SC Lawmakers at Odds Over Susan Rice
Republican House members part of group of 97 who oppose Rice promotion.
Most of South Carolina’s Congressional delegation is at odds over Susan Rice, the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations.
Rice has been mentioned as a possible successor to Hillary Clinton as Secretary of State, but before her candidacy is even official it’s encountered strong opposition, particularly from South Carolina’s Republicans.
The opposition stems from comments that Rice made while appearing on Sunday talk shows following the attack on the United States embassy in Benghazi, Libya on Sept. 11 that killed four Americans, including Ambassador Christopher Stevens.
During her appearances, Rice said that the attack on the embassy was spontaneous, when later investigations proved that it had been coordinated.
Last Wednesday, Rice said that when she appeared on the talk shows, "I made clear that the information was preliminary, and that our investigations would give us the definitive answers.”
Still, her initial remarks set off a flurry of doubts that hasn’t relented. Mitt Romney attempted unsuccessfully to make them a campaign issue. At a press conference on Nov. 14, Sen. Lindsey Graham said he believed Rice misled the American people and that “she is so disconnected from reality I don’t trust her.”
At the same press conference, Sen. John McCain of Arizona called Rice incompetent.
Last Sunday, while appearing on Meet the Press Graham reiterated his concerns over Rice. Both Graham and McCain have pledged to block Rice’s nomination as Secretary of State should President Obama put her name forward.
In his first press conference since being re-elected, Obama said the implication that Rice was not qualified for promotion was “outrageous.”
The president’s remarks did little to slow the criticism. On Tuesday, a group of 97 House members led by Rep. Jeff Duncan of South Carolina’s Third District wrote a letter to Obama saying they would oppose a Rice candidacy for Secretary of State. South Carolina’s other Republican congressmen, Joe Wilson, Trey Gowdy, Mick Mulvaney and Tim Scott also signed the letter. It’s attached to this article.
Later on Tuesday, Rep. Jim Clyburn of South Carolina’s Sixth District and the third ranking member in the House, lashed back at Republicans for their remarks about Rice and accused them of using racial “code words.”
Appearing on CNN, Clyburn said: "We heard them during the campaign. During this recent campaign, we heard Sununu calling our President ‘lazy,’ ‘incompetent.’ These kinds of terms that those of us – especially those of us who were born and raised in the South – we’ve been hearing these little words and phrases all of our lives and we get insulted by them.”
Clyburn had particularly harsh words for McCain, saying that he “could not hold a candle” to Rice intellectually.
“But he told us that Sarah Palin was very competent to be vice president of the United States -- that should tell you a little about his judgment," Clyburn said.
Graham responded to Clyburn’s comments by saying that the only color he was concerned about is “red, blood red. The death of four Americans.”
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Gretchen
7:52 am on Friday, November 23, 2012
The complaints about SUSAN RICE have nothing to do with RACE. Hillary said the same thing... and it being criticized equally, and in case CLYBURN didn't notice, Hillary is not AFRICAN AMERICAN. So, how does he reconcile the criticizm of Hillary. It seems CLYBURN is one of those people who blames and complaints about an AFRICAN AMERICAN on Racism. He can't imagine that someone would simply DISAGREE with that persons point of view. The RACIST here is CLYBURN. If he is insulted by the word "lazy" -- well, then maybe it's true. IF THE SHOE FITS, WEAR IT !
maizenbluedoc
8:16 am on Friday, November 23, 2012
Clyburn has learned his lessons well, he uses race and racism because it works. The primary reason people were/are reluctant to say anything negative about Obama or any other black is the fear of being called a racist. If the truth could ever be extracted from the people in the Obama administration, all the people involved in monitoring the situation in Benghazi are guilty of not telling the truth, primarily to protect Obama before the election. This tells America much about our politicians; they will sacrifice 4 dead Americans to protect their party. Rice was doing wht she ws told to do. This is typical of Obama, he always ascertains that someone else is responsible for anything he does that may be a political liability. This is evident in his not voting for issues that would harm him politically. He just voted "present" so he could absolve himself, regardless of which way the vote went. Defintely a slick bunch in the White House.
William Scott
9:44 am on Friday, November 23, 2012
Clyburn's intelligence is so low, it doesn't show on the sight gage. He is an insult
to the people of SC.
stanley seigler
10:42 am on Friday, November 23, 2012
how did you determine clyburn's IQ...did you base it on the skin color...
from what i heard/read he is more intelligent that most SCs in DC...except maybe ben bernanke and susan rice...that he chose to run as a DEM gives him huge IQ plus...
Linda
9:55 am on Friday, November 23, 2012
McCain is such a cry baby and Graham is his thumb sucking sidekick! They will oppose Obama on anything. They need to grow up and deal with important issues that are facing this country right now!
stanley seigler
10:53 am on Friday, November 23, 2012
not sure about mccain being a cry baby...but he's losing some respect we all had and still have for him...he should have retired...
one can give little credit to a man who thinks palin is qualified to be president and rice not qualified to be sec of state...OTOH
he did choose palin over romney for his VP...so guess he does have some creditability in his old age...
James Crawford
10:19 am on Friday, November 23, 2012
The facts are in. Even General Patreus, the CIA Director, supported what Dr. Rice said. Dr.Rice has been a competent foreign service representative for many years. She has served as an Assistant Sercretary of State and the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations. The attacks on her qualifications to be the U.S. Secretary of State are wrong. Most of those who are critical of her have no understanding of the intelligence community nor the sacrifices U.S. Foreign Services Officers face while serving our country. Let's stick to the subject. Dr. Rice's qualification to be the Secretary of State. If he was qualified to serve as our Ambassador to the U.N. and as an Assistant Secretary of State, she should be considered as a candidate for Secretary of State.
maizenbluedoc
11:22 am on Friday, November 23, 2012
Maybe shooting the messenger isn't the best tactic; Rice was saying what she was told to say by someone higher in rank than she. Nobody can convince me that Obama was not aware of what was happening. If he wasn't, he is the incompetent one, or he is not telling the American people the truth.
George Grace
4:35 pm on Monday, November 26, 2012
I agree and well said James. Our Congressional delegation, excluding Jim Clyburn, are the embarrassment. Lindsay Graham, McCain's poodle, just disavowed his pledge to Norquist. Why is he pledging anything in the first place. He represents us, the people of SC, not some lobbyist. Rice should go up, Lindsay Graham should go out.
Cheryll Woods-Flowers
11:02 am on Friday, November 23, 2012
Clyburn is an embarrassment to SC...he makes every issue about race because that is the only reason he is a congressman...elected to a district created for a minority...sad...
stanley seigler
12:20 pm on Friday, November 23, 2012
only in SC...in the rest of USA (well the blue states) he gives hope SC will join the union (not secede) and work with (not against) BO to create jobs, improve education, provide adequate safety nets for all, and quality programs for children/adults with disabilities.
BTW those who are embarrassed by clyburn evidently didnt get the 6NOV message...the blue states won the election...ie, the majority approved of BO and the likes of clyburn (the DEMs)...even 'redred' orange county, CA is turning pink...(FYI OC, CA is the SC of CA)
the 'embarrassed by clyburn' GOPs will truly be embarrassed by their failed policies, if they continue down the T-party path.
David
4:20 pm on Friday, November 23, 2012
Jim Clyburn is as obnoxious a they come when he uses the race card. Just because he is black it does not mean that he is not lazy or incompetent whether he is or not. Race has nothing to do with those adjectives whenever they might have been used to describe anyone now or in the past. What he calls his 'code words' are only those words which work to his own racist advantage because he is the one who brought race into the equation! He & others like him use race, gender or whatever other divisive terms they can use to inject emotion into any agenda they are dealing with on any subject just to get their way. Susan Rice should not be confirmed as Sec of State because she did not have the wherewithal to ask the appropriate questions, & if things were still under investigation both she & Obama should have not offered an excuse which had no grounding in fact those 5 times on those 5 TV shows. For anyone to say that she was the mouthpiece of someone else who made up the lies she told, she still was part of the deception & is not fit to serve in any responsible position in our government!
van crause
4:26 pm on Friday, November 23, 2012
This woman is black, that is the only reason she is being considered.....you mean to tell me of all the educated people in the United States, this is what you come up with. What happen to being judged by your character, intellect and not your color, I guess that only works when it is convenient. Clyburn is a perfect example......he is where he is only because he is black.......it sure as hell not based on his character and intellect.
stanley seigler
6:03 pm on Friday, November 23, 2012
sameoldsameold racist adhom like comments...i grew up (white) in sville in the era of segregation (KKK active too)...i know racism when i see...it abounds here on PATCH.
so very sad many making the racist remarks are not aware of their prejudices (racism)...they dont even know they are racist.
caveat: i dont believe mccain and linsey are racist...they just pander to their constituents; which has been, is still, SOP for GOPs politicians...
they have pandered/played the race card w/ code words, coded political adds (eg, willie horton) since the 50-60's...know all recall lee atwater apologized for using it.
FYI
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lee_Atwater
CLIPS
Atwater: You start out in 1954 by saying, "N-word, n-word, n-word." By 1968 you can't say "n-word" — that hurts you...So you say stuff like forced busing, states' rights and all that stuff...You follow me — because obviously sitting around saying, "We want to cut this," is much more abstract than even the busing thing, and a hell of a lot more abstract than "N-word, n-wordr."[
[...]
Referring to Dukakis, Atwater declared that he would "strip the bark off the little bastard" and "make Willie Horton his running mate
[...]
My (atwater's) illness helped me to see that what was missing in society is what was missing in me: a little heart, a lot of brotherhood.
[...]
This article was notable for an apology to Michael Dukakis for the "naked cruelty" of the 1988 presidential election campaign.
[end clips]
maizenbluedoc
9:21 pm on Friday, November 23, 2012
stanley seigler: Just because someone disagrees with a certain individual who may have a different skin pigmentation than them does not necessarily equate to racism. You cannot call someone a racist without having some general knowledge of that person, but in the case of Mr. Clyburn, he is attempting to use race as a means to further his cause. I could say Mr.Clyburn is racist for saying those who disagree with Susan Rice is using code words for racism, but that does not make it legitimate. By making every disagreement about race only further polarizes the nation. I appears that is what some on the left want to happen, using the "more the merrier" philosophy. I would rather have a compent black in a government position than an incompetent caucasian, Is that sufficient for someone who happened to be born in the south (Va) to preclude my stereotypical racist tendencies? What I find strange and troubling is that people of color are never perceived as being racists.
stanley seigler
10:33 am on Saturday, November 24, 2012
@maizenbluedoc
needless to say i disagree w/yo opines...i find it troubling (ludicrous) white racists attempt to excuse their racism by accusing blacks of racism...
painfully obvious (ludicrous) are comments racists use to hide their racism...eg, 'I would rather have a compent black in a government position than an incompetent caucasian'...reminds one of the anti-semite comment: 'some of my best friends are jews.'
in sum: the racist 'doth protest too much'...
re: because someone disagrees with a certain individual who may have a different skin pigmentation than them does not necessarily equate to racism.
this is a motherhood/applepie statement. and no one said or implied that disagreement equated to racism...
Robert Kelly
8:14 am on Saturday, November 24, 2012
Susan Rice had nothing to do with the events that led to the deaths of 4 Americans. She is the representative to the UN. She was briefed by the CIA before going on television to report on what the government knew up to that time. She got her talking points from the CIA, and stuck to them.
This tempest of preemptive strikes is ludicrous. She is a national expert on foreign policy, well educated and knowledgable. The attacks against her are not based on any personal shortcomings; they are based on her using the CIA briefing as the current state of information. If the fact-challenged senators were honest, they would have been calling for an investigation of the CIA lapse, but of course at the time of the debacle it was their favorite, Gen. Petraeus, who was in charge. So really, what is the reason for these attacks on Dr. Rice?
maizenbluedoc
9:21 am on Saturday, November 24, 2012
I suppose the same can be said about the attacks on Romney, which went unchallenged by the left. Can't have it both ways, but some will keep trying ad infinitum.
Robert Kelly
6:51 pm on Saturday, November 24, 2012
The attacks on Romney? I don't recall anyone blaming him for anything to do with it, other than shooting off his mouth without being asked, when in fact he knew nothing at all. Dr. Rice, as the representative to the UN, reported to the American public what the CIA reported to her as the current state of what was known. Romney simply mouthed off without having any information at all. And he wanted to be president.
maizenbluedoc
11:24 am on Saturday, November 24, 2012
stanley seigler: I have arrived at a concrete conclusion; you possess the same egotist views as Obama-Nobody can tell you anything, you know everything about everything, and as a consequence, I am not attempting to convince you of anything. I am only stating my opinion, and I have ended any further comments concerning anything you say. You are most likely an apologist for racism. I am not, as I have never considered myself racist, nor have I practiced it, overtly or covertly. C'est la vie.
stanley seigler
1:48 pm on Saturday, November 24, 2012
WOW! another concrete conclusion...others:
*Nobody can convince me that Obama was not aware of what was happening.
*all the people involved in monitoring the situation in Benghazi are guilty of not telling the truth
*he (BO) always ascertains that someone else is responsible for anything he does
*his (BO) obvious hatred for American business.
etc
Robert Kelly
8:30 am on Sunday, November 25, 2012
Peter King is the Republican chair of the House Oversight Committee:
"Peter King admitted today on CNN that David Petraeus, in his Hill briefing, the one John McCain couldn't be bothered to attend because he was holding a press conference denouncing the administration for withholding information, gave Susan Rice the green light to say what she said on those TV appearances on that fateful day." (Daily Beast, Nov 16)
CBS News is currently reporting that the talking points Dr. Susan Rice gave on television were specifically edited by the Director of National Intelligence (DNI), and approved by the FBI and CIA, as the unclassified information to release. Do John McCain and Lindsley Graham suggest the UN Ambassador should have pulled a Daniel Ellsberg and publicly revealed classified information which the DNI could not confirm? So again i wonder, what is the reason for the attacks on Dr. Rice, and why are so many sycophants on this site insisting upon them? It does not seem honorable to me.
stanley seigler
11:34 am on Sunday, November 25, 2012
thanks for the facts...perhaps mccain read your PATCH post:), ie;
'Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) today issued a statement essentially conceding that he was wrong in accusing the White House of changing U.N. Ambassador Susan Rice’s talking points on Benghazi for political purposes.
http://thinkprogress.org/security/2012/11/20/1225461/mccain-rice-benghazi-talking-points/?mobile=nc
mccain/graham's position was/is difficult to understand...maybe there were/are still in shock after 6NOV...and were trying to make, too late, GOP points on foreign policy.
as said above: i dont believe mccain and graham are racist...they are not as machiavellian as atwater was in the use of racism...hope i am right, if not we have serious issues.
stanley seigler
12:11 pm on Sunday, November 25, 2012
PS
re: mccain/graham's position was/is difficult to understand.
benghazi (4 american killed) pales in comparison to iraq war (a war we were lied into) and 4000 plus americans killed...this, as well as benghazi, should be investigated...ie;
who was responsible for the information given to powell...this person should be tried for treason...apologies for the hyperbole...but iraq was terrible, horrible, unnecessary war.
where were/are GOPs (and DEMs) in asking for the iraq investigation...well;
re iraq understand we must move on...wish GOPs would realize this re benghazi...investigate, gets the facts...stop the GOP kabuki dance.
John Mancia
9:53 pm on Monday, November 26, 2012
I do know why McCain and Graham attac Rice. Both want to force Obama selecting John Kerry for secretary of State so they and their little pretty boy Scott Brown to have another shot at the senate seat.
stanley seigler
11:02 pm on Monday, November 26, 2012
FYI
'he [mccain] graduated fifth from the bottom of the class of 1958. Despite his low "class standing," and no doubt because of the influence of his family of famous Admirals, McCain was leap-frogged ahead of more qualified applicants and granted a coveted slot to be trained as a navy pilot. http://www.usvetdsp.com/jan08/mccain_military_record.htm
and mccain calls a rhodes scholar incompetent...sooo GOPish!
George Grace
3:56 pm on Monday, December 3, 2012
Right on Robert. i was going to say essentially the same things as you. but you wrote it better.
Robert Kelly
10:07 pm on Monday, December 3, 2012
John Mancia,
interesting premise. Yesterday (Sun Dec 2) Cokie Roberts suggested that premise on one of the morning news-talk shows, and the other experts pooh-poohed the idea out of hand; but I think you may be on to something. Scott Brown is probably the only Republican who could get elected in MA, so having Jon Kerry move into State (or Defense) could give them a boost. Intrigue is interesting.
Robert Kelly
10:52 pm on Sunday, November 25, 2012
The response/acknowledgement of the right wing haters has been deafening in its silence.
Where are you, Maizenblue?
The GOP is in trouble and they need you!
Will the GOP House still sign petitions? (They have no vote in cabinet confirmation.)
Will McCain/Graham filibuster (because they are otherwise impotent/irrelevant)?
Will the sycophants learn critical thinking skills before shooting off their mouths?
Will Stanley and I learn humility despite being right all along?
Tough questions, for another day.
Robert Kelly
7:06 pm on Thursday, December 13, 2012
Susan Rice has announced she does not want to be considered at this time because it would be too disruptive. That is too bad, if in fact she was to be the choice of the president. It has been shown that she faithfully gave the status as reported by the National Security Advisor, CIA, and FBI. The McCain/Graham attacks were simply wrong and politically motivated.
Maybe she wasn't the best choice. She is somewhat direct and plain-spoken, and perhaps the more politic wording of John Kerry is more in line with the position, but it is still too bad that a couple of "maverick" senators can lie often enough to change the direction of government policy.
Senator Kerry will do fine (if nominated); he will be approved of by the GOP senators because they will hope his seat will go to a GOP (Scott Brown). Kerry is smart, has proved his credentials, and apparently wants the job. Dr. Susan Rice is an asset that will be underutilized.
Shawn Drury
10:33 pm on Thursday, December 13, 2012
Robert...just my two cents here, but I don't think the Administration wanted to get into a divisive fight over her nomination--and that's what it would be--with the fiscal cliff negotiations going on. I also don't think the Administration wanted to put Rice in a position where she'd have to explain how she accumulated such massive wealth (b/w $20-40 million), which includes an interest in Keystone XL Pipeline. There's too many negatives associated with Rice.
Robert Kelly
9:50 am on Friday, December 14, 2012
Shawn, since Hillary has not actually resigned yet, and the timing on that is very much within the control of the administration, I don't think the Financial Bluff negotiations had to get entwined with the Sec of State. On the other hand, the interest in the Keystone project would be very much a discussion point, considering that the Sec of State has to make a recommendation on it.
I often wonder how career politicians become so wealthy. That is an issue across the entire spectrum of political orientation. Considering the wealth of the individual senators, do you think they would go into that aspect? BTW, how did she accumulate so much?
stanley seigler
11:38 am on Friday, December 14, 2012
re: BTW, how did she accumulate so much?
would be interesting...links anyone...
in fact it would be interesting to know how any politician accumulates wealth...not saying they dont deserve it, in most cases...just curious...
OTOH
'Rice is not alone. News reports later noted that Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), the senator who has led the charge against Rice's nomination, is also invested in the company [a Dutch oil company].
'A veteran of past confirmation battles noted that financial conflicts of interest are not unheard of for high-level nominees, and are typically reconciled during the nomination process.'
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/02/susan-rice-keystone-xl-white-house_n_2228490.html
stanley seigler
11:43 pm on Thursday, December 13, 2012
rice's standing in eyes of all, except SC white folks, raising...
mccain/graham's 'national' standing declining...rice put USA over party and personal ambitions...
she would have made a great sec of state.
Shawn Drury
10:51 am on Friday, December 14, 2012
@Robert - She's a career diplomat and her husband is a TV news producer. Those aren't two professions usually associated with the accumulation of that kind of wealth...so I don't think that was a conversation she was real interested in having...the Senate might have ducked that but the media wouldn't. So, between getting hammered by the Senate on Benghazi and the media on her income, it's probably better she step aside.