
Monday night is going to be VERRRY interesting.
They must be boiling pots of coffee at Team Obama headquarters, even at this very moment.
And exactly how were all these people to have seen this video? I certainly didn’t notice it being advertised on the marque of any of their hundreds of theaters, did not see it advertised on any of their news channels-and I am sure everyone in all these countries have a wide screen colored TV-, I didn’t see it downloaded on anyone’s free government iPhone nor did I see it playing on the screen of anyone’s computer, although I am sure all these people have at least one in each of their homes.
You would think that with all the copies of this DVD the producer of the video obviously sold, he would have had enough money to flee the US instead of hiding out and be arrested. /s/
obama’s pick-and-choose no rhyme no reason “Arab Spring” thing has backfired, big time.
He should have backed the Iranian uprising; he didn’t.
Libya was, like Egypt a country reasonably stable and playing by international rules.
When Khaddafi was killed it fell apart. There is no government, to speak of in charge, let alone controlling Benghazzi (sp) which is now a muslim activist/terrorist beachhead.
This contradicts obama’s narrative; hence the cover-up.
Obama’s failure chickens are roosting right in time for his total invalidation as the leader of the free world.
Only about 30% of us caught that, in 2008.
Not much we can do, save exhort and prepare.
Great read that should be sent to the Romney campaign if anybody has connections.
MOVE OVER, Karl Rove & let zencycler sit down in front of that hurricane making machine!
Romney was starting to make that point (admin. blaming the video for >10 days even though they knew it was organized terrorism) before Cowley cut off debate on that important question.
There is no way to suitably explain months of rejecting requests FROM EVERYONE WHO KNEW ANYTHING for more security. There is no way to explain actually REDUCING security in Libya in the face of these experts begging for help.
This finishes him.
I don’t think there was anything he could do or say. This was a screw-up of monumental proportions which took months to precipitate. Once the hook bites there is no shaking it.
He wisely stopped talking, reviewed everything he knew, and knew something was afoot. Not knowing exactly what was going on, but knowing that it made no sense, it was wise to just 'do nothing.'
In hindsight it's easy to say he should have pushed on ... but watching the debate with 3 libs ... I just thought 'huh? what the hell is this?' I didn't argue because I couldn't make sense of it - and yet it was too much to expect that they weren't quoting something real.
Romney was baffled - as I was - as he should have been - it made no sense and of course now we understand why. But best not to act when baffled.
Candy only knew about this because Axelrod in a previous interview 'caught' her on the same point. Extremely cheap and disengenuous. That Obama knew she had the transcript is proof it was a premeditated word-game. I think the US - even moderate dems - will have a tough time accepting any candidate out of Chicago for a long long time.
0bama lied. Then he lied and he lied and then he lied some more.
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For weeks now I have thought that the denial of requests for security were a dereliction of duty. I consider the lies and misdirection about the "video" after the attack to be fraud and malfeasance under the color of authority. I don't consider the inaction during the attack to be any of those.
IMO the failure to act during the attack is the direct equivalent of desertion.
ONE MAN had the authority to act that night.
ONE MAN deserted his post!
Agreed.
Even conservative commentators said that Obama’s “Proceed, Governor” comment was an attempt to bounce attention away from Obama. Not at all.
“Proceed Governor” was “keep walking Romney, please keep talking, no need to discuss with me, we’ve got the trap laid, I know exactly what’s about to happen, keep talking.”
... few seconds later “Candy! Get the transcript!!!!” then “Candy !!! Say that a little louder!!” ... then applause.
I don’t even wish this guy on Iran.
Romney is smart. It was a well laid trap and he spotted it and stopped short.
Excellent job. Excellent thinking.
Fixed it for you.
OK. In fairness to Obama, I am disturbed that I see a growing number of people saying he has a failed foreign policy. This is not true. He has no foreign policy. His laser like focus is on jobs. He and his administration will not rest until there are no jobs. Please be honest. Thank you.
When Romney says tommorrow Night that Mr. President you said last week you were offended that someone would Suggest you would Mislead the American People about an Ambassador being Killed,These are your people ,you send them into Dangerous areas,WELL,YOU,The Secretary of State,Your UN Ambassador,In appearance after appearance Stated That The Intelligence you had at the time,said this was caused by a Video. Mr.President the “Sensitve Documents”sent by Ambassador Stevens Himself,and there were several,was begging for additonal security.He stated that Islamic Extremism was on the Rise,Alqueda Flags were flying over Government Buildings,the Attacks on the American Red Cross,the British Ambassador were by Islamist extremists,and was going to get worse unless more security was sent.
Now Mr. President,neither you,Hillary Clinton,or UN ambassador Susan Rice mentioned Islamic Extremism,Alqueda at all as being involved in any of these actions on Television or the speech in the Rose Garden or any of the Comedy or talk shows. This is your problem Mr. President Your Ideology,you refuse to Identify who it is who are trying to kill us,you are purging from all Government Corresponce any mention of Islamist extremism,your Campaign until the Murder of ambassador Stevens was claiming that Alqueda was on its Heels,now you drop that from your speeches. Yes Mr. President you have Mislead the American People,your Ideology Prevents you from admitting who it is we are Fighting and the American People Are entitled to Know the truth and to Have a President who has the Courage to Tell it to them
The six hours of watching the attack live will be The Disaster’s death knell.
This is the most outrageous thing I have ever heard of for a leader.
There is nothing he can say that will excuse the six hours of non-action when they were watching the attack live. Not one thing.
Hammering The Disaster will be the easiest thing Romney has ever done. The bubble has popped.
Eactly, I think the lawyer in Romney alerted him to something going on between Obama and Candy Crowley and he knew better than to fall into some sort of trap.
Obama didn’t miss an opportunity to put this away because there is no excuse for either Obama’s actions or his inaction concerning the Benghazi attack. The State Dept watched the whole attack in real time from cameras inside the Benghazi compound. They watched and did nothing.
A poster on the WSJ comment board, said that they could have had a rapid response team in Benghazi within a half hour, 10 minutes to get ready and get the planes in the air and 20 minutes flight time, from an air base in Southern Italy, 450 miles away. The poster gave all the numbers and flight speeds, but I don’t remember that part.
Instead, Obama and his people allowed the attack to go on for 6 hours.
It's beyond my comprehension. Undoubtedly he was being given options and being urgently reminded that the decision to act was his sole authority.
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