Earlier this week, Jed gave us
an overview of why Republicans think Benghazi is a thing other than a tragedy at a diplomatic outpost with inadequate security (a failing that Secretary of State Hillary Clinton had begged House Republicans to rectify with more funding to no effect).
In short, Republicans think the administration lied in order to win the 2012 elections, as if the election hinged on an issue few cared about outside wingnuttia. In addition, conservatives have also convinced themselves that those diplomats in Benghazi were abandoned by the White House, left to fend for themselves when the cavalry could've been sent in to save them. Some crazies think it was all orchestrated by Obama in conjunction with the Muslim Brotherhood, or some crazy to that effect.
But at its core, the whole "lied to America" thing hinges on one simple piece of "evidence", and that's a set of edited talking points UN Ambassador Susan Rice used for a Sunday morning talk show appearance. Don't believe me? Click here.
To repeat: this supposed "scandal" revolves around a set of edited talking points. That's it.
Lie to a nation to start a trillion+ dollar war that cost thousands of American lives and untold Iraqi deaths? Eh. Whatever. Edit some talking points, and we get craziness like this:
[Former National Security Council spokesman Tommy] Vietor said Thursday on [Fox News'] “Special Report with Bret Baier” that he was among the aides who prepped National Security Adviser Susan Rice on talking points and that the prep referenced ongoing protests around the world, not Benghazi specifically — an argument that’s been repeated by the White House this week.
Did you change the word “attacks” to “demonstrations” in the talking points? Mr. Baier asked.
“Maybe — I don’t really remember,” Mr. Vietor said. “Dude, this was like two years ago — we’re still talking about the most mundane process.”
“Dude — it is the thing everybody’s talking about!” Mr. Baier interjected.
“We’re talking about the process of editing talking points,” Mr. Vietor said. “That’s what bureaucrats do all day long. Your producers edit scripts multiple times.”
The Fox News Death Bubble at work: "Everyone is talking about it!" Well, not in the real world. In crazyland? Sure! In America, not so much. Because in the real world, editing stuff isn't noteworthy in the least.
So yes, Benghazi is all about edited talking points, and nothing more. Give it to the GOP, their ability to whip themselves up into a frenzy over the most mundane of government functions is impressive. But it's also a testament to what happens to those afflicted with Obama Derangement Syndrome when forced to live under an administration that hasn't had a real scandal in six years.
Apparently, what happens is that they have to pretend to be outraged over someone editing some talking points. Pass the smelling salts!