We had a busy Meet the Press this morning as the aftermath of General Petraeus' affair as well as his closed-door testimony to Congressional Intelligence committees about the attack in Benghazi have lit up Washington.
The administration's response to the attack that left four Americans dead has been the subject of debate for both sides. United Nations Ambassador Susan Rice has come under fire for comments made on Meet the Press and other programs in mid-September arguing that what happened in Benghazi was a spontaneous demonstration in response to an anti-Islamic video posted on the internet rather than a planned terrorist attack.
However, House Intelligence Chair Mike Rogers (R-MI) said this morning on the program that the intelligence community knew it was a terrorist attack from the beginning and some have questioned whether the administration withheld calling it a terror attack for political reasons. Rogers stopped short of an outright accusation as whether Rice's talking points were deliberately changed saying instead that it is dangerous to make those charges. "I know the narrative was wrong and the intelligence was right. Now, getting between there and there, I think you have to be careful about making those accusations."
Later in the program, Senator Lindsey Graham made the case that the Obama administration did change the story for political gain. Citing recent examples of the administration’s success that include public disclosure of classified information via press accounts, he questioned, " [I]f they would leak classified to make him look good, would they withhold information to prevent him from looking bad? I think you could say, ‘Look at that.’”
Senate Intelligence Chair Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) defended the administration saying, "There was only one thing that was changed. And I've checked into this. I believe it to be absolute fact. And that was the word ‘consulate’ was changed to ‘mission.’ That's the only change that anyone in the White House made."
Chairman Rogers also made news by suggesting there was a chance the president knew about Petraeus' affair before he was officially told on election day. "I'm not sure the president was not told before election day." Rogers was quick to clarify his remarks, saying that there is a possibility and that they "could resolve this very quickly with a conversation in the intelligence spaces." Again, Feinstein was also quick to point out "there is no evidence of that."
It's a complex story that, as David points out above, we're sure will continue to develop.
You can watch the entire program on our website including our roundtable that addressed more of the General Petraeus affair as well as the looming battle over the fiscal cliff in Washington.
We'll be back next week. If it's Sunday, it's Meet the Press.
Leave a Comment:
Dear Mr. Gregory,
I was very disappointed yesterday when you continued to push Senator Feinstein and Congressman Rogers for "dirt" on the Bengazi/Rice issue as well as General Petraeus. This, when people are longing for the media to focus on importance of issues, rather than politicizing them. It is the media who are allowing this negativity to continue and you were shameful in your approach yesterday. Senator Feinstein tried desperately to refocus the dialogue, but, you just kept reaching for the dirt.
The media should be focusing on Syria, Iran and Israel, not election and post election politics. You are sending us back down a path similar to what happened to President Clinton in his second term and we see where that got us.
Focus on the important issues, Mr. Gregory, not smut, if you want this country to move forward.
Percy11,
Of course Top Republican suggests that! Look at the source. My gosh, people! This is a witch hunt. The Republicans can't stand to lose and will take down the country for their own egos rather than try to help it. Common on!
To Tom, Andrea and David:
Why do you refer to the President of Egypt as the "Islamist/Muslim Brotherhood" president - do we refer to other countries' leaders by their faith or other affiliations?
Why wasn't he called the president of Egypt ?
He is the "democratically" elected president of Egypt....
He's not even in the MB anymore, this had been reported prior to the election in Egypt....
Geeze how you pander to the Islamophobia of the West....
Israel firsters constant brainwashing ..
President Obama is an arbitrageur.
But not for economic gain does he act. He is an arbitrageur of political economy, shorting and dismissing unpleasant wealth-distribution reality, while buying massive distribution of assets to demographic groups that are willing voting blocks.
President Obama's arbitrage is a carry trade toward tyranny and rule of the mob.
Liberty does not contemplate violence, but will surely erupt when tyranny and mob rule prevail.
Liberty. That is a really big word. Worthy of ponder.
Hi Boeing!
MTP is just such a total shill and mouthpiece for the corporate, military Republican, rightwing, neocon complex, it's laughable. The propaganda arm of the Third Reich couldn't have done it better.
Diane Feinstein is literally cut dead after ten sentences at most, Rogers is allowed to blather on and on and rightwing loon Lindsey Graham is given a whole segment to spew his vicious lies and conspiracy trash talk. Really great for the nation to listen to on a Sunday morning.
And of course, the usual ratio of five Republican bigmouths to two Democrats trying to get a word in .... see your just ignoring the president's glorious win. What a surprise....
What a viewer gets from this hyped up rightwing corporate obscenity is only the knowledge that NBC is into the tank for Republicans.
We're tired of "same old" pols who consider themselves experts on foreign policy (e.g.McCain & Graham) when the reality is they are out of the mainstream and attack Obama directly or through his appointees. At a time when everyone should support our president there shouldn't be distractions by detractors. Let Obama lead us. He won the election and losers shouldn't be in the spotlight unless it is to show they support his leadership. He is the president of all the people 24/7, and has important decisions to make all the time. We are lucky to have him. Reading how he weighed the dangers against the benefits of the Abbottabad mission to get Osama bin Laden, he approved and coordinated the Abbottabad attack. That demonstrates that he is and will be regarded as one of our greatest presidents.
The fact remains: 1) that the "presentation" content was changed by someone in the White House. Admitted. Now who did it. If Obama really wanted to know-someone would be MIA by now. 2) Mistake made when Susan Rice was a "talking head" for TV shows on Sunday-multiple times same statement. She knew nothing about it, she didn't check for accuracy, she does not need to be defended, she's in the big boy game now and her office is elevated to the cabinet level. 3) 4 people died in this "cover-up" 4) there are plenty of ways to mobilize security for Libya, especially on the anniversary of 9/11 when the White House already knew of warning signs and had notifications went out that more security was needed. 5) Don't blame Republicans for not knowing how to secure employees at embassies/consulates. That's the job of the President, and just as in any other budget crisis-you move things around to get the job done. Prioritize, mobilize. Obama admitted himself that protected those who work for this country are his responsibility. So he is culpable. I feel for the family members who were promised straight answers, and no one has the guts to say that the administration played them in a political gain. No one in the WH should have a clear conscience about this.
any congressman who will sign a pledge to any individual not to perform his or her duty to the people who elected them is un-american, and should be forced to resign.
posted on november 24, 2012 by jcarroll
to pledge to some creepy billionaire who thinks he is hot s..t by making a billion off of other peoples’ sweat, who is not as good as the least of anyone who has every been an employee of his corporation. these s.o.b. have no shame. the two words synonymous with grover norquist is garbage dump.
the internet free press is calling on every congressman or congresswoman who is on grover norquist’s list, to either resign or get off the list; or you will stay on the internet free press’ s..t list until you are no longer in the congress.
the news media is unworthy of its first amendment right not to demand that these un-american congresswomen and congressmen resign.
notice: to any congressman or congresswoman who live in states that allow recall– if you are on anyone’s list after the new congress is sworn in, we will start petitions for your recall whether you be republican or democratic.
GENERAL PETRAEUS: WHERE HE URINATES OR EJACULATES I DON’T CARE, BUT…
Posted on November 18, 2012 by jcarroll
I don’t think that a person who can’t get a piece of tail without getting caught is smart enough to be head of the CIA, no matter how many stars he has on his shoulders or ribbons on his chest.
President Truman thought all generals wore blinders like a mule, and most of them were as dumb as a mule. He thought that was a good reason for having the Commander-In-Chief a civilian.
May be that General Petraeus should have followed General Eisenhower, and found himself a good-looking jeep driver; AND LEFT THOSE HIGH SOCIETY WOMEN ALONE.
A whoremonger is a whoremonger whether he be a private or a general.
Nature evolved man so God would have something to laugh at.
Visit the Internet Free Press and see how you can help PEOPLE POWER PRICE CONTROL and CONSUMER POWER PRICE CONTROL bring down the price of gasoline below $3.00 per gallon. It is working. Join the force. KEEP THUMBING YOUR NOSE AT ExxonMobil. BUY ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE STREET OR ON DOWN THE ROAD. THE REST WILL GET THE MESSAGE. YOU DON’T HAVE TO PUNISH YOURSELF. IT IS SO EASY! NO SIT-INS! NO MARCHING! NO OCCUPYING ANYTHING! NO VIOLENCE!
YOUR MONEY IS DEVALUED WITH A PRICE MARKER, NOT BY CREATING NEW MONEY TO CREATE NEW JOBS. INFLATION IS AN EUPHEMISM FOR THEFT.
Why do Repulicans hate the lower and middle class so much. Why must we take away programs for those in need instead of just making the rich pay their fair share of taxes. President Obama should not give in. We should deal with Medicare and Social Security at a later time.
Republicans listen up...the 2% you're fighting so hard for don't need any more help getting richer.... the veterans (which I am one), the middle class, and the elderly do...also known as the 47%.
We elected president Obama. Keeping him from doing his job is the same as taking away my vote.
I was hoping this past election would give the Republicans a reality check, I guess that didn't happen.