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Fight over labeling Libya attack heats up

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    Republicans defend claims that Obama waited two weeks to call it terror

  • Duration 5:33
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That's Republicans are firing back.

After that tense exchange that we saw.

Over the Libya attack and it happened during the debate between President Obama and governor Romney and the president says that he called the assault.

A quote terror attack the next day in the Rose Garden on September the twelfth.

This is cause a lot of controversy here's Newt Gingrich and he says the administration needs to be held accountable.

For the discrepancy.

Watch.

What is there about Barack Obama's psychology.

That makes it so difficult for him to deal with the reality of Islamic extremism.

Why is that always the west's fault why is it always somebody in America's fault why is he always apologizing.

For Islamic extremists you have a president -- -- states who -- commander in chief.

Will not be honest with himself.

About the problem of radical Islam will not be honest with the world about it.

So -- there from Newt Gingrich so let's bring in former South Carolina governor Mark Sanford.

He's a Fox News contributor and Marion marsh former advisor to Senator John Kerry.

Powerful staff Maryanne what's your reaction to that.

Well Newt Gingrich once again is wrong the fact is in the 48 hours after the attack and -- -- President Obama called this an act of terror.

In the White House at the White House in the Rose Garden.

On September 12 and then on September 13 in Colorado he said the exact same thing.

Now Mitt Romney however never call this an act of terror until September 25 so if the test is what the president said and when he said it then Mitt Romney failed his own -- Now I am not sure that is the test Marianne because -- -- the big question needs to be in and so if that's what you said President Obama why would you guide to the rest of your administration to go on national television tell a completely different story that it was all because of the video and it it was a mob scene -- overflowed into violence why.

-- ultimately.

It ultimately -- what the president says that matters he's the one -- that the president he's held accountable and he consistently said this was this was an act of terror and that's really what matters here and when you look at Mitt Romney's attack on him especially in the debate the other night that's exactly the point here.

So the problem is Mitt Romney his failed his own test and when you look at how he handled the situation immediately after it -- trying to politicize it.

And how he handled it in the debate he failed the test is coming.

Energy -- will look I think the first priority mark Sanford please come -- on this has to be.

What the administration didn't have a handle that and -- -- first part you have to get to -- and the president himself has said I'm in charge I take responsibility.

So.

The governor Sanford don't we -- -- answer the question if you call that a terror attack -- everyone else in the White House and administration -- something house.

Well not only that but but frankly the president himself you know on September 25 almost two weeks after the Rose Garden event.

Went on the view and when asked specifically hey is this an active -- -- -- we're not sure yet and we're investigating him so even the pressed himself two weeks later was.

Obfuscating and and and and sort of questioning whether was or wasn't.

If you look at the Susan Rice tapes.

You know again the United States ambassador to the UN.

Worked for the president she went on five talk shows five you know Sunday talk shows.

Talking about how we weren't sure as to what it was -- wasn't so.

You know at minimum what you have here is an indictment on the of the president's leadership style where in you know president's great presence had been declared if and where they're coming from.

Rather than sort of a Philadelphia lawyer -- wherein the depends on the meaning what the word is this and there's a real -- saying you know there's a generic statement against terror but it's not a statement.

Against this acting out of hair there in the rose.

And it seems to remarry and that the only reason to allow the State Department and others to go out and you know as -- -- -- that's a deliberate action when you send out your folks on a Sunday on the Sunday shows and say.

You need to Tom that is about the video.

The only reason that I can think -- and you tell me there's another reason that you would do that instead of having them go out and say we just don't know yet we're investigating and we just don't know yet and we can't talk about it because it's highly classified.

Is to throw red Herring out there and get people to look away from the al-Qaeda issue and decide that it's just you know some crazy people on the streets -- stirring up problems.

So I think the reality here Murtha is no one still really knows all the -- and I don't think with the FBI did -- -- question and why.

And I think the fact that big video was emphasized so much when it was was a mistake.

That said the president alone says.

He's the present -- United States and he called it an act of terror and I think the reason has become so politicized.

Is historically Republicans and always have the advantage on foreign policy and to this day.

President Obama has a two point advantage even after all that's.

Over Mitt Romney -- this is a close race and I'm betting -- here in the morning November 7 not quite sure who won.

Then everything matters and that's the advantage that Mitt Romney's trying to -- -- before eligible -- governor Sanford what is the question that you would want answered in this debate about all of us on Monday night what needs to be asked and answered.

You know who knew would win that -- -- so again I go back to this is the question of presidential leadership fell or -- with a senior senator from South Carolina suggesting right now.

Which is this is a cover up.

Is it a cover up.

Based on you know messing up the narrative that the president -- -- on his work against the big story obviously Marianne thank you very much governor Sanford thank -- -- -- as.

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