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Subscribe to RSSUN ambassador Susan Rice, widely considered the President's top choice to replace Hillary Clinton, was grilled by the Senate Tuesday. She acknowledged she had been wrong to say Benghazi was a copycat attack and continued to blame the CIA for providing her with that information. NBC's Andrea Mitchell reports.
UPDATED 12:35 p.m. ET -- Republican senators emerged from their meeting Tuesday with United Nations envoy Susan Rice saying they were more disturbed than before the meeting about the misleading explanation she gave after the Sept. 11 attack on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi, Libya, when Rice said in TV interviews that the violence was due to an anti-Islamic video that was circulated on YouTube.
Rice, a potential nominee to replace Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, met with Republican Senators John McCain, Lindsey Graham and Kelly Ayotte. The three senators have been among the harshest critics of the administration's handling of Benghazi and all spoke with reporters following Tuesday's meeting.
“It is clear that the information she gave the American people was incorrect when she said that it was a spontaneous demonstration triggered by a hateful video. It was not, and there was compelling evidence at the time that that was certainly not the case,” said McCain.
In the Sept. 11 assault on the consulate, Ambassador Chris Stevens and three other Americans, Glen Doherty, Tyrone Woods and Sean Smith, were killed.
Graham said, “Bottom line: I’m more disturbed now than I was before that the 16th (of) September explanation of how four Americans died in Benghazi, Libya by Ambassador Rice I think does not do justice to the reality at the time and in hindsight clearly was completely wrong.”
Graham suggested that Rice should have simply not made any statement on the Sept. 16 Sunday TV talk shows. “If you don’t know what happened, just say you don’t know what happened,” Graham said. “If you can do nothing but give bad information, isn’t it better to give no information at all?”
Bebeto Matthews / AP
United States Ambassador Susan Rice speaks during a meeting on Syria in the United Nations Security Council on Thursday, Aug. 30, 2012.
He added, “Before anybody can make an intelligent decision about promoting someone involved in Benghazi, we need to do a lot more (investigating). To this date we don’t have the FBI interviews of the survivor one or two days after the attack. ”
He invoked the example of President Bush’s nominee to be UN ambassador, John Bolton, who was blocked by Senate Democrats and a few Republicans in 2005 and 2006, implying that if Rice were nominated to the secretary of state Republicans would likewise block her confirmation.
Ayotte, too, said she was “more troubled” after meeting with Rice and Acting CIA Director Mike Morrell than she was before the meeting.
She questioned why Rice would have relied on unclassified CIA talking points in her TV interviews on Sept. 16.
“When you’re ambassador to the United Nations you go well beyond unclassified talking points in your daily preparation responsibilities for that job and that’s troubling to me as well,” Ayotte said.
U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice recaps the causes and effects of recent violence against Americans in the Middle East.
In a statement released Tuesday afternoon, Rice said that she and Morrell had explained to the senators in the meeting Tuesday that "the talking points provided by the intelligence community, and the initial assessment upon which they were based, were incorrect in a key respect: there was no protest or demonstration in Benghazi. While, we certainly wish that we had had perfect information just days after the terrorist attack, as is often the case, the intelligence assessment has evolved. We stressed that neither I nor anyone else in the Administration intended to mislead the American people at any stage in this process, and the Administration updated Congress and the American people as our assessments evolved."
Last week Graham sent Obama a letter saying, “We have now learned that the talking points provided to Ambassador Susan Rice on or around September 15 describing the assault on our consulate in Benghazi were disconnected from the actual intelligence. According to numerous sources, including CIA Director David Petraeus and the CIA station chief on the ground in Libya, the perpetrators of the attack were identified to be al Qaeda-linked militia almost immediately.”
Graham told Obama that by the time Rice spoke on five Sunday TV talk shows on Sept. 16, “the classified intelligence clearly refuted the scenario she described.”
He asked Obama to explain why Rice was chosen to explain the attack to the American people. “Why wasn’t someone with firsthand knowledge of the attack on our Consulate, or firsthand knowledge of the administration’s response during the critical hours our consulate was under attack, selected for this opportunity?”
Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn., who is in line to become the senior Republican on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in the new Congress that convenes in January, said Tuesday he sees Rice as a party loyalist.
"When I hear Susan (Rice) talk, she sounds to me like she'd be a great head of the Democratic National Committee,” Corker told reporters at the Capitol. “There's nobody who's more staff supportive of everything the administration does. That concerns me in a Secretary of State. You want a Secretary of State who obviously works with the administration but also shows the ability to be independent, and I'm not sure I see that second part.”
The Senate has not voted to reject a nominee for a Cabinet position since 1989 when it voted down President George H.W. Bush’s nomination of John Tower to be secretary of Defense. Unlike that case, the Senate is now controlled by the president’s own party.
NBC News’s Frank Thorp contributed to this report.
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John McCain OBSTRUCTIONIST, LOSER, AMERICAN DISCRACE!!!! He is definitely part of the problem not the solution. He should return his medals and we should return him to his Vietnamese captors for some more re-education and attitude adjustment.
Iam sick of these Republicans lieing all the time If this was a mistake Mr Mccain lets talk about condalisa rice her mistake killed millions of people to susans 4 were do you get off pointing fingers if this is the case lets take condelisa rice to court and find her guilty of millions of peoples deaths .This has nothing to do with rice they want Kerry to be placed in this seat thinking they can get another republican to replace his seat you republicans arent fooling the American people anymore with your lies and come 2014 your going to reap what youve sown and the people will prevail.
In their defense, they thought Clinton was talking about Condi, no Susan.
<Sigh> "Please" When will the media stop playing with the viewers......Same ole soup from the republican right. Give an inch and they take a mile.
What idiot advised Susan Rice to dialogue with the gop????? The public did not witness the meet, so the details are really up for grabs. It has already started.
Now we (the viewers) will be hammered with all kinds of comments based on the opinionated politics of whoever is presenting the information. The media will have a feeding frenzy and throw around their "talking points" that will center on republicans and others throwing dirt on her name.
This whole thing is a waste of time and makes the media look kinda petty as well to continue to focus on the gop hot mess.....
We need to stop voting for republicans, until they no longer have a party.
We need to start the coffee Party!!!!!!
The election is over so have Obama and his people make all the documents public. If Obama and His state dept. doesn't have anything to hide. It would clear this matter up in 10 minutes. 4 People dead or does that not mean anything any more in this country.
2,996 Americans dead. Our soil
Show the complete details.
Bush knew months ahead of time.
Life change forever, every day we wake up our lives have to center around thinking about Arabs.
The coffee party is too dark for them.
The way Graham talks, it sounds like he thinks Rice was in Libya leading the attack on the consulate.
Sorry McCain, Graham, Ayotte: I watched the interviews with Rice and there was no doubt in my mind that she was presenting a possible explanation which might be plausible given the protests in other countries at the time, but that the information she was presenting was preliminary, incomplete and could change. That's it. Nothing to see here boys and girls.
By all means investigate the attack itself and whether there was sufficient security, if not why not, and how did our diplomats end up in such a dangerous city in the first place. There is a lot to look at regarding this event but Susan Rice providing a couple of interviews with the caveat that her information was not conclusive and might even be incorrect is not the story.
I know these senators are ticked off that they didn't retake the senate, but get over it. Right now their focus on a couple of Sunday morning interviews is overshadowing what they should be doing regarding the Benghazi attack.
The corrupt Republican political puppets are wasting our tax payer dollars supposedly worried about the Benghazi incident when we have ALL 99% American People in jeopardy because of their CRIMINAL CORRUPTION! They need to spend "OUR" donated TAX DOLLARS on what is AILING THE 99% American People!
Why hasn't someone introduced a bill to get rid of these old farts in Congress who are NOTHING MORE THAN INFILTRATED, "HAND-PICKED" political puppets TOTALLY USELESS to the 99% American People??????
We got the out dated old man that should go home McCain and we have the racist out dated Graham that will never accept our President of the United States. These two are not working in the interest of the American people.
So true!!!!!!!!!
I just love reading what the Obama haters have to say! The stuff they say is so crazy and you know how bright they are when they say idiot and obummer. keep up your hate it is a sure way to keep the dems in the White House for a long long time and I get a good laugh when I read this stuff.
There is no way this lady could satisfy these guys. They don't want an the answers.
It's very obvious they just want to cause problems and discord. What a mess.
This is why they can't nothing done. There should be a limit on time served in the senate. This is why this is not a Unted States because we have the crips and bloods running it.
I think we all know why THAT is, you racist, sexist, good for nothing ...
Are Graham and McCain rank amateurs or just out-right liars?!
Anyone with sense knows that these people aer given talkign points while the Intelligence community investigates or executes actions ... in accordance with National Security objectives. Rice was doing her damn job.
Now, McCain and Graham, go back and do yours. Stop being the party of "NO" and obstructionists. Get some REAL work done. God! Will these guy's constituents put them out of their misery already?! They make me so mad I could cry.
DZ1900 well thanks for the personal attack. Rice did not "clearly" lie to us. try and keep up with the facts, will you. It's already been settled that the ambassador read the intelligence reports provided to her early after the attacks.
You seem to have a lot of insider information. What's your clearance level?
One more thing, grow and then look up the word "fascist" and get back to us with a mature, cogent explanation as to why you chose that insult.
The intelligence reports clearly state "terrorist" and not one word about disgruntled video critics.
Rice read the oficial statement given to her by Intelligence and Administration officalls, regardless of what they actually knew (or THOUGHT they knew) at the time. Your information is in error.
There were military "assets" before, during, and after the Benghazi attacks. This attack happened on 9/11, what happened to the Obama Administration CLAIM that it would "get those responsible"? True the Ambassador was probably killed minutes into the attack, but why was there no military response DURING the attack on the Consulate? Or how about now.............months AFTER the attack????????
Can't, Obama has immunity until after he leaves office.
Can't we all just agree that McCain's next job should be "greeter at Walmart"?
This is one of the most inconsistent, politics playing, $hitthy character in politics. Not even his daughters can stand this guy.
Can you imagine that? Greeted by that face.
animal-farm
Better that than the arrogant, nose in the air mug of obamma
Yes... Cause Obama is an elitist arrogant A-Hole while McCain is the voice of reason and humility.
hehehehe
It's like voting for Bush cause "He's a guy I could see myself having a beer with.
. . . . And????? Only losers are interested in placing any importance on what the gop thinks or does.
Are they meeting under the desk ? LMFAO
All I hear is "4 brave Americans died in Benghazi" Where was the outrage when 4802 of our brightest and bravest young men and women died in Iraq?????? Please don't tell me--that was then--this is now. How in your right mind can you rationalize this. Where was McCain, Graham and all the others then? As many have said in posts----the Republicans lost and for some reason---can't get over it. This Benghzi issue is a roadblock to the issues at hand. An added incite-------the Republicans think that government is to big----then why is it that they want to be in our bedrooms, medicine cabinets and doctors offices. To me--they are a bunch of nosy little buggers. Enough said!!!!!
You democrats forget that you backed the republicans to go into Iraq but when things go bad then you hypocrites want to throw all the blame on George Bush. How come we still have soldiers dying everyday in Afganistan if Odummy has pulled all the troops out.
No congressman sent the 1st soldier anywhere, George W. was the commander in chief and must bear full and total responsibility. Obama's biggest mistakes have been continuing George W. failed policies but he is too much of a conservative to not try to clean up Bush's mess.
What difference will it make. She'll lie like her boss has for the last 4 years and get nominated anyway. If Odummy had any integrity he would of fired Eric Holder the day he refused to prosecute the black panthers for voter intimidation. This corrupt administration makes George W Bush look like a saint.
Rice is a pawn,the guy Obama really wants is John Kerry but will not try and appoint because he doesn't think congress will pass him.You watch there will be a big deal about Rice,she will not get the position,John Kerry will take the position with very little fanfare.A win win situation for Obama
Why would the democrats take a chance on losing a seat?
I think the republicans want Kerry, to gain another seat.
They wouldn't lose a seat, we all know how braindead the people of Mass are. Afterall, how many times did they re-elect a murderer named Kennedy.
If Rice becomes Secretary of State, which she almost certainly will, John Kerry is widely believed to be the new Defense Secretary. Presidents get their Secretary of State, and this is a very foolish fight for McCain to be choosing.
delete
Nobody gived a damn of thousands American soldiers that died in World War ll, Korea War, Vietnam War, Afghanstan and Iraq war.
Now our whole economy is on hold for this BS of four people dying????????????? What a bunch of crap!!!!!!
Deb-3232690 - Of course, people give a "crap" about all the Americans that died in those wars. That was a stupid remark. But, they died in a war zone - whether you agree with the war or not doesn't matter. The four Americans that died in Benghazi were not in a "war zone" and begged for help because they were being attacked by savages. Their pleas went unheard. Then, this administration came out and lied about it NOT being a terrorist attack because Obama didn't want it to look as if his touchy feely policies had failed. I blame this administration for the blood of these Americans - not so much Susan Rice. I also blame my idiotic fellow Americans who voted Obama back into office - so went Rome - so goes America!
Twin towers on our soil, the investigation took almost two years by the Commission Report. What the hell is wrong with McCain and Graham????? Of course we would have conflicting info. The first plane that hit the Twin Tower was marked as an accident.
deb - at first they thought it was an accident (who in the world would think these savages would use a plane as a bomb) - until the second plane hit. DUH...not five days after the attack.
Birds of a feather. obamma, rice, ad nauseam
If it's true, that Al queda is on the rise as per the GOP, then why did Bush stand in front of our sacrificing military personel on their aircraft carrier, explicitly stating that we were victorious in the war only 2 years post 9/11. What happened is a tragedy in Benghazi but to through our intelligence or lack of it for political reasons under the bus, is another example of why terrorist organization throughout the world will continue to target us and see us as a weak country. We have become a divided country. We got Bin Laden and that was expressed as only a light victory of sorts and thats correct.
As a former soldier, Old man McCain should understand more then anyone, that what we need to tell the American people is that regardless of military strength and political believes, IT'S incredibly difficult to fight a De-Centralized terror organization. So please stop feeding fuel to a fire which is becoming more and more out of control by the day.