House Republicans Write Obama Letter Opposing Susan Rice Nomination
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TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP/Getty Images(WASHINGTON) — Although they have no say in her possible confirmation proceedings, 97 House Republicans have spoken out loud and clear about their opposition to President Obama nominating United Nations Ambassador Susan Rice as the next secretary of state.
Rice has come under attack by the GOP and some Democrats for initially stating that the attack on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi, Libya, on Sept. 11 was the result of a spontaneous demonstration over an anti-Islam movie.
The Republican lawmakers, in a letter to the White House Monday, alleged that Rice, who was working off talking points from the CIA, “either willfully or incompetently misled the American public in the Benghazi affair.”
It was eight days after Ambassador Christopher Stevens and three other Americans were killed that “the American people learn(ed)…that the intelligence services quickly considered the attack an act of terrorism and that al Qaeda may have played a role,” according to the letter.
In spite of Obama and Sen. Dianne Feinstein, chairwoman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, defending Rice, the House Republicans claimed she “caused irreparable damage to her credibility both at home and around the world…we strongly oppose any efforts to nominate Ambassador Susan Rice for the position of Secretary of State” to replace outgoing envoy Hillary Clinton.
Obama hasn’t made an announcement yet as to his pick for secretary of state, which will come down to the Senate affirming his selection.
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