Speak positively about Libya,
or not at all..."
Posted on 10/11/2012 5:01:04 PM PDT by markomalley
Obama deputy campaign manager Stephanie Cutter stirred a lot of controversy Thursday when she blamed Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan for injecting the Libyan consulate attack into the presidential campaign. “The entire reason that this has become the political topic it is, is because of Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan,” Cutter told CNN. “It’s a big part of their stump speech and it’s reckless and irresponsible.”
Cutter’s remark angered Team Romney aides, who noted that — with the exception of Romney’s statement condemning the administration on the night of September 11 — Romney and Ryan have not, in fact emphasized Libya in their campaigning. One campaign aide called Cutter’s words “outrageous” and said the candidates might soon respond.
At the media center here in Danville before the vice presidential debate, I asked Cutter whether the Libyan attack, which left Ambassador Christopher Stevens and three other Americans dead, should be part of the campaign. Yes, she said, but only if it takes the form of a solution-oriented discussion. “I think that if candidates have legitimate points to make and constructive policies to put on the table of what they would do differently, it’s a legitimate topic,” Cutter said. “But to come out the night of an attack and accuse the administration of something and politicizing it from the beginning is not right, and I think that Mitt Romney was fairly criticized for that.”
“If Mitt Romney has some serious things that he’d like to put on the table about how he would handle Libya, or if Mr. Ryan wants to do that tonight, it’s a legitimate discussion to have, and we look forward to that,” Cutter continued.
There’s a debate going on inside the Romney campaign over how much to emphasize the Libyan attack on the campaign trail. (See my column tomorrow for more details.) The short version is that some Romney aides believe the Libya story is moving forward on its own and does not need a push from the Romney campaign. Others believe the story is so important and compelling that Romney should make it part of his campaign presentation. So far, the cautious camp has prevailed.
But now there is real anger, or perhaps real irritation, over Cutter’s remarks. She of course knows that. But the Obama campaign is sticking to the tried-and-true strategy of deferring real questions over the issue until its investigation is over — which would not happen, of course, until long after the election. “I think that in situations like this, when there is an attack on Americans, it is an attack on all of us,” Cutter says. “And the most responsible thing that we can do is to get to the bottom of what happened. And that’s what the administration has been doing, conducting an investigation with all of our resources to get to the bottom of why it happened and how we prevent it from happening again. It’s not a worthwhile discussion to accuse the administration of cover-up, when it’s just not true.”
"I am sick and tired of people who say that if you debate and you disagree with this administration somehow you're not patriotic. We should stand up and say we are Americans and we have a right to debate and disagree with any administration."
Sorry junior. Politics doesn't work like that.
Romney should use the audio of Shrillary shreiking those words in a campaing commercial.
Sounds like a threat to me.
Yeah, me too.
Mr. Obama, I am positive that the incompetence and insanity of you and your administration resulted not only in the deaths of four Americans, but also in the humiliaiton of American by her enemy Al Qaeda on 9/11, 2012.
Mr. Obama, I am positive that you and Hillary Clinton should not only be impeached and removed from office as a result of this, but I am also positive that both of you should serve time in prison for their deaths, because you are both responsible for their deaths.
Mr. Obama, I am positive that neither America nor her citizens deserve nither of the likes of you.
LLS
What’s the “regime” going to do? Arrest Romney for campaigning? (not that I’d put it past the little rat) Call in the U.N.? What?
(My blood pressure is going to skyrocket before the debate even starts.)
"The cautious camp" disgust me. "the story will move ahead on its own"? It's 3 weeks people. FYI, Democrat scandals never move ahead on their own.
Obama, Hillary and the State Department have NO defense, NO leg to stand on. Hammer them. This is for all the marbles, there will be no replay.
"The cautious camp" must be the same ball-less wonders that piloted Bob Dole and John McCain to their non memorable non victories.
Oh, then explain to us why the "disgusting video" story was broadcast to the entire world when you KNEW the attacks were coming, KNEW that no one knew anything about the video, KNEW it was not a protest but a preplanned attack, and did nothing?
Tell me it's not true some more, please. Tell me lies. You're becoming yet another millstone around Obama's neck.
4 DEAN MEN is not a bump in the road. Wasn't nice to get those 4 men killed. Let's talk girlie.
4 DEAN MEN, should be DEAD MEN. Go oil your fingers.
Believe Romney let them have it with both barrels on this topic a short time ago and that is in another thread here on FR.
"Is Stephanie Cutter, who speaks for the president, still unaware that US intel had intercepts between jihadists "hours" after Libya attack?"
I’ve got news for the kenyan usurper who thinks he is emperor - In the United States we STILL have Freedom of Speech!
That's how I see it, too.
Obama lied. Our ambassador died.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.