McCain Backs Away From Benghazi Conspiracies

[Lakhota]

By Hamed Aleaziz

Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) today issued a statement essentially conceding that he was wrong in accusing the White House of changing U.N. Ambassador Susan Rice’s talking points on Benghazi for political purposes.

Former CIA Director David Petraeus told lawmakers last week that the CIA’s assessment that al Qaeda was responsible for the Sept. 11 attack that killed four Americans in Benghazi was taken out of Rice’s talking points after an interagency review. McCain and his allies then claimed the White House took out the talking points because it supposedly undercut the Obama administration’s narrative that it had severely weakened al Qaeda.

But Intelligence officials told CNN yesterday that the intelligence community was responsible for the changes made to Rice’s talking points. The Director of National Intelligence spokesperson said that the White House did not make any “substantive changes.”

McCain responded today and instead of taking issue with the substance of the report, the Arizona Republican wondered why administration and intelligence officials didn’t offer this information in closed door sessions:

More: McCain Backs Away From Benghazi Conspiracies | ThinkProgress

GOP's Benghazi Conspiracy Falls Apart: White House Didn't Change Susan Rice's Talking Points | ThinkProgress

Official: Changes to Benghazi talking points made by intel community – CNN Security Clearance - CNN.com Blogs

 

[Sallow]

Maybe if he was at the meetings..

 

[Lakhota]

Yeah, the meeting he skipped and then got pissed off when asked about skipping it.

 

[Lakhota]

Furious that Obama paid no electoral price for Benghazi, Republicans are threatening to filibuster his presumed secretary of state nominee, Susan Rice, as a scapegoat. Michael Tomasky on the real scandal.

The GOP’s Absurd Attack on Susan Rice Over Benghazi

 

[Mustang]

By Hamed Aleaziz

Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) today issued a statement essentially conceding that he was wrong in accusing the White House of changing U.N. Ambassador Susan Rice’s talking points on Benghazi for political purposes.

Former CIA Director David Petraeus told lawmakers last week that the CIA’s assessment that al Qaeda was responsible for the Sept. 11 attack that killed four Americans in Benghazi was taken out of Rice’s talking points after an interagency review. McCain and his allies then claimed the White House took out the talking points because it supposedly undercut the Obama administration’s narrative that it had severely weakened al Qaeda.

But Intelligence officials told CNN yesterday that the intelligence community was responsible for the changes made to Rice’s talking points. The Director of National Intelligence spokesperson said that the White House did not make any “substantive changes.”

McCain responded today and instead of taking issue with the substance of the report, the Arizona Republican wondered why administration and intelligence officials didn’t offer this information in closed door sessions:

More: McCain Backs Away From Benghazi Conspiracies | ThinkProgress

GOP's Benghazi Conspiracy Falls Apart: White House Didn't Change Susan Rice's Talking Points | ThinkProgress

Official: Changes to Benghazi talking points made by intel community – CNN Security Clearance - CNN.com Blogs

This is a Rick Perry...or Emily Litella moment.

 

[tinydancer]

So the left wing nutbars are out in full force.

They only begged for 7 hours for help.

 

[Lakhota]

John McCain: Stand-Up Guy or Total Jerk? | Mother Jones

 

[Chris]

So the left wing nutbars are out in full force.

They only begged for 7 hours for help.

I think you just described yourself.

 

[tinydancer]

Maybe if he was at the meetings..

You know what's cold?

Can you imagine watching your people coming under fire? Going to sleep so you can look good for Vegas?

Obama. Cold. He let them die.

 

[Lakhota]

But a November 16 Times article Dowd cites earlier in her column reports that while the talking points drafted by the CIA were edited to remove references to specific terrorist groups, according to Democrats present during former CIA director David Petraeus' closed hearing last week, Petraeus denied that those changes were made for political reasons (emphasis added):

Some intelligence analysts worried, for instance, that identifying the groups could reveal that American spy services were eavesdropping on the militants -- a fact most insurgents are already aware of. Justice Department lawyers expressed concern about jeopardizing the F.B.I.'s criminal inquiry in the attacks. Other officials voiced concern that making the names public, at least right away, would create a circular reporting loop and hamper efforts to trail the militants.

Democrats said Mr. Petraeus made it clear the change had not been done for political reasons to aid Mr. Obama. "The general was adamant there was no politicization of the process, no White House interference or political agenda," said Representative Adam B. Schiff, Democrat of California.​

More: NY Times' Maureen Dowd Defies Her Paper's Reporting To Attack Susan Rice Over Benghazi | Blog | Media Matters for America

 

[tinydancer]

So the left wing nutbars are out in full force.

They only begged for 7 hours for help.

I think you just described yourself.

These men begged for help. One hour away. You let them die you pig just like your President.

I know exactly where the air force base in Italy is.

 

[Luddly Neddite]

Maybe if he was at the meetings..

You know what's cold?

Can you imagine watching your people coming under fire? Going to sleep so you can look good for Vegas?

Obama. Cold. He let them die.

Bull shit.

I get so sick of the constant rw lies. Especially since the other rw's just line up to agree that its fact. Not a fucking clue among you.

 

[tinydancer]

But a November 16 Times article Dowd cites earlier in her column reports that while the talking points drafted by the CIA were edited to remove references to specific terrorist groups, according to Democrats present during former CIA director David Petraeus' closed hearing last week, Petraeus denied that those changes were made for political reasons (emphasis added):

Some intelligence analysts worried, for instance, that identifying the groups could reveal that American spy services were eavesdropping on the militants -- a fact most insurgents are already aware of. Justice Department lawyers expressed concern about jeopardizing the F.B.I.'s criminal inquiry in the attacks. Other officials voiced concern that making the names public, at least right away, would create a circular reporting loop and hamper efforts to trail the militants.

Democrats said Mr. Petraeus made it clear the change had not been done for political reasons to aid Mr. Obama. "The general was adamant there was no politicization of the process, no White House interference or political agenda," said Representative Adam B. Schiff, Democrat of California.​

More: NY Times' Maureen Dowd Defies Her Paper's Reporting To Attack Susan Rice Over Benghazi | Blog | Media Matters for America

Maureen Dowd? Surely you jest.

 

[Annie]

Yeah, the meeting he skipped and then got pissed off when asked about skipping it.

Well except for the fact that the Clapper statement was today. Speaking of talking points...

 

[Luddly Neddite]

Something that so many of the GObP/pubs have in common is that they're own states stop voting for them. You know, like romney/ryan. That's the way it is with McCain. A lot of Arizonans despise him because he does not work for the people.

Like Chris Christie going against his party when he needed help with the sandy damage and the party was playing politics.

McCain plays politics. Period. Screw the constituents. Its always party first for him.

And, at his age and with his (daddy's and wife's) money, he really doesn't care.

 

[Luddly Neddite]

But a November 16 Times article Dowd cites earlier in her column reports that while the talking points drafted by the CIA were edited to remove references to specific terrorist groups, according to Democrats present during former CIA director David Petraeus' closed hearing last week, Petraeus denied that those changes were made for political reasons (emphasis added):

Some intelligence analysts worried, for instance, that identifying the groups could reveal that American spy services were eavesdropping on the militants -- a fact most insurgents are already aware of. Justice Department lawyers expressed concern about jeopardizing the F.B.I.'s criminal inquiry in the attacks. Other officials voiced concern that making the names public, at least right away, would create a circular reporting loop and hamper efforts to trail the militants.

Democrats said Mr. Petraeus made it clear the change had not been done for political reasons to aid Mr. Obama. "The general was adamant there was no politicization of the process, no White House interference or political agenda," said Representative Adam B. Schiff, Democrat of California.​

More: NY Times' Maureen Dowd Defies Her Paper's Reporting To Attack Susan Rice Over Benghazi | Blog | Media Matters for America

Maureen Dowd? Surely you jest.

You can always count on rw's to refuse to inform themselves while saying they know everything ab out everything.

 

[tinydancer]

Maybe if he was at the meetings..

You know what's cold?

Can you imagine watching your people coming under fire? Going to sleep so you can look good for Vegas?

Obama. Cold. He let them die.

Bull shit.

I get so sick of the constant rw lies. Especially since the other rw's just line up to agree that its fact. Not a fucking clue among you.

Did he not go to sleep?



The President, you know the dude you elected, went to sleep while his Embassy was under attack.

Now no matter which you play it, Bam Bam went to sleep while men were fighting for their lives and dying so he could look good for Vegas.

Any questions?

 

[Luddly Neddite]

Hey Lakhota -

LOVE your sig ...

Congratulations President Obama!

Popular Votes: Obama 62,611,250, Romney 59,134,475

Electoral College Votes: Obama 332, Romney 206

Community Organizer Defeats Vulture Capitalist

A Great Win For Democracy

 

[Lakhota]

tiny gives Canadians a bad name.

 

[tinydancer]

More: NY Times' Maureen Dowd Defies Her Paper's Reporting To Attack Susan Rice Over Benghazi | Blog | Media Matters for America

Maureen Dowd? Surely you jest.

You can always count on rw's to refuse to inform themselves while saying they know everything ab out everything.

What's your problem? Challenge me by all means. What would you like to chat on?

Good to go on anything.

Shall we duel on history? Shall we duel on English? What would you like to duel on?