Posted on 11/17/2012 12:10:43 PM PST by neverdem
President Obama had a rare “bring-it-on” moment when ABC News’s Jonathan Karl asked him about threats by Republican Sens. John McCain and Lindsey Graham to block the confirmation of Susan Rice, should he nominate her for secretary of state.
“If Senator McCain and Senator Graham and others want to go after somebody, they should go after me,” Obama said Wednesday at his East Room news conference, defending his U.N. ambassador from charges that she misled the public about attacks on Americans in Libya.
“For them to go after the U.N. ambassador . . . and to besmirch her reputation, is outrageous. And, you know, we’re after an election now.”
It was reminiscent of his put-down of McCain in early 2010, when at a health-care forum he reminded his former opponent: “The election’s over.”
Obama’s over-the-top defense of Rice was surprising, particularly in contrast to the president’s relative indifference in accepting the resignation of CIA chief David Petraeus, one of the most capable public servants. And it was disappointing, because McCain, even if wrong on the particulars, is right about Rice. She is ill-equipped to be the nation’s top diplomat for reasons that have little to do with Libya.
Even in a town that rewards sharp elbows and brusque personalities, Rice has managed to make an impressive array of enemies — on Capitol Hill, in Foggy Bottom and abroad. Particularly in comparison with the other person often mentioned for the job, Sen. John Kerry, she can be a most undiplomatic diplomat, and there likely aren’t enough Republican or Democratic votes in the Senate to confirm her.
Back when she was an assistant secretary of state during the Clinton administration, she appalled colleagues by flipping her middle finger at Richard Holbrooke during a meeting with senior staff at the State Department, according to witnesses...
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
Put her next to Colon Bowel in the Lying to the UN pantheon.
Isn’t Milbank a huge lib? I try not to follow WaPo much so I ask.
Obama surrounds himself with idiots , makes him feel smart . After the 2008 election they told us millions of times how smart Obama was ,this time nothing
He’s advocating for John Kerry.
Go after me....AND I’LL TELL YOU I WON!!!
Very interesting article! I hope people actually bother to read it, something that doesn't seem to happen often on FR.
I think Hillary is between a rock and a hard place. Rice has always been the "whatsoever king may reign, still I'll be the Vicar of Bray" type. Now that race has intervened, it is obviously "whatsoever black king may reign, etc." But strangely enough, Hillary has likewise always made her career by cleaning up after powerful men, first her husband and now Obama.
I had actually hoped at the start that Hillary might have a mind of her own and a conscience (except that she's a hard core leftist, and they don't have consciences because they're too busy breaking the eggs to make that Stalinist omelet). But she doesn't.
The only question is how long she can legally stay out of the country and keep refusing to testify.
When are we going to get a white guy as Secretary of State? The women and minorities we have been giving this job to are jokes and backstabbers (Colin Powell). Condeleeza Rice was no prize either. Hilary and Madeleine Albright??? Russia, China and Muslim nations are laughing at us. At who we put forth to represent us.
That makes sense now. Thanks
Don’t think she will receive confirmation because even most of the dems thinks she has nothing except what Obama has to offer a gift of gab and nothing else.
His cabinet and advisors are an assortment of radical Alinsky-types, so what harm does another Marxist do. America needs prayers.
You are correct. We insult almost every culture other then those used being matriarchal. I recall the montagnards were the very first society I ran into where a woman ran the village.
Just FTR Milbank = McCrisis in wanting Lurch at State. But frankly, given Rice v. Lurch, I’ll take Lurch.
HUGE lib.
And, while he has every reason to contest Rice's fitness for the job, he's also carrying Kerry's water.
Either will be a disaster...
All that means is that she's just another of the young-smartass wet-ears that Slick Willie brought into responsible White House jobs far too early in life, because, as a bad man, he needed to be surrounded by people who were callow enough for him to dominate despite his personal corruption and misconduct.
It's something to keep an eye out for: whenever you see that, watch out for the morals and honesty of the man in charge. Examples: Jack Kennedy, Dick Nixon, Bill Clinton.
Oh come on,lets talk about paying our fair share. I spent twelve years on active duty. Many others did far more than I did. Did we pay our fair share? How many cabinet officers in the Obama Administration served in the armed forces? Have they paid their fair share.
These things are relative, of course. I also paid an awful amount of taxes after my service ended. I do think I have paid my fair share. And anyone who questions Alan West can be sure that he has far more than paid his fair share with his service to our country.
I read the whole article. I forgot about how Rice gave Holbrook the finger.
What is missing in this article is Rwanda and Rice refusing to call it “genocide” when she worked for Clinton....
John Kerry will get the slot...but then watch those lib women in Congress not squeal like a pig cause the One picked a man over a woman...
She’s distraction, he’ll go with Samantha Power.
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