Now I think I understand what Obama is doing (Benghazi)

[CoffeeCat]

I've been a little baffled about why the Obama Administration has been slow-to-release information about Benghazi and what happened there. However, I also understand that there is an official investigation happening, and with that understanding comes the realization that grown ups don't speak about ongoing investigations and make hasty statements before definitive findings have been realized.

With that said, Fox News, the right-wing lie machine and some MSM pundits have been cackling like rampant gossip mongers on a playground. Fox News has been hell-bent on insisting that the Obama Administration's lack of information on Benghazi is tantamount to dropping the ball. They've insisted that the Administration's policies are weak--based on the slow trickle of information on the Benghazi situation. They've spent HOURS on this--hand wringing, finger pointing, lying and developing one conspiracy after another.

This is just my theory, but I really hope that it is true. I think Obama is waiting for the debates. I don't think he's going to reveal new information about Benghazi at the debates. However, I think he's failing to respond to these rampant Republican charges about him--because he's saving his answer for the debates. I think his answer is--that there is an ongoing investigation happening, and for the safety of everyone (including US security and investigators in the area)--we are prudently awaiting the results of that investigation. Then, Obama may juxtapose his measured and careful plans and remind America of Romney's horrific response/press conference in which he prematurely freaked out about the situation and made false statements.

Romney's neurons will implode and his face will contort. And Obama? He'll just stand there looking Presidential--and everyone will be reminded of Mitt Romney's amateur-night press conference that Romney aids have described as, "more damaging than the 47 percent video."

I think that is what is happening, and I can't wait to see Romney get taken down and the rest of the right-wing mother truckers get their butts handed to them on a Presidential platter. It will be forever known as the collective face palm heard around the world.

[Cali_Democrat]

1. There's an official investigation going on

All Obama has to say is that he's not going to comment on an ongoing investigation and the GOP can go pound sand.

[CoffeeCat]

2. true dat...

...but it would be a lost opportunity to fail to spotlight Romney's dinner theater press conference, in which he behaved like a wolverine on acid.

[gateley]

9. I don't think Obama would do that -- they would accuse him of using this tragedy for political gain.

[OregonBlue]

3. Let's hope he prefaces his remark with "Mr. Romney doesn't seem to understand how this works". We do

the investigation, then we decide how to respond, not the other way around.

[dkf]

4. If you are saying he is withholding information for political reasons you are doing

Him no favors.

[speedoo]

7. What information do you think he is withholding? Nt

[CoffeeCat]

12. That's the exact opposite of what I was saying...

I said in my post that I specifically think that the administration is failing to respond to ALL OF THE NOISE, because they plan to respond during the debates.

I also said that I understand that there is an investigation underway--which is the reason for the lack of information coming from the White House.

No, I get it. No information means that we all have to be adults and that the investigation has not yielde reportable results yet. But the Foxites are going ballistic.

The Administration's lack of response to all of the noise--could be due to the debates.

I hope that is more clear.

[reformist2]

5. Obama just needs to stay cool, serious, focused and determined.

The narrative that there were/are a lot of conflicting reports and that they are conducting a thorough investigation of the matter is a truthful one, and one that most people understand, especially when it is pointed out that post-Qaddafi Libya is still pretty much a war zone and doesn't even have a real government yet.

[grasswire]

6. caution: remember John Kerry & swiftboaters

Some on DU were running around with their hair on fire, begging Kerry to respond to the attacks on him. He was deeply damaged.

[speedoo]

8. I don't see the parallel.

Can you enlighten me?

[grasswire]

11. sure

Kerry delayed responding to the swiftboat attacks from the right -- attacks that became entrenched in the minds of many Americans as truth.

It doesn't matter if the attacks from the right on Obama about Libya are true or not, in the minds of many voters.

A candidate has a limited amount of time to knock down these manufactured attacks. Otherwise it's likely to be fixed in the minds of many Americans.

[speedoo]

13. Thanks but I still think the parallel is weak, or nonexistent.

First, there is no comparison in the attacks. The Swiftboaters were well organized, had plenty of money for advertising and plenty of time to make their attack work. The attack re. Libya is poorly organized, has no funding for any ads, is getting zero traction and with less than 40 days to election day, is going nowhere.

Obama has not responded because he does not need to. If the attacks start getting traction, he simply acts like a President, says we are investigating, and we will get justice in due time. In contrast to Romney's stupid and premature statement that night.

[Schema Thing]

10. It also gave a 'teachable moment" about American freedom of speech.

Obama was able to make the case to the world that Free Speech is one of our highest values, and is going to remains so.


It's not cynical or craven to use the situation this way, because the Obama administration IS also doing whatever it takes to bring the Al Queda people who attacked in Benghazi to justice.