Sen. Graham On Criticism Of Rice: The Only Color I’m Worried About Is ‘Blood Red’

[DonViejo]

Source: TPM

TOM KLUDT 9:03 AM EST, WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 21, 2012

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) on Wednesday responded to accusations that the sharp criticisms directed at United Nations Ambassador Susan Rice by he and Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) have been motivated by racism or sexism. South Carolina's senior senator retorted that such criticisms are meant only to divert from the most pertinent point.

“Well, when you can’t answer the question you attack the questioner. The only color I’m worried about when it comes to Benghazi is red, blood red. The death of four Americans," Graham told Fox News Channel's Steve Doocy. "And what motivates Sen. McCain and myself is that we were in Libya last September, we came back and wrote an op-ed piece that if we don’t form a national army to replace these militias, Libya’s going to break apart. And the sad story is not just the four dead Americans, which is heartbreaking, the Libya people want to move forward. And this leading from behind by Obama, we’ve done nothing to help them form an army to replace the militias.”

On Tuesday, Rep. James Clyburn (D-SC) — a fellow member of the Palmetto State's Congressional delegation — contended that critics of Rice, an African-American, were using racially tinged "code words."

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Read more: http://livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/entry/sen-graham-on-criticism-of-rice-only-color?ref=fpblg

[niyad]

1. unless you can show me, graham, where you demanded an investigation into the attacks on 9/11/01

where there was the blood of nearly THREE THOUSAND--you need to STFU. better yet, resign, you racist jerk.

[NYC Liberal]

2. I wonder if he voted for the IWR. Or supported

the liars who waged that war that killed hundreds of thousands of innocent people.

Hmm.

[Ivywoods55]

3. Too bad this racist idiot wasn't worried about the color of the...

blood that flowed from the 8,000+, the 3000+ and the 50,000+, Americans that were killed, maimed and wounded during the Bush massacres. I wonder how these idiots sleep at night, get up in the morning, and still have the nerve to open their mouthes to criticize someone else for their assumed failings. To hear these jokers tell it, it is never about race with them, yeah right, but those of us who hear the dog whistles understand what the tune is. Idiots! I wish someone would verbally his nasty, lying, racist, bigoted behind!

[silhouete2]

4. Yeah right.

He is so full of s*** it is sickening. This is pure political theater and uninformed people are buying into it. The point that the GOP has been and is still trying to make is tying this attack to the fact that we are showing weakness in the Middle East --because Obama is an apologist--and therefore the terrorists are emboldened to attack us. Inferring from that ideal, we shouldn't have many, if any, terrorist attacks on our embassies if a Repub is president because we would project strength and let them know we mean business and can't be pushed around. However, the data doesn't support that. In the past 20+ years, there have been just as many, if not more, attacks under REPUBLICAN presidents, particularly Reagan and Bush Sr. W had his share as well, and with the invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan we sure showed the terrorists we weren't to be messed with. Yes, Clinton had his share, but not as much as either Reagan or Bush Sr. So, that argument doesn't hold water. But then the GOP isn't operating in the frame of reality. Their prime directive now is to pin some kind of scandal on Obama so they can impeach him. This is their revenge for him getting reelected. I hope it blows up in their faces. I hope, FINALLY, that the majority of people realize that the GOP isn't concerned with helping get our economy back on track--they are only concerned about making Obama look bad--and vote these bastards out of office.

The problem is that, regardless of who is president, diplomats are always in harm's way in tense regions because they are the face of the US overseas. But then these people know this. I'm not saying it isn't horrible that 4 people died in that attack in Benghazi--because it was. I'm not downplaying the fact that Americans died. If this happened in say England I'd be more upset. But it happened in Libya--an area of extreme unrest and violence. Could more have been done to prevent the attacks? I'm not sure seeing as it happened at a consulate and not at the embassy itself. But hindsight is always 20/20. Perhaps Senators Graham and McCain could spend their time and energy on making sure that our people are protected overseas and encourage their fellow House GOPers to NOT VOTE FOR CUTS to the security fund for our diplomatic personnel--like so many of them did. That's who they should be dragging before their precious investigative committees--those Republicans who gleefully voted to gut the budget for embassy security (Jason Chaffetz is my personal fave because he full on admits in one breath that he voted for the cuts then in another breath accuses the State Dept of not providing the needed security for our people)--because we "can't afford it" and then sit back and point fingers at the State Department. Hypocrites the whole lot of them.

[John2]

17. Lets not

let Lindsey Graham and John McCain have an out here. Lets insist that the media give the names of the other gang of 97 attacking this African American woman. I have took it upon myself to look at just who these people are and have come up with several names so far:

Steve King Iowa
Ted Poe Texas Birther
Louie Gohmert Texas
Michelle Bachman
Tim Griffin Arkansas
Scott Des Jarlais Tennessee
Joe Wilson South Carolina
Alan West Florida
Jeff Duncan South Carolina

These are the names I have cane up with but I think people can see a trend. They probably added a few minorities like Alan West to disguise their racism but I think it will go a long way in revealing the charge of racism and past attacks by these congress people on President Obama. These people need to be kicked out of Congress. They are the problem with this country and the Republican Party.

note: Is there any kind of legal recourse, that Susan Rice can take against these people for smearing her reputation? To me, the lies are vicious and McCain and Graham in my opinion are pushing out lies to smear her. There should also be damages.

[John2]

5. Ok

to Senator Graham. I'll say this to you as someone that served in the United States Army. I knew the dangers that I signed up for. I'm sure the four people that were killed, knew the dangers of their jobs. We are talking about an U.S. Ambassador, and three security personnel that lost their lives in service for this country. Do you act this way when thousands are killed when put in dangerous situations to defend this country? It has been happening for centuries. It happens in every conflict. So lets put it in perspective of what we are referring to. They also knowingly took risks. And these families are not either McCain's or Graham's constituents. Steven's mother even publicly lashed out at Mitt Romney for politicizing the death of her son for trying to get at the President.

So what makes it different than what Senator McCain and you are doing right now? I can see if the families asked you to intervene, but they haven't even asked you? I presume they know more than you do, what their sons were doing?

[DallasNE]

6. Lindsey Graham Is Insane

That is the only explaination I can come up with because here he is saying that Dr. Susan Rice has blood on her hands. Graham is certainly a few cards short of a full deck with these totally irresponsible comment. The Senate should censor him for his McCarthyism. After all, they did censor McCarthy.

[DJ13]

7. "..... because it matches my eyes"

[julian09]

8. He is worried about blood, when he and McCain wanted US to send troops in Libya but Obama

spared US another war and occupation and got Qaddafi without losing a drop. They are pissed about that. Susan Rice has nothing to do with the those decisions. McCain and Graham spent senate careers on junkets , for photo ops. If I wanted advice it wouldn't be from someone in the BOTTOM 1% of his class. Just in the last few years he wanted to risk war with Russia over Georgia, bomb Iran, Syria.
Does Graham think we have to build armies in Iraq, Afganistan, Libia. He is leading from behind the a--hole McCain, they take photo ops while soldiers die and they try to look tough.

[heaven05]

9. He

is a typical rethug politician from the south like a rabid fox....lying POS

[SDjack]

10. I won't call Lindsay a racist -- that would increase his political strength in SC. nt

[AlbertCat]

11. we’ve done nothing to help them form an army to replace the militias.”

Because.... when we do, it has always worked SO WELL.

[John2]

16. Oh

I missed that part. So he wants us to help them build an army to defend whom? We are suppose to foot the Bill too? So we are suppose to give them Gifts from our tax dollars? One other thing was in that compound were supposedly oil contracts. Lets talk about that.

[xxqqqzme]

12. He will be up for re-election

in '14? Is he afraid of the tea baggers coming after him if he isn't sufficiently bat shit crazy? Or is he just normal RW idiot?

[loyalkydem]

13. Not good enough

you old fart. You're still a racist and I'm so sick of you tea billy pukes

[Tom Ripley]

14. Oh, I bet Lindsey is a lot more picky than that

[lsewpershad]

15. Is this creep

worried about the blood of those in the exceptional USA and the not "whites" in the arab world?

[kelliekat44]

18. Well if that is true Senator, why haven't you attacked Sec. Clinton since she is responsible for

the security decisions related to our embassies and consulates around the world? I believe that she was out of the country when Ms. Rice made those statements but otherwise might have given the same statement herself. The accountability for the messenger who gave the STATEMENT is the President's, though he is not responsible for the attacks. Ms. Rice was merely the messenger.

[Andy Stanton]

19. What a bunch of B.S.

Rep. Clyburn is correct. The attacks on Rice are more Rethug "dog whistles".