It is indeed embarrassing that administration officials have repeatedly commented upon the film's artistic merits (or lack thereof) - as though that had any bearing on the issue.
They are not Siskal and Ebert. It is not their business to review movies. It is first and foremost their duty to protect the Constitution of the United States, as well as maintain the safety and territorial integrity of the United States.
It is a sorry state of affairs when administration officials resort to bad-mouthing films made by private citizens in the exercise of their 1st Amendment rights in a misguided attempt to garner the approval of semi-literate, muderous rioters in foreign countries and persuade them to "pretty please" stop killing our embassy personnel.
Regards,
Don't forget --- these are the same people who defended the artistic merits of putting a crucifix in a jar of urine and throwing elephant feces on a painting of the Virgin Mary.
I am seriously considering asking the National Endowment for the Arts to give me a grant so I can make a painting of Mohammad covered in feces waiting for his 72 virgins (who are men)