Obama Taking Heat For ‘Optimal’ Comments Regarding Libya Attack
President Obama said that the attack on the US Consulate in Libya that killed four Americans last month was “not optimal” in an interview, and is now being criticized by right-leaning media outlets over the remarks.
The president made the comment last night in a pre-recorded interview with Jon Stewart on The Daily Show, which we reported on here. Following up on criticism for the Obama Administration’s response to the attacks and the rhetorical melee that occurred over it during Tuesday’s debate, Stewart asked: “I would say and even you would admit it was not the optimal response — at least to the American people as far as all of us being on the same page.”
President Obama’s response: “Here is what I will say — if four Americans get killed, it is not optimal. And we are going to fix it.”
The president’s critics are hammering him over his remarks (most notably, Drudge), saying that the comments downplayed the significance of the attack in Libya and the perceived weakness in the administration’s response. Despite the president’s confession that “nobody is more interested in figuring this out than I am,” many critics have questioned his administration’s response to the attacks.
Libya was largely absent from the annual Al Smith Dinner in New York City Thursday night, seen as a sort-of unofficial “debate” between candidates seeking the presidency in which they (sometimes) face their greatest challenge – being funny. The dinner is an important stop for presidential hopefuls, with NPR saying that it gives candidates a chance to add “a laugh track to their campaigns.”
President Obama poked fun at his first debate performance: “Turns out millions of Americans focused in on the second debate who didn’t focus on the first debate,” he said, “I happen to be one of them,” while Romney took a jab at the media: “I’ve already seen early reports from tonight’s dinner. Headline: ‘Obama embraced by Catholics. Romney dines with rich people.’ ”
Video from the 2012 Al Smith Dinner should be hosted on C-SPAN soon, but until then, you can watch the 2008 dinner here.
What do you think of President Obama’s “optimal” comments? Agree with him and his administration or not, I say we cut him a break. I smell no scandal here, and I, myself, find the response to Libya sketchy at best. Sound off!
Tags : Al Smith Dinner, Barack Obama, jon stewart, libya, Libya attack, Mitt Romney, obama administration response to libya attack, obama optimal, obama optimal comments, the daily show
Posted: October 19, 2012
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Oct 19, 2012
You know what's not optimal Mr. President; four more years of you…
Oct 19, 2012
He make me sick
Oct 19, 2012
Obama is being honest…If Romney's crowd wants to hang a word on him to get the definition of…it should be "LIES" I don't have a clue how Mittens sleeps at night. While at the dinner last night, perhaps he wisely stopped being a Morman long enough to have the Bishop here his Confession…Never know when one's going to kick the bucket..& God HATES LIARS, so Mitt really should cover his butt..with all opportunties!
Oct 20, 2012
Oh dear..my proof reading stinks!! Make that 'hear'..:O/
Oct 27, 2012
SLAIN SEALS TOLD TO STAND DOWN.
Three Requests from CIA operatives to help were Denied by the CIA… They went anyway in order to help the Ambassador and the CIA and the White House watched as these men and the Ambassador were killed. This attack went on for 7 hours!
Ask yourself what was the real agenda of the White House, why did we not stop these terrorist, why were the Embassy's not properly armed before the 9/11 anniversary? Incompetence or… what ever the reason the Obama Administration is not keeping Americans safe.
Obama and Clinton knew that Benghazi attack was an act of terror, both from a drone that was broadcasting live video of the attack and a e-mails delivered starting at 4:05 PM that stated the Embassy was under attack from ground forces with “guns and explosions” in Benghazi… But they manufactured lies about a phony video and took no steps to protect them!
The Obama Administration had plenty of time to order forces to stop the attack and save the lives of 4 men!
However, Obama found it to be much more attractive to just re-direct the attention and say it was due to a short film clip that had come out in June, some 3 months earlier. He repeated this Bull Shit 5 times at the UN a week after the attacks.
How could the President of the United States not go to the situation room and take some sort of action to save the lives of United States citizens?
The video he and Hillary claimed to be the cause was nothing more than a cover for the Obama Administration to hide the facts before the election so the people would not know that the President of our nation went to sleep while people were being killed!
With these documents and video received before and during the attacks, it becomes apparent that President Obama ignored the terrorist attack in Benghazi, and just walked away from his responsibility and left that to others so he could prepare for a campaign and fund raiser speech the next day? These are questions that need to be answered NOW and not after the election!
Obama should not be running for re-election. He should be running from a jail term due to the lack of leadership and action he could have taken to save the lives of 4 men he seemed to ignore!
Now the people of the United States have to make the decision between placing Obama back into the White House where he seems to be more interested in making television shows than telling the truth or kick him out and see what charges he should face for the deaths of 4 men he may have been able to save, had he done what he was supposed to! It is our choice and I hope the people see through the lies and deceit of Obama and replace him now!
Anyone that can justify Obama's reelection or voting for him has a very low opinion of the office of President, Obama lies Americans die… Anyone voting for Obama has an even lower opinion of America, we don't leave Americans to die (unless your Carter or Obama). Obama is a liar and he has surrounded himself with liars.