Fake Outrage of the Day: Obama “Resists” Saying “Terrorism”

Fed by the mainstream media
Politics • Views: 32,791

Talk about a completely pointless fake outrage. The right wing is desperately trying to turn the Obama administration’s appropriately cautious statements about the attack in Libya into evidence that Obama “lied” because he doesn’t like to use the word “terrorism.” And of course, the point of this idiocy is to, once again, paint Obama as sympathetic to Islamists.

Right. The President who has done more than any other to destroy Al Qaeda and kill its leaders — including Osama bin Laden himself! — is soft on terrorism. It’s amazing that the right can parrot this ridiculous claim without exploding from the cognitive dissonance.

And it doesn’t help when people like the Washington Post’s “fact checker,” Glenn Kessler, lend credence to this stupid fake narrative by putting every statement from administration officials under the microscope and implying deliberate dishonesty: From Video to Terrorist Attack: A Definitive Timeline of Administration Statements on the Libya Attack.

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81 comments
1 Kragar  Thu, Sep 27, 2012 11:03:01am

They're using their patented "reality inversion" technology again.

2 Charles Johnson  Thu, Sep 27, 2012 11:04:09am

Glenn Kessler's article on this is total crap. This is why he has lost the respect of people who can actually think for themselves.

3 ShaunP  Thu, Sep 27, 2012 11:04:38am

Not saying "terrorist" must give Obama more time to kill them. Because Obama is a terrorist killing motherf----er...

4 Sionainn  Thu, Sep 27, 2012 11:05:07am

Thanks for this thread. I was seriously baffled when I saw the lead story on the Fox News website about this and couldn't understand why this was supposed to be outrageous. Good to know that I haven't lost my mind (yet).

5 Bulworth  Thu, Sep 27, 2012 11:05:39am

Game Change!

//

6 Targetpractice  Thu, Sep 27, 2012 11:05:53am

Apparently the crux of this whole bit is that the administration was "too slow" in identifying it as terrorism, when it was "obvious" that it was terrorism from the start. That the administration was wrong to want to get all the facts in order to make any conclusions instead of jumping up and declaring it terrorism. And the only reason they wanted it dubbed terrorism was so they could whine that Obama "invited" the attack on the US through it's "victory lap" over OBL's death.

It's enough assumptions and absolute falsehoods to make one go cross-eyed.

7 Bulworth  Thu, Sep 27, 2012 11:07:07am
Not saying "terrorist" must give Obama more time to kill them. Because Obama is a terrorist killing motherf----er...

My soul, my kingdom, for the ability to upding.

8 Mich-again  Thu, Sep 27, 2012 11:07:40am

Starting out with a conclusion and cherry picking information to support it. Investigative journalism at its finest. /

9 Bulworth  Thu, Sep 27, 2012 11:08:20am
And the only reason they wanted it dubbed terrorism was so they could whine that Obama "invited" the attack on the US through it's "victory lap" over OBL's death.

I believe you have properly surmised the wingnut motivation here.

10 jaunte  Thu, Sep 27, 2012 11:09:55am

I watched Chuck Todd reporting on this topic this morning, and he seemed to be interested in supporting the idea that the administration did something bad (by changing their interpretation of events when they had more facts) but the whole segment was an illogical mess.

11 recusancy  Thu, Sep 27, 2012 11:11:02am
12 erik_t  Thu, Sep 27, 2012 11:11:20am

re: #6 Targetpractice

Apparently the crux of this whole bit is that the administration was "too slow" in identifying it as terrorism, when it was "obvious" that it was terrorism from the start. That the administration was wrong to want to get all the facts in order to make any conclusions instead of jumping up and declaring it terrorism.

Jumping in and doing something stupid and half-assed is, at this point, the time-honored GOP foreign policy tactic. So it's no surprise they're upset.

13 Bulworth  Thu, Sep 27, 2012 11:12:09am
patented "reality inversion" technology again.

The president has passed the highest tax increase in history...

The president dithered and then didn't do anything to kill OBL....

The polls are skewed and we're winning...

The auto bailout was a terrible and unconstitutional overreach of government and was a failure...

Using conservative ideas to expand healthcare access is tyranny...

//

14 Targetpractice  Thu, Sep 27, 2012 11:12:29am

re: #10 jaunte

I watched Chuck Todd reporting on this topic this morning, and he seemed to be interested in supporting the idea that the administration did something bad (by changing their interpretation of events when they had more facts) but the whole segment was an illogical mess.

I personally ask what it would have changed had the White House declared it to be a terrorist attack within the first 24 hours. Besides the change from "Obama apologized for a video!" to "Obama invited terrorism!," would it have altered their insistence that Obama had "failed" with foreign policy and declarations that the attacks were an "act of war"?

15 Killgore Trout  Thu, Sep 27, 2012 11:13:03am
And it doesn’t help when people like the Washington Post’s “fact checker,” Glenn Kessler, lend credence to this stupid fake narrative by putting every statement from administration officials under the microscope and implying deliberate dishonesty: From Video to Terrorist Attack: A Definitive Timeline of Administration Statements on the Libya Attack.

I don't see anything outrageous about putting together to a timeline of statements. Especially one that seems to be accurate. The article states....

As a reader service, we have compiled a comprehensive timeline of administration statements, showing the evolution in talking points, with key phrases highlighted in bold. Many readers sent suggestions for this timeline, for which we are deeply grateful.

We will leave it to readers to reach their own conclusions on whether this is merely the result of the fog of war and diplomacy — or a deliberate effort to steer the storyline away from more politically damaging questions. After all, in a competitive election, two weeks is a lifetime.

Again I don't see anything wrong. For diplomatic reasons it might have been a mistake to claim terrorism before it was confirmed. A lot of press has also continued to blame the cartoon protests well past the point the attack was confirmed to be terrorist related.
I'm unoutraged.

16 Gus  Thu, Sep 27, 2012 11:13:15am

re: #11 recusancy

[Embedded content]

Ugh. That bomb graphic. He ruined his speech with that.

17 jaunte  Thu, Sep 27, 2012 11:13:23am

re: #14 Targetpractice

It would have made it possible for people inclined to do that to jump to it a couple of days earlier.

18 Kragar  Thu, Sep 27, 2012 11:16:13am

Romney Campaign: No, We’re Not Backing Off Our Tax Plan

Even as studies expose potential flaws with his tax plan, Mitt Romney is shutting down rumblings that his campaign is hedging on the notion that he can slash tax rates by 20 percent without lowering revenues.

The governor’s plan calls for a 20% rate cut for all brackets, revenue neutrality, while ensuring that high-income earners continue to pay at least the same share of taxes,” a Romney spokesperson told TPM. “All of these goals are achievable, and the governor will work with Congress to enact tax reform that meets each of the goals he has proposed.”

AND EVERYONE WHO VOTES FOR ROMNEY WILL GET A PRETTY PONY!

19 b_sharp  Thu, Sep 27, 2012 11:16:16am

I just put up a page about an error made by Obama during a speech as an attempt to 'own' it and diffuse the inevitable crap from our friendly rwnjs.

20 Charles Johnson  Thu, Sep 27, 2012 11:16:26am

re: #16 Gus

Ugh. That bomb graphic. He ruined his speech with that.

I agree with Jeffrey Goldberg - that was a completely ridiculous moment.

21 wrenchwench  Thu, Sep 27, 2012 11:16:42am

re: #15 Killgore Trout

I don't see anything outrageous about putting together to a timeline of statements. Especially one that seems to be accurate.

How about this part?

“Since our founding, the United States has been a nation that respects all faiths. We reject all efforts to denigrate the religious beliefs of others. But there is absolutely no justification to this type of senseless violence. None. The world must stand together to unequivocally reject these brutal acts…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.”

--President Obama, Rose Garden statement, Sept. 12

(Note: we added this statement to the timeline after Josh Gerstein of Politico asserted that the phrasing “acts of terror” showed Obama acknowledged “terrorism” was behind the attack. From our many years of covering diplomacy we would say there is a world of difference, but readers can draw their own conclusions.)

"These are not the facts you're we're looking for..."

22 Gus  Thu, Sep 27, 2012 11:17:01am

re: #20 Charles Johnson

I agree with Jeffrey Goldberg - that was a completely ridiculous moment.

23 b_sharp  Thu, Sep 27, 2012 11:17:03am

re: #16 Gus

Ugh. That bomb graphic. He ruined his speech with that.

My thoughts too. He was being very effective before that point.

24 Brother Holy Cruise Missile of Mild Acceptance  Thu, Sep 27, 2012 11:17:31am

re: #20 Charles Johnson

listening/watching it seemed like he was treating the world like children, not too make too much of a comparison but it was like romney pulling out the white board.

25 Bulworth  Thu, Sep 27, 2012 11:18:09am
“The governor’s plan calls for a 20% rate cut for all brackets, revenue neutrality

What about the deficit/debt? I guess that will be cured by cutting all teh welfares...//

26 erik_t  Thu, Sep 27, 2012 11:18:28am

re: #18 Kragar

Romney Campaign: No, We’re Not Backing Off Our Tax Plan

How could they publicly back off from something that does not exist publicly?

27 Bulworth  Thu, Sep 27, 2012 11:19:22am
Jumping in and doing something stupid and half-assed is, at this point, the time-honored GOP foreign policy tactic. So it's no surprise they're upset.

This

28 Charles Johnson  Thu, Sep 27, 2012 11:22:00am

CNN commentators seem to have loved that bomb graphic.

29 Feline Emperor of the Conservative Waste  Thu, Sep 27, 2012 11:22:42am

re: #26 erik_t

How could they publicly back off from something that does not exist publicly?

My Little Romney: Budget Balancing is Magic

30 Brother Holy Cruise Missile of Mild Acceptance  Thu, Sep 27, 2012 11:23:21am

re: #28 Charles Johnson

CNN commentators seem to have loved that bomb graphic.

simple things...

31 Charles Johnson  Thu, Sep 27, 2012 11:24:54am

Oh, good grief.

32 Mich-again  Thu, Sep 27, 2012 11:25:19am

I'm wondering how long until GOP pundits start to blame Obama for the drought this past Summer. The effects of the drought will affect GDP numbers and the GOP will most certainly try to use that for political gain.

33 Feline Emperor of the Conservative Waste  Thu, Sep 27, 2012 11:26:14am

I'm seriously beginning to think we're really living in a Sci-Fi like convergence where two alternate realities are in collision and intertwined with each other.

34 MittDoesNotCompute  Thu, Sep 27, 2012 11:26:21am

re: #31 Charles Johnson

Oh, good grief.

[Embedded content]

Go sit on a snake, Ari...it might not bite you in the ass out of common courtesy.

35 Kragar  Thu, Sep 27, 2012 11:26:50am

re: #33 Feline Emperor of the Conservative Waste

I'm seriously beginning to think we're really living in a Sci-Fi like convergence where two alternate realities are in collision and intertwined with each other.

I blame the goatees.

36 erik_t  Thu, Sep 27, 2012 11:26:51am

re: #31 Charles Johnson

That turdburgler is a charter member of the the Dick Morris I Am Always Wrong Club.

37 Brother Holy Cruise Missile of Mild Acceptance  Thu, Sep 27, 2012 11:27:02am
38 Gus  Thu, Sep 27, 2012 11:27:20am

re: #37 Brother Holy Cruise Missile of Mild Acceptance

[Embedded content]

Ouch.

39 Kragar  Thu, Sep 27, 2012 11:27:39am

re: #37 Brother Holy Cruise Missile of Mild Acceptance

[Embedded content]

BOOM! HEADSHOT!

40 Feline Emperor of the Conservative Waste  Thu, Sep 27, 2012 11:27:51am

Speaking of GDP I saw an article on Harvard's endowment having decreased down to something-something billion dollars. Now just a bit smaller than the GDP of Ethiopia.

41 Charles Johnson  Thu, Sep 27, 2012 11:28:52am

This:

42 William Barnett-Lewis  Thu, Sep 27, 2012 11:28:52am

re: #31 Charles Johnson

Oh, good grief.

No, Ari, the world just pissed it's pants from laughing so hard.

43 Sheila Broflovski  Thu, Sep 27, 2012 11:29:06am

DERP

44 Gus  Thu, Sep 27, 2012 11:30:19am

re: #41 Charles Johnson

This:

[Embedded content]

ACME is trending.

45 Sheila Broflovski  Thu, Sep 27, 2012 11:30:32am
46 Feline Emperor of the Conservative Waste  Thu, Sep 27, 2012 11:30:39am

re: #43 Sheila Brovlofski

DERP

If he was really trying to hurt them he would have started up a PowerPoint presentation.

47 b_sharp  Thu, Sep 27, 2012 11:30:40am

re: #15 Killgore Trout

I don't see anything outrageous about putting together to a timeline of statements. Especially one that seems to be accurate. The article states....

Again I don't see anything wrong. For diplomatic reasons it might have been a mistake to claim terrorism before it was confirmed. A lot of press has also continued to blame the cartoon protests well past the point the attack was confirmed to be terrorist related.
I'm unoutraged.

Reread the last paragraph you posted. That is a major divergence from 'putting together to a timeline of statements' as you put it.

48 Targetpractice  Thu, Sep 27, 2012 11:32:02am

re: #35 Kragar

I blame the goatees.

Dude, you're not gonna convince me to shave it. Besides, my plan is foolproof. We kill Charles, you become captain, and we all move up in rank.

///

49 danarchy  Thu, Sep 27, 2012 11:32:02am

re: #36 erik_t

That turdburgler is a charter member of the the Dick Morris I Am Always Wrong Club.

you sure a homophobic slur is the best way to show your distaste?

50 Killgore Trout  Thu, Sep 27, 2012 11:32:57am

re: #44 Gus

ACME is trending.

Well, at least he didn't draw a cartoon.
/

51 b_sharp  Thu, Sep 27, 2012 11:33:00am

re: #28 Charles Johnson

CNN commentators seem to have loved that bomb graphic.

CNN?

I'm not surprised.

52 jc717  Thu, Sep 27, 2012 11:33:02am

On the bright side, at least he had the restraint to not draw it as a turban on Muhammad's head.

53 Targetpractice  Thu, Sep 27, 2012 11:33:03am

See now, Bibi went about it the wrong way. He should have used a salt shaker to scare the UN with.

54 Daniel Ballard  Thu, Sep 27, 2012 11:33:33am

BTW I have another take on not mentioning terrorism. Nutshell-Do not give AQ credit for the attack on the 9/11 anniversary. Let it seem like some small time local militia thing. Tragic, but not worthy of the same kind of notice we used to give every AQ action.

55 makeitstop  Thu, Sep 27, 2012 11:33:51am

re: #32 Mich-again

I'm wondering how long until GOP pundits start to blame Obama for the drought this past Summer. The effects of the drought will affect GDP numbers and the GOP will most certainly try to use that for political gain.

I think Boehner covered that a while ago.

56 b_sharp  Thu, Sep 27, 2012 11:34:19am

re: #31 Charles Johnson

Oh, good grief.

[Embedded content]

Gripping?

Netanyahu must have had a third arm holding a graphic I missed.

57 Eventual Carrion  Thu, Sep 27, 2012 11:35:36am

re: #25 Bulworth

What about the deficit/debt? I guess that will be cured by cutting all teh welfares...//

Because the payment for Bush's war and Afghanistan should lay on the poor who made out like bandits on it and have the money to spare.

//

58 b_sharp  Thu, Sep 27, 2012 11:36:52am

re: #44 Gus

ACME is trending.

If the issue wasn't so important I'd be LMAO.

59 b_sharp  Thu, Sep 27, 2012 11:37:44am

re: #48 Targetpractice

Dude, you're not gonna convince me to shave it. Besides, my plan is foolproof. We kill Charles, you become captain, and we all move up in rank.

///

I'm not cutting mine off either.

60 Killgore Trout  Thu, Sep 27, 2012 11:38:18am

re: #47 reflections of a raging redneck

Reread the last paragraph you posted. That is a major divergence from 'putting together to a timeline of statements' as you put it.

ok...

We will leave it to readers to reach their own conclusions on whether this is merely the result of the fog of war and diplomacy — or a deliberate effort to steer the storyline away from more politically damaging questions. After all, in a competitive election, two weeks is a lifetime.

The put together a timeline. It seem accurate. It would make a handy reference if you wanted to debate wingnuts about the administration's statements regarding Libya which seems to be their cause du jour.

61 b_sharp  Thu, Sep 27, 2012 11:39:32am

re: #60 Killgore Trout

ok...

The put together a timeline. It seem accurate. It would make a handy reference if you wanted to debate wingnuts about the administration's statements regarding Libya which seems to be their cause du jour.

We better peg that goalpost down before it takes off on its own.

62 Killgore Trout  Thu, Sep 27, 2012 11:41:15am

re: #54 Daniel Ballard

BTW I have another take on not mentioning terrorism. Nutshell-Do not give AQ credit for the attack on the 9/11 anniversary. Let it seem like some small time local militia thing. Tragic, but not worthy of the same kind of notice we used to give every AQ action.

Also, the reason Al Qaeda gave for the attack was retribution for the drone attack that killed the AQ leader in Yemen. With the drone program being questioned here at home Obama might not have wanted to give the Paulian/Kucinich/"Blow back" critics the excuse to claim the drone strikes create more terrorism.

63 b_sharp  Thu, Sep 27, 2012 11:42:09am

In a few minutes I have to get up off my ass, put on a suit and accompany my wife to an awards ceremony where she's getting recognition for putting up with her bosses for 35 years. Six hours of incredibly boring speeches.

Is it still OK to wear a T-shirt with a suit?

64 Feline Emperor of the Conservative Waste  Thu, Sep 27, 2012 11:44:05am

re: #63 reflections of a raging redneck

In a few minutes I have to get up off my ass, put on a suit and accompany my wife to an awards ceremony where she's getting recognition for putting up with her bosses for 35 years. Six hours of incredibly boring speeches.

Is it still OK to wear a T-shirt with a suit?

If it's white/neutral and you put a dress shirt on top of the T-shirt. ;)

65 Gus  Thu, Sep 27, 2012 11:44:22am

re: #63 reflections of a raging redneck

In a few minutes I have to get up off my ass, put on a suit and accompany my wife to an awards ceremony where she's getting recognition for putting up with her bosses for 35 years. Six hours of incredibly boring speeches.

Is it still OK to wear a T-shirt with a suit?

Bath robe, shorts, and army boots.

66 danarchy  Thu, Sep 27, 2012 11:44:32am

Really? I got down dinged for pointing out that "turd burglar" is probably inappropriate?

List of LGBT slurs

67 b_sharp  Thu, Sep 27, 2012 11:45:19am

re: #64 Feline Emperor of the Conservative Waste

If it's white/neutral and you put a dress shirt on top of the T-shirt. ;)

Thanks for nothing.

I may go bare-chested.
(I bet I end up wearing a dress shirt and tie)

68 b_sharp  Thu, Sep 27, 2012 11:45:56am

re: #65 Gus

Bath robe, shorts, and army boots.

I wish.

69 Charles Johnson  Thu, Sep 27, 2012 11:45:59am

re: #66 danarchy

What Does Turd Burglar Mean? - Turd Burglar Definition - Meaning of Turd Burglar | the Online Slang Dictionary

turd burglar

an idiot, a loser, one who does something uncalled for. Popularized by the film Beavis and Butthead do America. Also appeared in the TV series South Park.

70 Feline Emperor of the Conservative Waste  Thu, Sep 27, 2012 11:46:14am

re: #65 Gus

Bath robe, shorts, and army boots.

And remember to order and drink white russians.

71 lawhawk  Thu, Sep 27, 2012 11:46:43am

It's kinda tough to convince me that President Obama is weak on al Qaeda or terrorism in general when he's (1) not closed Gitmo; (2) killed AQ's OBL, Awlaki, et al; and (3) more than sextupled the number of UAV strikes over Bush's final year in Pakistan's frontier provinces. 284 strikes carried out by President Obama from 2009 to present versus 46 carried out by President Bush from 2004-2008.

That doesn't count those airstrikes against AQ targets in Yemen, Somalia, or inside Afghanistan itself.

There's no evidence suggesting that Obama's weak on terrorism. In fact, there's good evidence pointing the opposite - that he's far more hawkish in using UAV assets and military force to go after terrorists using the means at his disposal.

72 wrenchwench  Thu, Sep 27, 2012 11:48:48am

re: #63 reflections of a raging redneck

Is it still OK to wear a T-shirt with a suit?

Only if you've worn it for two or three days in a row already.

73 blueraven  Thu, Sep 27, 2012 11:50:28am

re: #54 Daniel Ballard

BTW I have another take on not mentioning terrorism. Nutshell-Do not give AQ credit for the attack on the 9/11 anniversary. Let it seem like some small time local militia thing. Tragic, but not worthy of the same kind of notice we used to give every AQ action.

That could be the case. But also maybe this administration is not to keen on making a WMD type mistake.
I dont really see the problem here with taking the time to get the facts as they come in.

74 b_sharp  Thu, Sep 27, 2012 11:51:06am

BBL

75 Feline Emperor of the Conservative Waste  Thu, Sep 27, 2012 11:54:06am

re: #67 reflections of a raging redneck

Thanks for nothing.

I may go bare-chested.
(I bet I end up wearing a dress shirt and tie)

I've got sour persimmons available. :)

76 Tiny Alien Kitties are Watching You  Thu, Sep 27, 2012 11:59:04am

re: #63 reflections of a raging redneck

In a few minutes I have to get up off my ass, put on a suit and accompany my wife to an awards ceremony where she's getting recognition for putting up with her bosses for 35 years. Six hours of incredibly boring speeches.

Is it still OK to wear a T-shirt with a suit?

If you live in Miami, and you have exactly twelve hours worth of unshaved stubble on your face, and your suit is a light pastel color, then sure go for it!

77 Tiny Alien Kitties are Watching You  Thu, Sep 27, 2012 12:04:40pm

re: #76 Tiny Alien Kitties are Watching You

Oops I forgot to remind you that you need to remember to wear your brown tasseled Weejuns to complete the correct look effectively...

78 erik_t  Thu, Sep 27, 2012 12:20:47pm

I've never known that word to be considered slanderous; I'll avoid it in the future.

79 gwangung  Thu, Sep 27, 2012 12:28:03pm

re: #54 Daniel Ballard

BTW I have another take on not mentioning terrorism. Nutshell-Do not give AQ credit for the attack on the 9/11 anniversary. Let it seem like some small time local militia thing. Tragic, but not worthy of the same kind of notice we used to give every AQ action.

Plausible alternative explanation.

You know, kinda how like science works.

80 simoom  Thu, Sep 27, 2012 1:09:27pm

I'm glad Kessler added (to his article) the President referring to it as an "act of terror" on the 12th, even though Kessler then proceeds to discount it as a rebuttal of his narrative about a sudden shift on the 20th. He's still missing other statements like when the President was asked about the attack on Letterman, this was on the 18th:

[Link: www.cbsnews.com...]

Obama: "Extremists and terrorists used this as an excuse to attack a variety of our embassies, including our consulate in Libya."

81 BeenHereAwhile  Thu, Sep 27, 2012 2:17:57pm

re: #77 Tiny Alien Kitties are Watching You

Oops I forgot to remind you that you need to remember to wear your brown tasseled Weejuns to complete the correct look effectively...

With no socks


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