This just in from our senior U.S. senator:
Graham on Benghazi
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today made this statement on Benghazi.
“I’m pleased to hear that House Intelligence Committee Chairman Mike Rogers is going to follow up on what appears to be major inconsistencies in former CIA Deputy Director Mike Morell’s testimony. However, before calling him to testify, I strongly encourage the House and Senate leadership to establish a joint select committee to investigate this matter.
“For too long we have had various House and Senate committees, along with the State Department’s Accountability Review Board (ARB), investigating the small pieces of Benghazi within their jurisdictions. These are sometimes disjointed and do not always allow for a full and thorough investigation.
“A joint select committee is the best means to ensure Benghazi is fully investigated and all questions are answered once and for all. The American people, and most importantly, the families of the four Americans who died in the attack, deserve nothing less.
“As for Mr. Morell, he has publicly stated he welcomes the opportunity to testify in an open hearing. To ensure proper accountability, I believe we need to declassify his previous testimony and release all communications – written, recorded, audio, and video — involving Mr. Morell’s discussions about the talking points and the role he played in this entire episode.
“Mr. Morell, in a written statement, as well as Susan Rice in her appearance last week on television, both indicated the Administration provided the best evidence available to the public on September 16, 2012. It’s now time to declassify all the communications regarding the attack on our compounds in Benghazi so we can properly account for these statements.
“Finally, I strongly believe it will be impossible to close the books on what happened in Benghazi unless Susan Rice is called to testify before Congress about the role she played. Although she has appeared on television shows, she has never been required to appear before Congress to answer questions about Benghazi.
“The President has said on numerous occasions that as more information is made available he would share it with the public. This statement has not borne fruit.
“It’s past time we clear the air on Benghazi by declassifying all relevant information and having all witnesses testify. We have learned much over the past 17 months about Benghazi that justifies recalling Mr. Morell, General Petraeus, former Secretary of State Clinton, Ambassador Susan Rice and others before a joint select committee of Congress.”
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It seems safe to say that Sen. Graham has reached the Ahab stage in his quest for… something… on this topic.
That said, sure, make the hearings joint, so senators can participate. I’m a little concerned about his blanket demand for declassification — maybe there are some aspects of this that need to remain classified, and I would think Graham of all people would appreciate that.
But, you know, put Susan Rice in the hot seat. Let’s have the hearings. And let chips fall where they may. Take whatever lessons are learned and apply them to prevent future security disasters such as this. And then let’s talk about other stuff.
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Or, just yawn and talk about other stuff.
Move along. Nothing to see here.
Benghazi! Obamacare! Benghazi! Obamacare! etc. Such is the GOP chant. It works well at a pep rally, I guess.
IRS Scandal….
Kenya
RE: The IRS scandal. If it’s not a scandal, why did Lois Learner assert the 5th, and why is she asking for immunity from prosecution?
You are a lawyer. Figure it out.
Hey, if you haven’t done anything wrong, what’s the big deal, right?
Spoken like a real estate lawyer
The IRS has a duty to the taxpayers to enforce the tax code so that the rest of aren’t unduly burdened. The 501 (c) (4) organizations that caused such an uproar were clearly not within the definition of what would allow them tax exempt status. Specifically:
“IRC 501(c)(4) provides for exemption of:
Civic leagues or organizations not organized for profit but operated exclusively for the promotion of social welfare.”
Political outfits, especially those associated with the Tea Party, clearly were not eligible for tax exemption under these provisions. The IRS legitimately looked into the matter, included liberal groups as well. So why all the furor? Beats me. But since the Fox News crowd can make an issue out something that would go against their Plutocratic agenda they certainly will. Scandal? Don’t make me laugh.
Your conclusion regarding ineligibility of Tea Party outfits for IRC 501(c)(4)s status suffers from some stubborn little facts:
Spending on “POLITICAL TV ads” by IRS-approved 501(c)(4)s has already EXCEEDED spending from all Super PACs.
Many longstanding (IRS-approved) 501(c)(4)s are liberal, progressive, left-wing, outfits, and obviously have not been the purely “social welfare” association they have pretended and that you appear to believe.
Also, before 2010, IRS rules for primary activity had been interpreted to mean 501(c)(4) groups should not spend more than 49 percent of their funds for political purposes.
After the Supreme Court’s “Citizens United” decision in January 2010, the 49% restriction was effectively waived allowing unlimited corporate and union spending on federal elections.
While many corporations (e.g. G. Soros’s and Tom Steyer’s outfits) contribute only to Democrat candidates, few labor unions contribute a dime to anyone but Democrats.
– an independent voter who insists on substantive fact.
Hey, Obamacare is great. I’m really excited about the employer mandate kicking in. It’s too bad the President keeps delaying it.
I want to open my presents now!
Lindsey is merely trying to shore up his “conservative” bona-fides. Nothing more than that with this whole Benghazi non-story.
Ya think?
I mentioned Chris Christie’s problem with the bridge closing the other day, and one of our conservative friends went “SO! What about … Benghazi!” Which made me get all serious and respond, “You really think Christie’s bridge problem is as bad as … Benghazi?” Which caused a lot of sputtering.
Everyone seems to have their non-issues that they harp on constantly. Fox has Benghazi. MSNBC has Chris Christie. And The State newspaper never tires of discussing state government restructuring. As for me I’d rather focus on important stuff like the possibility that Ashton Kutcher is engaged to Mila Kunis.
…IRS rules for primary activity had been interpreted to mean 501(c)(4) groups should not spend more than 49 percent of their funds for political purposes.
-Juan
Juan you need a lawyer to interpret the law with regard to 501 c4s. Well actually all you really need is someone who knows how to read. The law specifically says 501c4s should be EXCLUSIVELY used for social welfare purposes.
As for your comments about liberal groups, they should of course be treated the same as the tea party groups. Which means they too are not tax exempt. But just in terms of numbers the conservative groups far outnumber the liberal ones. So exactly who is cheating the taxpayers?
Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., speaking on CNN’s State of the Union, said “we have a weak and indecisive president,” and that “invites aggression.”
Better weak and indecisive than careless and reckless. Lindsey can’t even wait a day before he launches into this counterproductive diatribe the serves no purpose other than to further bolster his shakey conservative credentials. Kerry was on the news programs this morning discussing the various options we have. Frankly I don’t know what the point is. Russia will throw away much treasure trying to relive its empire days. The west will shun them with economic sanctions of some sort. Putin will puff his chest out. At the end of the day the USA will continue to prosper while the Russians will fester in the economic wilderness. And folks like Lindsey Graham will strut around blathering on about how our vital national interests are threatened. But of course nothing of the sort will be the case.
Breaking News:
Graham opens investigation on the invasion of Afghanistan and Iraq.
Lindsey is trying to save his ass with the Tea Baggers. Even though he crosses the aisle to the “dark side” to create compromise, he will not get my vote. Democrats won’t get my vote either for Congress. For the next three national elections for Congress, I won’t vote for a Republican or a Democrat.
They are not part of the solution. They are the problem! I’ll do a write-in if there is no viable third party candidate.
As the great philosopher, Pogo, once said “We have met the enemy and he is us.”