# What is the truth behind this meme? \[Our Navy Seals begged for help and Obama went to bed\] **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 3, 2018, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-truth-behind-this-meme-our-navy-seals-begged-for-help-and-obama-went-to-bed/820670 "2018-09-03T03:49:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2018, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-truth-behind-this-meme-our-navy-seals-begged-for-help-and-obama-went-to-bed/820670/1 "2018-09-03T03:49:40Z")
[Our Navy Seals begged for help and Obama went to bed!](https://i.pinimg.com/originals/27/c2/c5/27c2c5c2cbc20009b371e4e14f3bea4d.jpg) This was shared by my favourite uncle. What are the facts behind the claim? ---
**Author:** ![Morgyn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morgyn/32/3041_2.png) [@Morgyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgyn)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2018, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-truth-behind-this-meme-our-navy-seals-begged-for-help-and-obama-went-to-bed/820670/2 "2018-09-03T03:51:02Z")
Maybe another reference to Benghazi? ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2018, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-truth-behind-this-meme-our-navy-seals-begged-for-help-and-obama-went-to-bed/820670/3 "2018-09-03T04:04:24Z")
> [@Morgyn](#): > > Maybe another reference to Benghazi? I’m pretty sure it is. I can only find right-wing websites and I don’t want to click on them because I doubt their objectivity. The meme is being recycled to defend Trump against his golfing during McCain’s funeral. ---
**Author:** ![Morgyn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morgyn/32/3041_2.png) [@Morgyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgyn)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2018, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-truth-behind-this-meme-our-navy-seals-begged-for-help-and-obama-went-to-bed/820670/4 "2018-09-03T04:13:32Z")
Do I want to know how in hell they get from Obama and Benghazi to Trump on a golf course? No, I don’t think I could stand that just now. Carry on. ---
**Author:** ![TimeWinder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bcef8e/32.png) [@TimeWinder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TimeWinder)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2018, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-truth-behind-this-meme-our-navy-seals-begged-for-help-and-obama-went-to-bed/820670/5 "2018-09-03T04:19:32Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > The meme is being recycled to defend Trump against his golfing during McCain’s funeral. As with every “both siderism” comment, an ideal response is: "Nearly all of these claims made by your side turn out to be false. This one probably is, too. But let’s assume for a moment that it’s completely valid. How does Obama (or whoever) acting badly make it OK for Trump?" ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2018, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-truth-behind-this-meme-our-navy-seals-begged-for-help-and-obama-went-to-bed/820670/6 "2018-09-03T04:26:32Z")
Obama’s gone. Hillary didn’t win. The Bush’s are painting their toes. Trump has to answer for Trump. He needs to quit being a candyass, and stop whining. IMHO. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2018, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-truth-behind-this-meme-our-navy-seals-begged-for-help-and-obama-went-to-bed/820670/7 "2018-09-03T04:45:12Z")
> [@Morgyn](#): > > Do I want to know how in hell they get from Obama and Benghazi to Trump on a golf course? > > No, I don’t think I could stand that just now. Carry on. > [@TimeWinder](#): > > How does Obama (or whoever) acting badly make it OK for Trump?" > [@Beckdawrek](#): > > Obama’s gone. Hillary didn’t win. Irrelevant to the OP. The meme basically says that Obama didn’t care enough to help the SEALS. Instead of doing something, he went to bed. What, specifically, are they blaming Obama for, and what actually happened? FWIW, the resurrection is being shared as ‘I’d rather have a president that doesn’t attend funerals, rather than one that causes them.’ But as I said, that’s irrelevant to the question I’m asking. ---
**Author:** ![OldGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/3bc359/32.png) [@OldGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldGuy)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2018, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-truth-behind-this-meme-our-navy-seals-begged-for-help-and-obama-went-to-bed/820670/8 "2018-09-03T04:56:00Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > FWIW, the resurrection is being shared as ‘I’d rather have a president that doesn’t attend funerals, rather than one that causes them.’ But as I said, that’s irrelevant to the question I’m asking. Presumably the deaths of people who can’t afford medical care don’t count in this? ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2018, 5:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-truth-behind-this-meme-our-navy-seals-begged-for-help-and-obama-went-to-bed/820670/9 "2018-09-03T05:00:38Z")
> [@OldGuy](#): > > Presumably the deaths of people who can’t afford medical care don’t count in this? I’d rather not get into a political discussion. Just looking for what Obama specifically did to presumably cause the deaths of Navy SEALs. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2018, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-truth-behind-this-meme-our-navy-seals-begged-for-help-and-obama-went-to-bed/820670/10 "2018-09-03T05:05:04Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > Obama’s gone. Hillary didn’t win. The Bush’s are painting their toes. > Trump has to answer for Trump. > He needs to quit being a candyass, and stop whining. IMHO. > [@OldGuy](#): > > Presumably the deaths of people who can’t afford medical care don’t count in this? **Mod Notes** Let’s keep the political jabs out of General Questions. > [@Morgyn](#): > > Do I want to know how in hell they get from Obama and Benghazi to Trump on a golf course? > > No, I don’t think I could stand that just now. Carry on. > [@TimeWinder](#): > > As with every “both siderism” comment, an ideal response is: > > "Nearly all of these claims made by your side turn out to be false. This one probably is, too. But let’s assume for a moment that it’s completely valid. > > How does Obama (or whoever) acting badly make it OK for Trump?" **MODERATOR INSTRUCTIONS** \*\*These remarks are irrelevant to the OP. Let’s stick strictly to the question in the OP. There are other threads to comment on these matters. This thread is already off track after only a few replies. I don’t want to see it go further into the weeds. \*\* Colibri General Questions Moderator Title also edited to indicate subject. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2018, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-truth-behind-this-meme-our-navy-seals-begged-for-help-and-obama-went-to-bed/820670/11 "2018-09-03T05:35:27Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > [Our Navy Seals begged for help and Obama went to bed!](https://i.pinimg.com/originals/27/c2/c5/27c2c5c2cbc20009b371e4e14f3bea4d.jpg) > > This was shared by my favourite uncle. What are the facts behind the claim? Assuming it’s referring to Benghazi, two of the casualties from the attack were former Navy Seals (Glen Doherty and Tyrone Woods) though both had left the Seals by 2006 and were working as security contractors for the CIA at the time of the attack. If you’re trying to sell a message, I’m sure “Navy Seals” scans better than “CIA security contractors” so that explains the “Seals” part although it gives the misleading impression that they were active duty soldiers. During the attack, calls were made for assistance. The Republican led committee investigating the deaths ultimately [blamed faulty military response](https://www.npr.org/2016/06/28/483831166/benghazi-committee-faults-military-response-to-2012-attack-in-libya): > [@](#): > > The 800-page report found that despite President Obama and then Defense Secretary Leon Panetta’s “clear orders,” the military failed to immediately send a force to Benghazi and that nothing was en route to Libya at the time the last two Americans were killed — almost eight hours after the attacks began. I have no idea if Obama slept during any portion of the attack but then I doubt the person who made that sign does either. Ironically, [another false story](https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/white-house-benghazi-response/) is that Obama and Clinton watched the whole multi-hour thing in real time and did nothing to call in assistance. ---
**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2018, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-truth-behind-this-meme-our-navy-seals-begged-for-help-and-obama-went-to-bed/820670/12 "2018-09-03T05:35:44Z")
OK. Some detective work reveals this: > [@](#): > > Our Navy Seals begged or help and Obama went to bed. #Benghazi [Picture here.](https://www.pinterest.com/pin/385128205606391411/) I conclude that this rumor has something to do with Obama denying help to Seals at Benghazi. There is a whole world of conspiracy on that. [Snopes will talk you through it](https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/benghazi-bungle/). The short version seems to be that during the attack on the Benghazi compound, Obama and Clinton were watching in real time and actively stopped all attempts to send aid, including relieving military leaders of duty when they tried to help. Snopes details all of this. None of this is true, in case you were wondering. ---
**Author:** ![I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/i_love_me_vol.i/32/521_2.png) [@I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_Love_Me_Vol.I)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2018, 5:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-truth-behind-this-meme-our-navy-seals-begged-for-help-and-obama-went-to-bed/820670/13 "2018-09-03T05:58:07Z")
Sorry for a tiny nitpick: > [@Jophiel](#): > > I’m sure “Navy Seals” scans better than “CIA security contractors” so that explains the “Seals” part although it gives the misleading impression that they were active duty soldiers… Sailors, not soldiers. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2018, 6:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-truth-behind-this-meme-our-navy-seals-begged-for-help-and-obama-went-to-bed/820670/14 "2018-09-03T06:02:24Z")
> [@I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](#): > > Sailors, not soldiers. Thanks for the correction. I mentally collect them all as “soldiers” but apparently I’m incorrect to do so. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2018, 7:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-truth-behind-this-meme-our-navy-seals-begged-for-help-and-obama-went-to-bed/820670/15 "2018-09-03T07:30:30Z")
As the attack in Benghazi happened around 3pm Washington, DC time, I seriously doubt President Obama was getting ready for bed in mid-afternoon. And it was over by 10pm Washington time, well before Obama’s Midnight-1am bedtime. So just looking at the time it occurred tends to show that this story is untrue. ---
**Author:** ![TimeWinder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bcef8e/32.png) [@TimeWinder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TimeWinder)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2018, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-truth-behind-this-meme-our-navy-seals-begged-for-help-and-obama-went-to-bed/820670/16 "2018-09-03T13:09:48Z")
Snopes refutes it in it’s entirety, along with their tradition for providing cites: [Attack on the U.S. Diplomatic Mission in Benghazi | Snopes.com](https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/benghazi-bungle/) ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2018, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-truth-behind-this-meme-our-navy-seals-begged-for-help-and-obama-went-to-bed/820670/17 "2018-09-03T15:33:49Z")
Note that the last GOP\* House investigation report on Benghazi turned up virtually nothing new. E.g., that between the White House asking for additional troops from Europe to be sent and the attack on the CIA compound several hours elapsed. When the attack commenced no troops had taken off. All the usual glurge like the infamous “stand down” order was refuted by the GOP investigation. There just wasn’t time to do much of anything. And Trey Gowdy [agrees](https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/trey-gowdy-admitted-benghazi/). - The last of 6 such GOP investigations, btw. This one cost $7.8 million. ---
**Author:** ![bardos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bardos/32/1069_2.png) [@bardos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bardos)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2018, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-truth-behind-this-meme-our-navy-seals-begged-for-help-and-obama-went-to-bed/820670/18 "2018-09-03T16:26:32Z")
> [@TimeWinder](#): > > Snopes refutes it in it’s entirety, along with their tradition for providing cites: [Attack on the U.S. Diplomatic Mission in Benghazi | Snopes.com](https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/benghazi-bungle/) My understanding is that Snopes has been outed to have the same reliability as wikipedia… ymmv ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2018, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-truth-behind-this-meme-our-navy-seals-begged-for-help-and-obama-went-to-bed/820670/19 "2018-09-03T16:30:51Z")
> [@bardos](#): > > My understanding is that Snopes has been outed to have the same reliability as wikipedia… ymmv Speaking of reliability-who says this, and what is their evidence? ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2018, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-truth-behind-this-meme-our-navy-seals-begged-for-help-and-obama-went-to-bed/820670/20 "2018-09-03T16:36:01Z")
> [@bardos](#): > > My understanding is that Snopes has been outed to have the same reliability as wikipedia… ymmv In other words, far more reliable than roadside signs. If you have evidence that contradicts the cites, post it. Otherwise this comment is irrelevant. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-truth-behind-this-meme-our-navy-seals-begged-for-help-and-obama-went-to-bed/820670.md?page=2)