Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) on Wednesday responded to accusations that the sharp criticisms directed at United Nations Ambassador Susan Rice by he and Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) have been motivated by racism or sexism. South Carolina’s senior senator retorted that such criticisms are meant only to divert from the most pertinent point.
“Well, when you can’t answer the question you attack the questioner. The only color I’m worried about when it comes to Benghazi is red, blood red. The death of four Americans,” Graham told Fox News Channel’s Steve Doocy. “And what motivates Sen. McCain and myself is that we were in Libya last September, we came back and wrote an op-ed piece that if we don’t form a national army to replace these militias, Libya’s going to break apart. And the sad story is not just the four dead Americans, which is heartbreaking, the Libya people want to move forward. And this leading from behind by Obama, we’ve done nothing to help them form an army to replace the militias.”
On Tuesday, Rep. James Clyburn (D-SC) — a fellow member of the Palmetto State’s Congressional delegation — contended that critics of Rice, an African-American, were using racially tinged “code words.”
