Obama challenges Republicans hammering Rice on Libya to 'go after me'
Published November 14, 2012
FoxNews.com
FoxNews.com
President Obama aggressively challenged Republican senators threatening to block U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Susan Rice if she is nominated for secretary of state, saying at a press conference Wednesday that those lawmakers seeking an "easy target" should just "go after me."
The full-throated defense of Rice follows weeks of criticism from Republicans concerned that she asserted repeatedly, five days after the Libya terror attack, that it was a "spontaneous" assault tied to an anti-Islam film - despite evidence that it was a pre-planned terror attack.
Amid speculation that Rice could be tapped to succeed Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., and others vowed to do "whatever is necessary" to block such a nomination.
But Obama said Wednesday that Rice has done "exemplary work," and said "to besmirch her reputation is outrageous."
"She made an appearance at the request of the White House in which she gave her best understanding of the intelligence that had been provided to her," Obama said. "If Sen. McCain and Sen. (Lindsey) Graham and others want to go after somebody, they should go after me."
He continued: "When they go after the U.N. ambassador apparently because they think she's an easy target, then they've got a problem with me."
The president said he would nominate her if he thinks she is the best person for the job, but added "that's not a determination that I've made yet."
The full-throated defense of Rice follows weeks of criticism from Republicans concerned that she asserted repeatedly, five days after the Libya terror attack, that it was a "spontaneous" assault tied to an anti-Islam film - despite evidence that it was a pre-planned terror attack.
Amid speculation that Rice could be tapped to succeed Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., and others vowed to do "whatever is necessary" to block such a nomination.
But Obama said Wednesday that Rice has done "exemplary work," and said "to besmirch her reputation is outrageous."
"She made an appearance at the request of the White House in which she gave her best understanding of the intelligence that had been provided to her," Obama said. "If Sen. McCain and Sen. (Lindsey) Graham and others want to go after somebody, they should go after me."
He continued: "When they go after the U.N. ambassador apparently because they think she's an easy target, then they've got a problem with me."
The president said he would nominate her if he thinks she is the best person for the job, but added "that's not a determination that I've made yet."
