CNN’s Candy Crowley: Mitt Romney ‘right in the main’ about Libya
The most dramatic moment in Tuesday night’s debate between President Barack Obama and Republican challenger Mitt Romney came during a heated discussion of Libya, when moderator Candy Crowley of CNN intervened and became a third voice in the contest.
Here’s the transcript, courtesy of Politico.com:
ROMNEY: I — I think interesting the president just said something which — which is that on the day after the attack he went into the Rose Garden and said that this was an act of terror.
OBAMA: That’s what I said.
ROMNEY: You said in the Rose Garden the day after the attack, it was an act of terror.
It was not a spontaneous demonstration, is that what you’re saying?
OBAMA: Please proceed governor.
ROMNEY: I want to make sure we get that for the record because it took the president 14 days before he called the attack in Benghazi an act of terror.
OBAMA: Get the transcript.
CROWLEY: It — it — it — he did in fact, sir. So let me — let me call it an act of terror…
OBAMA: Can you say that a little louder, Candy?
CROWLEY: He — he did call it an act of terror. It did as well take — it did as well take two weeks or so for the whole idea there being a riot out there about this tape to come out. You are correct about that.
Soon after the debate was over, Crowley’s colleagues at CNN questioned her about the exchange:
Said Crowley:
”I knew the president had said ‘These acts of terror won’t stand,’ or whatever the whole quote was. Right after that, I did turn around and said [to Romney], ‘But you were totally correct that they spent two weeks telling us that this was about a tape, and that there was a riot outside the Benghazi complex, which there wasn’t.’
“So [Romney] was right in the main. I just think he picked the wrong word.”
Republicans this morning are pointing to these paragraphs from a Sept. 20 report on the CNN website:
The White House, for the first time Thursday, declared the attack that killed Stevens and three other people a terrorist attack.
“It is, I think, self-evident that what happened in Benghazi was a terrorist attack,” said White House spokesman Jay Carney, speaking to reporters on Air Force One.
Here’s what Obama said in the Rose Garden the day after he learned that J. Christopher Stevens, the U.S. ambassador to Libya, and three other diplomatic personnel had been killed:
“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.
“Today we mourn four more Americans who represent the very best of the United States of America. We will not waver in our commitment to see that justice is done for this terrible act. And make no mistake, justice will be done.”
- By Jim Galloway, Political Insider
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536 comments Add your comment
don
October 17th, 2012
9:08 am
There is no tape that exists where Obama calls Benghazi an act of terrorism. None. Period. He calls it many things, but never terrorism. Anybody saying differently is just plain wrong. 2 weeks after the fact, the administration was still blaming a video. Simply facts.
jconservative
October 17th, 2012
9:09 am
HUH????? – “jconservative If Obama called it an act of terror then why did he blame the video…”
The question is why Romney did not know that he had? Romney had a chance to score big and did not. Unfortunately he missed a wonderful opportunity. Once again the Romney campaign staff fed him some bad information.
HUH?????
October 17th, 2012
9:09 am
Since the debate moderators are all left wingers why not get Obozo’s buddy Chavez to moderate the next debate?
yuzeyurbrane
October 17th, 2012
9:10 am
Never ask a question on cross-examination unless you are certain of the correct answer. Romney flunked law school 101. Isn’t Romney a Harvard Law grad? No wonder he chose business instead of law.
HUH?????
October 17th, 2012
9:10 am
“The question is why Romney did not know that he had?”
So you can’t answer the question. Typical of a left winger.
Goosie
October 17th, 2012
9:10 am
Personal attacks are ignorant ways that immature people use to try to make themselves seem smarter to people who are more ignorant than they are. I don’t want to be a nanny; I have the hope that people will be smart and respectful enough to not name call, to not focus on people’s physical appearance when it comes to the job they are, and, overall, to draw the conversation to the issues at hand, not divert them to things that don’t matter.
BTW, Candy Crowley is a vegetarian. I highly doubt her mind was on a cheeseburger.
Retired Soldier
October 17th, 2012
9:11 am
For those of you that have read my posts in the past it is no surprise I support the more conservative candidate, Romney. I have often attacked Obama’s policies, but not him personally. Now that changes.
I am a student of politics and presidential debates for more years than I want to remember. Never have I seen such a rude and crass pair as Obama and Biden. Frankly if I was a liberal I wouldn’t vote for them simply because of their actions in the debates. I have lived in a rough and tumble environment has a career soldier, but for our president and vice president to act the way they have frankly is shocking and very disappointing.
I hope, no pray, our nation has the good sense to change course. I am a firm believer we elect what we deserve, and if we deserve the current occupants heaven help us.
HUH?????
October 17th, 2012
9:11 am
“Romney flunked law school 101.”
Romney never went to law school, ma’am. He was too busy getting all A’s at Harvard and going on to be an ultra successful businessman.
“Isn’t Romney a Harvard Law grad?’
Nope, and the fact that you have to ask that question shows how uneducated you really are.
HUH?????
October 17th, 2012
9:12 am
“Personal attacks are ignorant ways that immature people use to try to make themselves seem smarter to people who are more ignorant than they are.”
Project much? I didn’t personally attack you.
“BTW, Candy Crowley is a vegetarian.”
She’s the first 300 lb vegetarian that I’ve ever seen. I mean, since the dinosaurs and all.
Goosie
October 17th, 2012
9:14 am
Romney is a Harvard Law Grad. He attended Harvard in a joint program with the Law and Business schools, and graduated from the law program in 1975.
HUH?????
October 17th, 2012
9:16 am
Mitt Romney earned a Bachelor of Arts from Brigham Young and in 1975, a joint Juris Doctor and Master of Business Administration from Harvard.
chaos
October 17th, 2012
9:17 am
@ yuze…Romney isn’t a lawyer…and he didn’t go to Harvard Law…but Obama went to Harvard Law and you see where that has gotten the country in the past four years. Geez, you are ill-informed.
Don
October 17th, 2012
9:20 am
Mitt Romney has repeatedly, repeatedly, repeatedly, repeatedly changed his positions on, on, hell, everything. What does this man really stand for? He ’s going to do all these wonderful things for us, but, it’s got to be a surprise on how he will do it. Oh goody, I love surprises.
And yes, you don’t have to or will admit it, but a hell of a lot of our problems do stem back to GWB. And O was right last night when he said we will be in a worse mess if Romney gets elected.
Of course for some he is neither a Republican nor white and for that “some” it doesn’t matter how many positive things O has done, or how many lies Romney tells us.
Goosie
October 17th, 2012
9:20 am
When you quoted my statement, called me “poor baby” and stated that I should be a nanny, that was a personal attack. Unfortunately, you seem a little too narrow minded to understand that. And no, that’s not considered a personal attack, because I am just pointing out how you are portraying yourself. I am not name calling or making suggestions about what you should be doing based on your comments.
WOW
October 17th, 2012
9:22 am
@HUH
Hope you are making yourself feel better by attacking Ms. Crowley’s weight. It says a lot about you!
Candy was Dandy
October 17th, 2012
9:22 am
Candy Crowley was fine. She was the consumate journalist. As the moderator she is the timekeeper and the referee of the debate, and so she merely pointed out something that she personally, clearly knew was not true because she was in the Rose Garden when President Obama made his statement.
Mean spirited attacks on her, particularly her weight, are ignorant and uncalled for. But then again, one must consider the source of such attacks: sad, insecure, and angry people.
HUH?????
October 17th, 2012
9:22 am
Don
Will Obama say that he inherited a bad economy from himself?
HUH?????
October 17th, 2012
9:24 am
“When you quoted my statement, called me “poor baby” and stated that I should be a nanny, that was a personal attack. ”
Your problem, not mine. If you think those are personal attacks then maybe you should see a doctor.
” Unfortunately, you seem a little too narrow minded to understand that. And no, that’s not considered a personal attack, because I am just pointing out how you are portraying yourself. I am not name calling or making suggestions about what you should be doing based on your comments.”
OH NOES!!!!!! Some random blogger doesn’t like me!!!!!! What ever will I do?
ER Henderson
October 17th, 2012
9:24 am
Candy is a complete and utter disgrace to the media profession. Throwing herself into last evening’s debate was unacceptable. What little respect I once had for her is gone. Given her penchant for helping Obama, perhaps she should join the DNC or Obama-Biden team and leave objective journalism to those who value truth, honor, and integrity.
HUH?????
October 17th, 2012
9:25 am
“Hope you are making yourself feel better by attacking Ms. Crowley’s weight. It says a lot about you!”
I love it when left wingers use words like “attacking” and “racist” when trying so hard to make a point. It never ceases to amaze me when left wingers make fun of Christie and Rush’s weight yet that’s just fine and dandy.
Keep trying. Crowley is a fat. Just an observation.
HUH?????
October 17th, 2012
9:26 am
“Mean spirited attacks on her, particularly her weight, are ignorant and uncalled for. But then again, one must consider the source of such attacks: sad, insecure, and angry people.”
HAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!
mary
October 17th, 2012
9:26 am
I think Candy should be fired. Why didn’t she correct all of Obama’s lies. She did not let Romney make her point. She should have kept her mouth shut and she should be fired! Romney won the debate!!!
KT
October 17th, 2012
9:27 am
Thank you Candy Crowley for shedding more light on our untruthful President. You have done us a favor! And for that we applaud you! I love how she says, Romney was right about the main content but not the word. Really? So basically, you are saying he was right. I’m sorry, repeat that again for me. He was “right” but didn’t select the correct word? Nice cover up. And on top of that, I love how Romney kept his cool about him when this awkward moment went down to proctect the President. She had no place interjecting during that moment. And just made herself and Obama look like idiots….
mary
October 17th, 2012
9:27 am
CNN fire Candy! She brough shame to the network and shows how bias CNN is!
HUH?????
October 17th, 2012
9:28 am
IF they fired Candy they could hire two people to replace her.
HUH?????
October 17th, 2012
9:29 am
Candy should have been disqualified from being a moderator when she made snide remarks about Ryan when Romney picked him as a running mate. That comment proved that she is a shill for Obozo.
Goosie
October 17th, 2012
9:32 am
You’re are the one who can’t have a civil conversation, which is so obvious seeing your posts here. Why is it that you can’t seem to make a comment without veering off into something that has nothing to do with politics, i.e. Candy Crowley’s weight and your opinions on other posts? What is the basis of your attack? And have you ever asked yourself why you can’t seem to keep these feelings to yourself? As I have said, they add nothing to the conversation.
HUH?????
October 17th, 2012
9:35 am
“You’re are the one who can’t have a civil conversation, which is so obvious seeing your posts here.
Uh, you and I aren’t having a conversation. You lied and I am calling you out on your lies.
“Why is it that you can’t seem to make a comment without veering off into something that has nothing to do with politics
This blog is about Candy and Obozo’s lies.
“Candy Crowley’s weight and your opinions on other posts? ”
Again, the blog is about the debate and if you knew that then you’d know Candy was the moderator.
“What is the basis of your attack?”
Stop lying.
“And have you ever asked yourself why you can’t seem to keep these feelings to yourself?”
Grow up, child.
Don
October 17th, 2012
9:35 am
Romney was too busy getting all A’s and becoming a sussesfull businessman. You may be correct on that one thing, HUH???. That qualifies him to be a businessman, not the President. Other notable business men who became president were the likes of Hebert Hoover, Calvin Colledge, Jimmy Carter and y’alls favorite son, George W. Bush. With all their business knowledge and experience, how did
their Presidency turn out?
Partisay
October 17th, 2012
9:35 am
HUH????? – 33 posts in less than an hour? Dude, you not got nothin better to do? That’s sad man.
Partisay
October 17th, 2012
9:36 am
make that 34
Buckhead voter
October 17th, 2012
9:37 am
Romney lost the debate he was very rude to Crowley.Romney why you say womeny name was in binder.Romney was lying all trhough the debate and got caught by Obama, Crowley.
Romney you going to lose alot of women votes.
HUH?????
October 17th, 2012
9:37 am
“That qualifies him to be a businessman, not the President.”
That comment makes ZERO sense.
“ther notable business men who became president were the likes of Hebert Hoover, Calvin Colledge, Jimmy Carter and y’alls favorite son, George W. Bush. ”
Your point?
“With all their business knowledge and experience, how did
their Presidency turn out?”
Bush won 2 terms, had low unemployment and the debt was lower.
HUH?????
October 17th, 2012
9:38 am
“HUH????? – 33 posts in less than an hour? Dude, you not got nothin better to do? That’s sad man.”
The fact that you counted my post says a lot about you. Also, you are here so what does that say about you? That’s sad, woman.
Km
October 17th, 2012
9:38 am
Candy disgraced women and herself last night.. Don’t you folks get it? She was NEVER suppose to give her opinion at all last night.. She let “her emotions” get in the way of being a moderator and keeping her mouth shut, which was her job … Also, she had to “study up” on Libya..? Really, unless you have been living under a rock you know exactly what the Obama camp did and said about the attacks.. they constantly referred to the “terrible video” and the fact that these attacks were in response to that.. She and the rest of the liberal media, shouldn’t have to “study up” on that.. And folks the “white house” camp was watching the attacks in “real time” while it was happening.. this is a fact and they knew from the very moment it happened that it was NOT about the VIDEO… but Obama plays “hurt and insulted” when Romney “suggests” he used this for political gain.. Good lord .. The Obama camp is so use to never having to answer to the liberal media about anything….. never being challenged that they continue the lies making fools of all who follow like lambs to the slaughter..
HUH?????
October 17th, 2012
9:38 am
“Romney lost the debate he was very rude to Crowley.”
Maybe he was rude because fatty was protecting Obozo.
chaos
October 17th, 2012
9:38 am
@ Partisay…what is sad is that you actually counted.
HUH?????
October 17th, 2012
9:39 am
“what is sad is that you actually counted.”
BAM!!!!!!!!
Buckhead voter
October 17th, 2012
9:40 am
Why Romney was asking obama a question in the debate the rule that the candidate can not ask another candidate question so Romney you lost debate.
Vote Obama/Biden 2012
myother
October 17th, 2012
9:40 am
May the best hair win. I’m voting libertarian.
HUH?????
October 17th, 2012
9:41 am
“Why Romney was asking obama a question in the debate the rule that the candidate can not ask another candidate question so Romney you lost debate.”
Please take remedial english.
Georgia
October 17th, 2012
9:41 am
The debate shows the importance of the moderator. Jim Lehrer was an advantage for Romney. Candy Fatwah was an advantage for Obozo. Maybe we need a robotic voice over moderator, and a timed mic which will shut off at 2 minutes. That way no candidate can drone.
Clearly, though, with Candy Fatah’s help, the debate was a mauling by Obozo on poor Romney. It was a pummelling for the ages. Romney had to eat his late dinner last night through a straw. His jaw is wired shut. OMG the humanity.
Partisay
October 17th, 2012
9:42 am
“Bush won 2 terms, had low unemployment and the debt was lower.”
He was also losing 800,000 jobs per month when he walked out of the White House. Low unemployment? Glad to hear that because it’s the same now as when he left office. Glad you are saying that President Obama is presiding over low unemployment numbers.
Alfonso
October 17th, 2012
9:43 am
In reference to the Libya situation.
I wonder what is wrong with people. Do they expect our goverment to have the correct answer immediately after an act of terror occurs? Do they expect to for the government to say I’m sorry we do not know what happened? People, particularly republicans, think that we know what the terrorist next move is.. that is absurd!. Do not make this a political situation, we are better than that. Let’s concentrate on getting those SOBs that perpetrate this act and bring them to justice that’s how we should remember the ones that were killed. Not by what the President or his associates said immediately after the attack. Think about the families of those that were killed.
Colin
October 17th, 2012
9:43 am
What’s up with everyone saying Obama never called it an act of terror?
Watch the video. Read the transcript. Or, better yet, read the article you’re commenting on. He said it, in plain English, and had the common courtesy to avoid using big words with you, specifically, in mind.
HUH?????
October 17th, 2012
9:43 am
“He was also losing 800,000 jobs per month when he walked out of the White House.
You can think Barney and Frank.
“Low unemployment?”
The average unemployment rate under Bush was 4.6%.
“Glad you are saying that President Obama is presiding over low unemployment numbers.
You aren’t smart are you.
Georgia
October 17th, 2012
9:44 am
I got drunk during the debate because I took a shot of vodka every time Romney’s mouthpiece was knocked out of his mouth and out of the ring.
HUH?????
October 17th, 2012
9:44 am
“What’s up with everyone saying Obama never called it an act of terror?”
Because he never did.
“Watch the video. Read the transcript. Or, better yet, read the article you’re commenting on. He said it, in plain English, and had the common courtesy to avoid using big words with you, specifically, in mind.”
I did and he never called it that which is why he blamed the video over and over again.
Partisay
October 17th, 2012
9:46 am
The fact you called Ms. Crowley “fatty” and the president “obozo” says it all about you. Show respect much?
HUH?????
October 17th, 2012
9:47 am
“The fact you called Ms. Crowley “fatty” and the president “obozo” says it all about you. ”
Funny how you can’t refute any of my comments and focus on what I call Obozo and fatty. Sucks for you.