# Libyan Killing of Ambassador And Staff: How Will This Play Out In Election? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [September 12, 2012, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/libyan-killing-of-ambassador-and-staff-how-will-this-play-out-in-election/634511 "2012-09-12T15:42:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2012, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/libyan-killing-of-ambassador-and-staff-how-will-this-play-out-in-election/634511/121 "2012-09-13T14:10:30Z")
[Glenn Beck weighs in.](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/09/12/glenn-beck-muslims-libya-attacks_n_1877820.html?utm_hp_ref=media) (Ridiculously, but without, at least, mentioning Obama or Romney.) ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2012, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/libyan-killing-of-ambassador-and-staff-how-will-this-play-out-in-election/634511/122 "2012-09-13T14:27:27Z")
> [@Kyomara](#): > > Rather I am proposing that the statement, its aftermath, and the talking points might all have been part of the plan from the beginning. Under other circumstances Romney’s comments would not have received this much attention or required so much explaining, so there might not have been any talking points. He’s talked about these themes before (every Republican presidential candidate does) and even has a campaign book called “No Apology: The Case for American Greatness.” The response wasn’t planned or expected. The talking points aren’t overly defensive, but the point is that they would not have been necessary otherwise. The campaign didn’t want to take back the comments and they can’t do so now anyway, so they are trying to manage the negative response. So they’re continuing to say the attack had something to do with “perceived weakness” and banging away about the Cairo embassy statement that is very outdated, wasn’t made by Obama or Clinton, and just isn’t relevant given what’s happened since then. He meant to say what he said. He just didn’t mean for it to come off the way it did because other events were transpiring that put his statements in a different light. ---
**Author:** ![Andiethewestie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ba9def/32.png) [@Andiethewestie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andiethewestie)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2012, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/libyan-killing-of-ambassador-and-staff-how-will-this-play-out-in-election/634511/123 "2012-09-13T16:34:01Z")
I think the salient point here is other Presidential candidates have criticized the government vis a vis action or inaction in the past, but the problem is this candidate chose to jump the President on the media release. This can only work if he has all the information before him, and clearly he didn’t. His campaign relied on a thin embassy release, out before the attack occurred, and tweets . This makes it VERY different from any other presidental candidate who has criticized the administration on foreign policy. There is nothing wrong with providing critical notes, but this is political opportunism, not commentary on policy. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2012, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/libyan-killing-of-ambassador-and-staff-how-will-this-play-out-in-election/634511/124 "2012-09-13T21:07:26Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > He blamed the initial furor on Obama’s Middle East policy and bashed Obama over the initial statement from the Egyptian consulate, which took a very apologetic tone and mentioned people ‘abusing their rights’ by criticizing Islam. The administration apparently did not approve that statement and has rebuffed it, and Clinton made a more forceful critique. Even after it was reported that the Libyan embassy had been attacked (but before it was confirmed the ambassador was dead), Romney continued to hit the administration about the Cairo statement and the theme of “apologizing” for free expression. And it sounds like Romney is still making those criticisms despite the murder of the ambassador now even though he acknowledges the fact that the White House didn’t like the initial statement and agreed with Obama’s denunciation this morning. So Romney is being bashed for trying to turn the death of an ambassador and other Americans into a critique of the tone of Obama’s foreign policy. It looks like total fuckup for Romney at this point. Someone attacks America and Romney attacks the President? Yeah, like I’m gonna vote for this schmuck. ---
**Author:** ![Andiethewestie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ba9def/32.png) [@Andiethewestie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andiethewestie)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2012, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/libyan-killing-of-ambassador-and-staff-how-will-this-play-out-in-election/634511/125 "2012-09-13T23:08:40Z")
The Libyans have already got one perp, and others are in process of getting arrested. [http://amanpour.blogs.cnn.com/2012/09/13/libya-pm-arrests-have-been-made-in-us-consulate-attack/](http://amanpour.blogs.cnn.com/2012/09/13/libya-pm-arrests-have-been-made-in-us-consulate-attack/) ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2012, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/libyan-killing-of-ambassador-and-staff-how-will-this-play-out-in-election/634511/126 "2012-09-13T23:46:11Z")
The latest [polls](http://firstread.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/09/13/13848313-polls-obama-holds-the-edge-in-florida-ohio-and-virginia?lite) don’t look good for Team Mitten: > [@](#): > > …In both Florida and Virginia, Obama is ahead of Romney by five points among likely voters (including those leaning toward a particular candidate), 49 percent to 44 percent. > > In Ohio, the president’s lead is seven points, 50 percent to 43 percent… ---
**Author:** ![Enkel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/df705f/32.png) [@Enkel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enkel)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2012, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/libyan-killing-of-ambassador-and-staff-how-will-this-play-out-in-election/634511/127 "2012-09-14T01:19:14Z")
An article about the producer of the film with a potential identity as a guy convicted of bank fraud who now wants the local police to protect him. What a total wank! I hope the PD tells him that he has the same access to 911 as all the other citizens that they are responsible for protecting. > **[New details emerge of anti-Islam film's mystery producer | CNN](https://www.cnn.com/2012/09/13/world/anti-islam-filmmaker/index.html)** > > A film ridiculing the Prophet Mohammed that is sparking angry protests is still shrouded in mystery. The biggest question: who made it? ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2012, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/libyan-killing-of-ambassador-and-staff-how-will-this-play-out-in-election/634511/128 "2012-09-14T01:32:09Z")
Huntsman [weighs in](http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/blogsoutofcontext/54882749-64/huntsman-ambassador-republican-romney.html.csp) His entire statement: “This is a time when we all should reflect on those who continue to give, even the last measure, of service and sacrifice, to promoting and defending America’s interests abroad,” Huntsman added. “This is above all a reminder that politics should end at the waters edge.” ---
**Author:** ![MacCat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maccat/32/216_2.png) [@MacCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacCat)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2012, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/libyan-killing-of-ambassador-and-staff-how-will-this-play-out-in-election/634511/129 "2012-09-14T01:57:39Z")
> [@Steve\_MB](#): > > The latest [polls](http://firstread.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/09/13/13848313-polls-obama-holds-the-edge-in-florida-ohio-and-virginia?lite) don’t look good for Team Mitten: Adelman & Kochs better crank those money machines even faster. ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2012, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/libyan-killing-of-ambassador-and-staff-how-will-this-play-out-in-election/634511/130 "2012-09-14T02:14:02Z")
> [@MacCat](#): > > Adelman & Kochs better crank those money machines even faster. If Mitt can’t turn things around fast (and I don’t see how he can), the money men are going to abandon him and invest in the down-ticket races. They didn’t get rich by flushing money down the toilet. ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2012, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/libyan-killing-of-ambassador-and-staff-how-will-this-play-out-in-election/634511/131 "2012-09-14T02:31:40Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > Someone attacks America and Romney attacks the President? Yeah, like I’m gonna vote for this schmuck. I liked what Digby had to said in this: [http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2012/09/911-is-what-happens-when-modern.html](http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2012/09/911-is-what-happens-when-modern.html) > [@](#): > > Oh, one more thing. After no one dared to move a finger to push Bush out - despite the obvious fact that he had demonstrated a criminal level of incompetence - I cynically sneered that if there was an attack under a Democratic president, Republicans would seize the opportunity to pillory him. Shocked, my friends said that Republicans would naturally rally behind the president and the country during a foreign policy crisis, no matter who was in power. > > [Uh huh.](http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/election-2012/wp/2012/09/12/romney-calls-obama-response-to-libya-attacks-disgraceful/) Romney and many Republicans are schmucks indeed. ---
**Author:** ![Omg\_a\_Black\_Conservative](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/7ba0ec/32.png) [@Omg\_a\_Black\_Conservative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omg_a_Black_Conservative)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2012, 8:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/libyan-killing-of-ambassador-and-staff-how-will-this-play-out-in-election/634511/132 "2012-09-14T08:01:38Z")
So, oddly enough, I see no mention of [this](http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/revealed-inside-story-of-us-envoys-assassination-8135797.html) yet. (Oh, I’m sure somehow, someway, someone will turn this into a positive spin for Obama.) ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2012, 10:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/libyan-killing-of-ambassador-and-staff-how-will-this-play-out-in-election/634511/133 "2012-09-14T10:10:29Z")
> [@Omg\_a\_Black\_Conservative](#): > > So, oddly enough, I see no mention of [this](http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/revealed-inside-story-of-us-envoys-assassination-8135797.html) yet. “Oddly” why? > [@](#): > > (Oh, I’m sure somehow, someway, someone will turn this into a positive spin for Obama.) Okay then. As long as you’re sure. ---
**Author:** ![Omg\_a\_Black\_Conservative](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/7ba0ec/32.png) [@Omg\_a\_Black\_Conservative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omg_a_Black_Conservative)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2012, 11:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/libyan-killing-of-ambassador-and-staff-how-will-this-play-out-in-election/634511/134 "2012-09-14T11:49:06Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > “Oddly” why? It’s called tongue-in-cheek. It’s not odd at all. Why would any of you guys mention it? You all were having too much fun playing “Obama-can-do-no-wrong”. But since you’re here, what say you about the link? Obviously, you can’t discredit it as a “right-wing rag”. Pretty damning, no? > [@](#): > > Okay then. As long as you’re sure. Oh, I’m sure. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2012, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/libyan-killing-of-ambassador-and-staff-how-will-this-play-out-in-election/634511/135 "2012-09-14T13:02:08Z")
> [@Omg\_a\_Black\_Conservative](#): > > It’s called tongue-in-cheek. It’s not odd at all. Why would any of you guys mention it? You all were having too much fun playing “Obama-can-do-no-wrong”. But since you’re here, what say you about the link? Obviously, you can’t discredit it as a “right-wing rag”. Pretty damning, no? Clearly the only reason we wouldn’t have posted a link to a “exclusive” story which only appeared in one UK paper this morning is because of a massive liberal coverup and not, say, because most of us hadn’t **seen** it yet. “Oddly”, anyone else would have just posted the link and asked about it without suggesting that the fact that no one else had posted it yet was the result of a deliberate act. But then, you’re one of a kind. And it’s concerning, yes, but short on facts about what the State Department knew. We get this: > [@](#): > > According to senior diplomatic sources, the US State Department had credible information 48 hours before mobs charged the consulate in Benghazi, and the embassy in Cairo, that American missions may be targeted, but no warnings were given for diplomats to go on high alert and “lockdown”, under which movement is severely restricted. but nothing else on the “warning”, so I have no idea yet whether or not they acted inappropriately given what they knew. Could eventually be damning, but we need to know more. I think we’ve already seen what happens when one comments prematurely. More worrying is the fact that the consulate in Benghazi appears to have had massive security breaches. One wonders whether other embassies and consulates have similar problems. ---
**Author:** ![Merneith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/57b2e6/32.png) [@Merneith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merneith)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2012, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/libyan-killing-of-ambassador-and-staff-how-will-this-play-out-in-election/634511/136 "2012-09-14T13:54:17Z")
Mitt speaks: [The White House agrees with what I said about the Cairo statement](http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2012/09/exclusive-romney-on-obamas-shoot-first-aim-later-attack/) > [@](#): > > In our interview today, Mitt Romney did not back down from his belief that the Obama administration’s first response to the Cairo protest demonstrated “sympathy” for the attackers, but he also made it clear that he was ready to move on. > > “What I said was exactly the same conclusion the White House reached, which was that the statement was inappropriate. That’s why they backed away from it as well,” Romney told me. > > [snip] > > When I pointed out that the White House did not say the embassy’s statement showed sympathy for the attackers, Romney stuck by his remarks. > > “Well, I think the statement was an inappropriate statement. I think it was not directly applicable and appropriate for the setting. I think it should have been taken down. And apparently the White House felt the same way,” he said. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2012, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/libyan-killing-of-ambassador-and-staff-how-will-this-play-out-in-election/634511/137 "2012-09-14T14:34:15Z")
Not explained: why anyone gives a fuck about the Cairo embassy statement today, and why Romney’s people have been lying or misexplaining the timing and circumstances that went into that statement. ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2012, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/libyan-killing-of-ambassador-and-staff-how-will-this-play-out-in-election/634511/138 "2012-09-14T14:51:02Z")
> [@Omg\_a\_Black\_Conservative](#): > > It’s called tongue-in-cheek. And here we all thought it was more an example of head-up-ass. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2012, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/libyan-killing-of-ambassador-and-staff-how-will-this-play-out-in-election/634511/139 "2012-09-14T19:27:31Z")
Well, his tongue _is_ in his head; his ass _does_ have cheeks. No reason you can’t both be right. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2012, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/libyan-killing-of-ambassador-and-staff-how-will-this-play-out-in-election/634511/140 "2012-09-14T19:33:16Z")
> [@Omg\_a\_Black\_Conservative](#): > > You all were having too much fun playing “Obama-can-do-no-wrong”. Oh, bullshit. Nobody here plays “Obama-can-do-no-wrong.” :rolleyes: “Obama-can-do-no-thing-that-would-justify-putting-a-Republican-in-the-White-House,” OTOH, is a perfectly valid position. On account of being 100% verified, non-debatable FACT. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/libyan-killing-of-ambassador-and-staff-how-will-this-play-out-in-election/634511.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/libyan-killing-of-ambassador-and-staff-how-will-this-play-out-in-election/634511.md?page=8)