Conservatives across America are angry, very angry. In Tuesday night’s debate the president claimed he had labeled the killing of our ambassador in Libya an “act of terrorism” the day after the attacks in a Rose Garden speech. The president’s assertion was a complete falsehood. CNN moderator Candy Crowley asserted to Mitt Romney that the president’s claim was true; but was it?
Since when is it the role of a debate moderator to fact check in the middle of a debate?
Crowley sat by quietly as the president claimed, “The day after the attack, Governor, I stood in the Rose Garden, and I told the American people and the world that we are going to find out exactly what happened, that this was an act of terror. And I also said that we’re going to hunt down those who committed this crime. And then a few days later, I was there greeting the caskets coming into Andrews Air Force Base and grieving with the families.”
Both Obama and Crowley told Romney he should read the transcript; well, we did.
“Of course, yesterday was already a painful day for our nation as we marked the solemn memory of the 9/11 attacks. We mourn with the families who were lost on that day. I visited the graves of troops who made the ultimate sacrifice in Iraq and Afghanistan at the hallowed grounds of Arlington Cemetery, and had the opportunity to say thank you and visit some of our wounded warriors at Walter Reed. And then last night we learned the news of this attack in Benghazi.
As Americans let us never, ever forget that our freedom is only sustained because there are people who are willing to fight for it, to stand up for it, and in some cases lay down their lives for it. Our country is only as strong as the character of our people and the service of those, both civilian and military, who represent us around the globe.
No acts of terror will ever shake the resolve of this great nation, alter that character or eclipse the light of the values that we stand for.”
Context is everything. Mr. Obama was referring to the 9/11 attacks. The president’s assertion that the statement was a reference to the Benghazi attacks is laughable, at best. Crowley’s backing of the president’s statement showed gross bias and serves as another demonstration of media promotion of Mr. Obama.
One week after the Rose Garden speech the president’s press secretary Jay Carney admitted that the administration had not called the attack terrorism.
Ms. Crowley attributing Obama’s statement to Benghazi is a massive stretch. While it’s expected a desperate president watching his presidency come to an end might “guild the lily,” a moderator has no business siding with one side or the other; sadly Ms. Crowley is just another left-wing media stooge. Whether you’re angry about her performance or not, it shouldn’t have come unexpectedly.
Shortly after the debate Crowley had to dial back her claim.
Unfortunately for both Obama and Crowley, the public has become wise to their tactics.
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