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Libya takes center stage as president, Mitt Romney and even moderator Candy Crowley spar over 'Benghazi-gate'
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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 please -- -- -- One to make sure we get that for the record because it took the president fourteen days before he called the attack and been -- an act of terror get the transfer.
It it he didn't in facts are so let me let me -- it call it Mac could hear little out -- elected.
He did.
-- -- Terror it did as well.
Take it's it is well take that two weeks or so for the whole idea of -- being a -- out there about this tape.
But to come out -- to correct this that.
Since September 11 of this year major conflict over pres Obama's response to the Libya attack and it didn't end it tonight.
So what did the president say on the day after the attack.
Here's when he said.
No acts of terror will ever shake the resolve of this great nation.
Alter that character.
Or clips the white of the values that we stand for since our founder.
The United States has been a nation -- 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.
-- Just our political panel at Hofstra university in New York washing Zander chief political correspondent Byron York and the weekly -- Stephen -- And here and -- end time may -- deputy Washington bureau chief.
Michael Crowley no relationship to Candy Crowley.
I first did Byron this whole web disputes and should there about the slip.
-- a question.
Well this is -- thing that a lot of conservatives have wanted Mitt Romney to take the lead on for quite awhile and he didn't do very well tonight he just.
There there was a whole timeline Casey could have made it didn't do it very well and the fact is the president did refer.
To an act of terror on the day after.
The attack for the fact is also that the administration then went on.
For days and days and days talking about this movie including all the way up to the president's.
Appearance at the UN so.
Romney simply did not make the case as well as he could have and I think the viewers who haven't called it close he came away with a pretty -- impression of what went wrong.
Steve.
Yeah I guy basically agree with her with Byron I think that the fact that -- sort of flood the the initial answer that he was corrected by the president this sort of corrected again -- -- Crowley even though I think it's highly debatable point.
Seems -- -- sort of get him off stride the problem I think the bigger problem is for the administration.
This is an issue that is now likely to dominate the debate just as it did coming out of the vice presidential debate.
And that's something that the White House the Obama campaign cannot be happy about so now we're back Candy Crowley since I understand has has sort of walked back.
-- correction of Mitt Romney and -- on the broader point Mitt Romney was in fact correct the administration wasn't making the argument.
That this was a terrorist attack the administration was blaming this on the video and we're now back in into this discussion.
About the timeline of what happened when who knew what when.
Why the administration was talking so much about this video and not about a terror attack that is something that the White House can't be happy that.
But so I'm do you thought son as well as weather -- -- any undecided voters chances for -- -- yeah.
You know I think these guys really have a right I totally agree I think.
Romney has that.
The -- the larger point is right now I think this is what Candy Crowley no relation to me who pronounces it correctly as Crowley.
I do believe this is what she said was that -- is right on the larger point which is that the administration maintains.
For a long time that this was not a premeditated really the issue here is sort of which are premeditation -- -- took a long -- the administration to acknowledge it probably was not.
Problem Romney pin everything on that language active -- knew it was gonna point the president basically saying.
-- you said that you said that.
And and he did it you are or not I'm sorry he's saying are you really claiming that you said that he really claiming he said to have the president had in fact said that -- do you think you people read the totality of the remarks in the context the next lying at the president's mouth.
Referred to the four people who died in Libya so.
Small point he blew larger point I think he's got a point did anyone change their minds I think it's about -- motivation Democrats were extremely depressed after that first debate.
Didn't know Obama was in it to win and I think they are sort of -- against you like yet he's he can't play tonight.
I can I tell you I think conservative -- -- even though -- -- blew it tonight governor Romney and that particular question of I think that if he had blown it just in the -- twisted it could be is that we it would have just been one more question in a series about fifteen questions now -- -- gonna dominate the discussion for the next day -- -- well what did happen -- didn't happen with the White House vis -- -- -- -- -- sick twisted -- it's actually -- gain greater -- because there was somewhat of -- -- I Steve -- your face value favorite question tonight -- think the most effective one.
What's that I'm sorry I didn't get that must affect what question do you like the most what did -- get any any question in light you and and I think that way.
Yeah I mean I thought I thought the question that fit that the questioner put to President Obama about Steven -- -- gas prices was the toughest question of the night for president.
