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Segami

(14,923 posts)
Wed Nov 21, 2012, 09:34 PM Nov 2012

Soledad Challenges Burgess: CNN Host EXPOSES GOP’s Hypocrisy On Benghazi




Rep. Michael Burgess (R-TX) appeared on CNN Wednesday morning to press his case against U.N. Ambassador Susan Rice, the target of Republican criticism for initially claiming that the Sept. 11 attacks on Benghazi were inspired by spontaneous protests to an anti-Islamic video. Burgess joined 97 House Republicans in opposing Rice’s potential nomination to replace Hillary Clinton as Secretary of State, even though her public statements about the incident originated from unclassified talking points provided by the intelligence community.


Host Soledad O’Brien challenged Burgess’ opposition to Susan Rice, noting that Republicans had supported Condoleezza Rice’s nomination as Secretary of State in 2005, despite the Bush administration’s role in the massive intelligence failures that led to the Iraq war. Burgess struggled to explain the contradiction. He initially claimed that the media was far more critical of Bush’s intelligence failures than Obama, but when O’Brien laughed away that claim, he told her to take up the question with Sens. John McCain (R-AZ) and Lindsey Graham (R-SC), both of whom supported Condoleezza but now oppose Susan:



O’BRIEN: I have asked others before how this does not compare, the Susan Rice issue, to the Condoleezza Rice issue on weapons of mass destruction. She was also wrong when she was the national security adviser, right? … Fast forward three years in 2005 when she was up to be secretary of state, it was Lindsey Graham who was furious that the Democrats were pushing back. It was Sen John mccain who were furious that the Democrats were pushing back on Condoleezza Rice to be Secretary of State. She was wrong on weapons of mass destruction. How is this different?

BURGESS: The difference is the scrutiny provided by our free press in this country. Condoleezza Rice was exposed to withering criticism by the press. I don’t see that happening now. Maybe I’ve missed something in the talking points, but I don’t see that happening. ….

O’BRIEN: So you’re confusing me there for a moment. When you say the scrutiny on the press — are you saying five days after comments of weapons of mass destruction, you feel like the media was picking apart Condoleezza Rice? I don’t think that’s true, Sir. Most people say that’s not the case. It took a long time. …. Hey, I’m all about scrutiny. I guess I like consistency, too. You were not calling for more scrutiny and you weren’t saying that the fact that Condoleezza Rice was wrong on weapons of mass destruction was going to damage her credibility as secretary of state. Again, McCain and Lindsey Graham were supporting that. It seems contradictory to me.

BURGESS: You’ll have to take that up with Senator McCain and Senator Graham













http://thinkprogress.org/security/2012/11/21/1226711/cnn-host-exposes-gops-hypocrisy-on-benghazi/

6 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Soledad Challenges Burgess: CNN Host EXPOSES GOP’s Hypocrisy On Benghazi (Original Post) Segami Nov 2012 OP
Good job Ms O'Brien. iemitsu Nov 2012 #1
I believe race is the major reason. The haters are pushing back. Segami Nov 2012 #3
I believe that race plays a major role in how the Republicans are reacting toward iemitsu Nov 2012 #5
Gotta hand it to Soledad. Wish there were more like her. LeftInTX Nov 2012 #2
Soledad is a keeper! n/t Still Sensible Nov 2012 #4
So glad for Soledad O'Brien! It's a big mystery to me... Cha Nov 2012 #6

iemitsu

(3,888 posts)
1. Good job Ms O'Brien.
Wed Nov 21, 2012, 09:47 PM
Nov 2012

Acting like a journalist, Soledad O'Brien grills Republican congressman over his, and his parties, apparent inconsistencies when judging who is and who is not qualified to be Secretary of State and does a marvelous job.
Representative Burgess nearly dumbstruck, left without an answer for the wiley sleuth.
She looks as if she is fed up with the obstructionist and racist bullshit flowing from the GOP.
And so am I.
Good job Ms. O'Brein.

 

Segami

(14,923 posts)
3. I believe race is the major reason. The haters are pushing back.
Wed Nov 21, 2012, 10:00 PM
Nov 2012
"....If she were nominated and confirmed, Susan Rice would make history — as the Democrats’ very first black secretary of state...."

http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/333862/susan-rice-secretary-state-worthy-obamas-administration-rich-lowry



So we push back by exposing them first and MARGINALIZING them into oblivion!

iemitsu

(3,888 posts)
5. I believe that race plays a major role in how the Republicans are reacting toward
Wed Nov 21, 2012, 10:24 PM
Nov 2012

Dr. Susan Rice, too.
They love to trot out Condi Rice and Clarence Thomas as proof that they are not the party of racists but they block the confirmation of black Democrats to Cabinet positions (and every other nasty, racist thing they can dream up).
I believe much of the hatred of the president is due to race also. Many in congress cannot stand the idea of a smart and honest black man being President. Most of all they fear that his leadership will be seen as good for the nation so they do anything to nullify his work or distort his intent. For them, Obama's success highlights their failures (actually it does for me too).
Obama is not a token minority, to be shown in photo-opts and neither are his appointees. If one smart black man in charge is too much for the mediocre masses in congress just think of how they feel about several smart black individuals in charge of the government.

Evidently Dr Rice, when working on the Obama campaign in 2008, "took a disparaging view of Obama's Republican opponent in the campaign, John McCain, calling his policies "reckless" and dismissing the Arizona Senator's trip to Iraq as "strolling around the market in a flak jacket" (http://www.democraticunderground.com/10021857838) which some suggest is McCain's petty and spiteful reason for hating her.

ps: The National Review article you linked was awful. What an ugly commentary.

Cha

(306,829 posts)
6. So glad for Soledad O'Brien! It's a big mystery to me...
Thu Nov 22, 2012, 02:39 AM
Nov 2012

just what the honchos at cnn("It's a draw&quot are thinking?! Maybe she's their token Reality Based reporter?
They know in no uncertain terms that there are more of out here than teabaggers. No matter what their polls said.

I can't wait until President Obama nominates who he wants.

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