From TPM Reader PA …
Adding to what Reader NL said: made-up scandals are indeed the hardest to resolve.
Liberals aren’t even sure what we’re arguing against, and when you don’t even know what to rebut, you don’t even know where to begin. What exactly are the Republicans implying when they charge a “cover-up” and “lies!” It seems to be one of four things:
1. Obama sympathizes with terrorists and subscribes completely to the left-wing “blow-back” theory where Americans are morally culpable for terrorist attacks by courageous downtrodden Muslims. He is therefore predisposed to cover-up attacks on America. Partly because he blames America, and partly because he fears more blow-back. He is a radical, a coward, and a liar.
2. Obama tried to hide the terrorism aspect because he thought that a terrorist attack would hurt him in the polls. Obama’s political team is under the impression that one-off terrorist attacks produce a “rally AGAINST the flag” effect. The Commander in Chief is significantly weakened by these events, as we saw in the 3rd debate when Romney dressed down Obama, who cowered in the corner and wept on TV. David Axelrod feared that Obama’s poll numbers would collapse if the public saw him pounding his chest about murderers for a month. In order to avoid this outcome, he hatched a brilliant plan to increase his political fortunes: to cover up the terrorist attack for two weeks before eventually revealing it! When the GOP hauls David Axelrod in front of Congress, we’ll all learn more about the brilliant political plan that single-highhandedly reelected Obama.
3. Obama’s communications team doesn’t share information with public surrogates in a timely or efficient manner. This is worse than Watergate!
4. During the attack on Benghazi, Obama ignored a plea for help and denied assistance to the consulate. Because he’s a craven monster who sympathizes with violent murderers.
All four of these implications are both offensive and idiotic. All four imply that a callous disregard for American lives.
It’s time for reporters to say to Republicans, “Let’s stipulate for a moment that this was a huge coverup. What are you implying? Why would Obama cover this up? Why would anyone lie about this?”
