Fox News
Expand
Browse All Video
Watch Live

You're watching...

Special Report Online: 10/24/12

Details

  • Description

    Impact of Benghazi fallout on WH race

  • Duration 29:28
  • Date

Clips

Also in this playlist...

Editor's Picks

Auto-advance: ON

Auto-advance
View All

Transcript

This transcript is automatically generated

Welcome to another edition of special report on line I'm Bret Bair.

You haven't been here before welcome aboard I think excel if you haven't been here before and looking at the computer and there are a lot of lot of people on here.

Comes at you and their -- we put this computer appear victories like this -- past the stage director -- floor director actually will help -- put the computer appeared.

Back with -- panel of course Charles Mara and Steve this is a much relaxed and more relaxed environment.

Steve wants to add -- -- But we're not do that yet to London you need to -- can't really just gears just a cooler cocktail pressure on the floor but that.

Aren't.

Sometime maybe.

We left off talking about the guys by the way Jeff typed in saying.

ABC not one -- About the story.

Look that we -- -- emerges from the main show.

I stood there Romney did not bring it up they clearly wanted to do the economy they think Iran -- they don't want to take a chance and distracting getting a new issue on.

But this is really a journalistic -- I mean the fact that there was not a word.

About any of this in the times in the post.

Today and and there was one thing that was very new and very interest -- You know the way -- been trying to insulate itself on this whole time he had Joseph Biden saying in his debate you know we didn't know and then of course since everybody knew.

They said well the White House to.

These emails went to the situation.

So let this story does is it punctures the myth.

That everybody might have known as deep -- intelligence guys.

Whether the of their state government the White House denied it was in the situation.

And there's also if I could sorry until and one thing the last -- speaks of them mortar attack.

Now there are people in the situation room who know about how operations are conducted in the field.

And a mortar attack is not a bunch of guys who -- off the back of -- truck and and start attacking with AK is forty sevens.

-- has to be a plan you have to have a lot of skill you have to be a train and when you do it at night.

He got to have a spider I mean there's all kinds of stuff that goes into -- and that's on within on the first day this is the fourth email.

At midnight essentially of that day.

So immediately in the White House it is known that this is a serious attack.

So then I think the myth.

Of the last week out of the loop which is what did they were hiding with and they saw -- -- a Watergate you know we didn't know out of the loop.

I'm not saying it is on the scale of course -- people died here and -- in Watergate but it was as complex and and and sort of long term as the Watergate scandal however the timeline.

Is the same election year.

Basically ignored by most of the news outlets presence reelected and then the scandal erupts and that's what I think the administration is hoping will happen.

-- and they expected to be tamp down afterwards but that's only wanna do -- get past the finish line.

A lot of people are asking why -- CBS hold that small bit of video for so long Stephen says that a lot of people typing in the same thing by the way if you.

I don't see your comment right away don't get frustrated they're literally thousands of -- even typing -- and producers put in as many as they can.

As fast they can't it's a good question Stephen.

You know sixty minutes didn't air another piece of that of that tape in and remember came out on line and it was about the the commercials.

About the can campaign and how his campaign was going negative.

And that sometimes it doesn't.

Truth.

Remember it was the party's congress may come -- -- And Hezbollah but it is on the sixty minutes about admitted that a lot of the stuff was untruthful show.

At this part though as the -- -- I was developing you would think.

That would make it it did the error.

On a David Martin piece on October 19 Friday the nineteenth.

And then it -- again last night when they actually did -- you know story.

I think the only network to do it it it would -- master was not on the ABC news network today I don't know about and NBC.

Marketing you know.

God you know I was just gonna say and in terms of these kind of pieces of interviews with the president in the United States that are not -- I think the entire interview should be aired.

Every single time or at least put up -- your website give us.

There's nothing and -- hundreds -- It's kind of -- the fact is this is a good fact for the president in a way -- -- saying hey I I wasn't trying to cover it up I was out there saying it could imminent terrorist attack well you know it's a good form now yet.

Everybody out here believe I'm beginning I don't you know the beginning that they wanted the video to be the well that's the story totally complicates everything they've said for the past six weeks.

-- their whole story became the video story and there you have the president basically transmitting what.

This what these emails reflect he was getting in real time this makes this I think this I think that single comment.

Given everything we know that they try to sell for so long.

You know makes it far more likely that they were deliberately misleading in that this was in.

Confidence well he had no way of knowing whether or not CBS -- that.

No I mean I'm look he said that initially you say he's about about that on the twelfth and said basically I think this was not -- we're gonna switch our story but they did.

That's exactly what they did I'm not out they think -- that's exactly what there's no doubt that they describe -- -- they were even misleading all I'm saying is that this was a concerted effort.

I think it was spin and it was wrong spin and misleading spend but to say it was a cover up.

That involves a lot more coordination.

And everybody's being from the same cover -- script and that -- I like -- he did it again after that initial -- -- none of -- that's exactly my point it did after the initial.

Comments from the president right hand men and men at a certain point.

There becomes.

Everybody gets on the same page are all us about the video let's talk about this story contradiction there are different -- this story when you mention Vice President Biden.

He's being asked about the security issue before him.

And why doesn't he know that the security is lax beforehand and it doesn't get it we didn't know about it so.

On these emails this is real time on the attack but on the ambassador Stevens and we have those investors -- emails.

We bring down.

So -- Stevens whose end and -- He writes emails about the change now do they make it to the White House we don't know but they are up the chain in the State Department we assume they get Secretary Clinton there to his bosses.

And he says Islamic extremism -- appears to be on the rise in eastern Libya.

-- al-Qaeda flag has been spotted several times flying over government buildings in training facilities the government of Libya is.

Is.

Not dealing with this the violence is continuing and worsening then.

In August he writes in Gaza has moved from trepidation to -- euphoria and back as a series of violent incidents has dominated the political landscape.

This is Stephens the incidents have been organized Islamic extremists are able to attack the Red Cross with relative impunity.

What we've seen are not random crimes of opportunity but rather targeted indiscriminate attacks attackers are unlikely to be deterred.

Until authorities are at least as capable and then on 9/11 which is before we get to this email up the chain on 405 eastern time.

This is four hours before that so likely about 12 PM eastern time.

Investor Stephens writes an email the chain that says there are growing problems with security here and -- -- There is growing frustration with the local security police and the forces here they can't control this area they are too weak.

To keep this country secure.

We need more help.

This is ambassador Stephens four hours before this.

Twenty armed men are firing shots ambassador Stephens who currently in Ben Ghazi personnel and the safe haven.

Four hours -- me gives me chills looking -- This email.

That is up the chain and then this -- now.

That is up to change -- -- is that not something almost as if you had a premonition -- -- I mean here's an interview with the dead man essentially you know.

Look I think on these specific issues of the security.

It's true that by who was answering a question about what happened before and there are a lot of -- -- But when he answered we didn't know.

That's been sort of the general approach of the White House this is all -- -- mean Hillary Clinton says I take responsibility.

Then you get all the blame put it on the united the united releases a statement which as you know -- the -- again the assessment.

It doesn't wash now that we know that there's penetrated to the situation room.

And then the question is if this is in the situation we have a dead ambassador within hours forward and Americans the embassy on fire.

Is -- no curiosity.

They just that they will then -- piece of paper and the idea and I hands us.

You know this isn't like you know a fire happening in the back of fanatics -- somewhere in the end in the Paris embassy.

This is the biggest attack -- the first killing an embarrassment.

Three decades as you know are they gonna tell us at the White House and did nothing had no curiosity and looking into earlier emails -- Nowak.

And said we're gonna rely on a single assessment from the the DN it's not plausible it's simply -- -- I think protect the White House to insulated -- that you can be insulated and remember.

That the single assessment from the -- the assessment from the DNI that they later used -- later used I think to hide behind.

Which said that there that they're they have this intercept that talks about and makes reference at least to a protest in Cairo.

That intercept was between two al-Qaeda linked terrorists so you can't have -- forward and put out information about.

This being -- -- supposedly a spontaneous attack based on a mirrored on on Cairo.

And not also include the fact that the people talking were terrorists work with links to al-Qaeda clearly they were cherry picking information contrary to what.

Secretary Clinton said in that we've seen this pattern again and again and again in this story but here's here's what I don't get.

Is the disconnect between we see all of this stuff and we are reporting that there are few others who are reporting it.

I don't get how somebody could say that it's nothing.

I don't get me and I I just don't get.

It either either they don't understand the magnitude -- they haven't taken time to look at all that's mostly because I think they don't talk about editors at the New York Times.

They don't want to see what's here because that would make him and compel them to cover it but it was extraordinary half -- -- haven't sat at home today.

My laptop open and just kept going back to New York Times to the Washington Post to see when they would finally write this I mean.

This broke last night 9 o'clock last night.

We were there were stories on on fox -- web site last night other networks CBS have one up and Dior has covered this just cover this hour.

I mean that's the problem is -- to say the media isn't covering it some parts of the media are.

It it might not be getting the level of attention that we all think it deserves but they're certainly as you said they'll be hearings on -- for the Washington Post you know the Washington Post today when I clicked last time I clicked at 2 o'clock.

Had done a story on the Gloria all red October surprise.

And had not a worse.

I'm not fix the New York Times at about 2 o'clock this afternoon had still not yet written a word -- written three stories.

About Richard Murdoch's comments in Indiana on abortion.

But they didn't have time to assign somebody to write this story.

Think we already saw the public editor which is essentially -- ombudsman.

Say this should have been.

You know page one when they had the hearings remember that and and remember I held up the paper and a panel back -- and said why wasn't receiving -- April congressional -- that it may have called the national counterterrorism.

Senator fields of the elections two weeks away.

And they are shameless enough I would guess.

To think we can downplay this for two weeks.

We'll take you -- that people aren't gonna remember this when I couldn't do anything to get in the way of our guy who is now floundering.

And we don't want to add a finger on the scale.

To make his recovery in an election reelection.

Put it in jeopardy that's the way -- They are on the flip side let me let me just say why then.

Is governor Romney in the ground up it would fly again covered up and then why -- is there was certainly get covered if it -- he should be especially in light of the fact that the president today.

Launches this knew what we must assume this is closing -- trust matters that's as close.

He has his closing argument is going to be trust matters and it's not you know I mean the -- got his stuff is.

Is bad enough but if you go back to the debate -- that the comments he made about the sequester where he had nothing to do with that in fact it originated.

In the White House and he did that -- he claimed that.

He never we -- twice in his exchange with governor Romney that he had no interest.

In keeping troops in Iraq but he he didn't even want to -- he didn't even wanna status of forces agreement.

And he did he -- did that we reported on that for years so he's he's been caught saying things that are just blatantly untrue.

You know in those two incidents that did at the debate and and for six weeks going back and he's -- campaign for the final two weeks on trust matters.

I mean this is a huge huge story if you'd think somebody would want to cover.

Yes I mean you pointed in -- panel to the Jon Stewart sound -- about we have put everything on the table when we've had to.

This is -- that clearly we can definitively say that's not true is that fair.

Mean is that fair yeah they obviously that's balanced that's there's no -- if there's no way that that is true.

Right right but this story would get covered if Mitt Romney talks said anything about it.

This is I'm not I'm not saying this is all it's all his responsibility what I'm saying is just a fact.

That if he talked about it it would get cover you hear you know hold hearing a couple of reporters who are traveling -- -- around there I'm impressed and I.

I -- friends -- says it.

Then they have what happened yeah that's what isn't it president Obama's story and -- Is it really Mitt Romney's the only song that -- certainly tried twice in very high profile way is why wouldn't he did not -- But I mean I think this is an inquisitive jolly -- for the state of course in an automatic right.

But instead it's not -- -- saying -- but that's course this is journalistic malpractice.

I'm then then the question just -- governor -- and it's a matter of campaign tactics is it is it wise if he wants to introduce the story into the discussion.

To raise it I think it would be wise friend.

-- psychiatrist here I really do but I do think there's something.

Mitt Romney's father.

Was going was on his way to be president in 1960.

The Democrats are committing political suicide.

Nixon was only real opponent he was -- very attractive.

The country was in disarray and he made one statement.

Unforced on the radio station.

About Cheney his opinion on the Vietnam -- he -- I was brainwashed.

Does that one sentence destroy his political career in 22.

So I would have played a psychiatrist I have no idea if there's hovers over him but if it -- my father if -- hovering over me every man.

I would suspect that there -- a lot of reasons they're on.

They think they're on a row on the economy they have the momentum of the first debate so why screw it up right where on a path would -- -- glide path.

-- -- who is going the other guys Desmond why do anything.

That's obviously the strategy that is which is always -- the debate that we debated demonic touch and I would have can't -- he -- to get -- -- -- probably needed.

But I think there's also nominee is if we go off -- glide path which is a safe -- he can handle the economy.

You never know what you run into and you can do the 22.

It -- and you know if Romney doesn't commit a gaffe could continue an election he's got a really good shot to win the presidency.

A -- would have would would would stop all the momentum mean all the discussion on the despair among Democrats.

So it seems it to me why -- play in arena and I'm not defending essentially trying to explain it.

Why playing an arena where there are no of those and unknowns and the other guys are sitting on a lot more evidence and I have.

Right I don't know everything about that what -- in which could be deployed at a certain point so why go into the unknown if I know what I'm doing now.

Is putting me on a -- -- have a real good chance to win.

And you know all clinching your psychiatrist I'll be -- assistant he did tried twice and it didn't work out so good so he's got some real recent experience crowded field.

You know it's kind of like yeah like like 23 strikes -- -- out.

You know -- -- he well let me let me say one -- we are completely.

Redoing a par.

Ben Ghazi Al.

That we did last week.

Aired on Friday re aired over the weekend.

On Sunday we have.

We are on full court press.

We are speeding up we are going to re air a new version -- this -- you know updated with everything.

New interviews new stand ups knew.

Everything.

I don't know how we're going to do it but we are going to do it and it's going to air this weekend I'll get you times.

Tomorrow but one of the times will be 10 PM on Sunday night.

And it will be all.

She'll be in there to Arlen though I'm permanently on the cutting room floor right now you'll be -- -- But it's it's a full court press and it's such kind of shoe store you know we had I think collectively about eight million people watch.

That our.

And got a lot of lot of response.

Well when you do with the way that you did you simply show the time line.

It's really staggering because people are getting a bit and at peace over here and over there that you you know story here they -- something on the but when you do it -- you show it in one sitting.

It's simply astonishing how the administration.

Has shifted and changed and and told -- troops when Obama says we never misled.

I mean it is indisputable that they misled the only question is was it deliberate -- -- deceit.

Or was it unintentional.

-- -- incompetence but those are the only two alternatives.

And we've asked the administration -- -- -- do come on as well we'll see what happens -- your -- Have no idea they -- no -- you -- that moved the Romney think will tomorrow for follow mark's right I can say -- -- was right about.

Why he doesn't want to do this after he first came out had a press conference.

He was upset.

And it didn't go well he didn't like the fact that he then became the story and I think he's concerned that that -- happen again I've talked Romney campaign officials who said this three very directly.

And then the second time after the debate where where Candy Crowley interrupted him and corrected -- miss corrected him if that's if there's such a thing.

And the end he came out of it not looking good -- looking -- he knew he was talking about I think he had the same kind of moment it was interesting how that that debate tonight -- -- literally sprinted his -- To talk to Ed Gillespie his top you know one of his top advisors because my suspicion was having stumbled again he was going to run away from this I didn't think that was a good idea.

However NASDAQ -- is he -- back confidence now that this was a second stumble and I said absolutely not there's no way.

This is important it's crucial for the American people.

To understand what happened here and this is a matter of leadership and I think that's the way to make the argument here that we've we've we've had this argument basically -- discussion for.

A year you know should he focus like a laser just on the economy and nothing else or should he talk about leadership.

This is a matter of leadership and when the president goes out and gives a speech in which he lectures the American public.

The voters about how trust matters.

In the in this context I think Mitt Romney has an obligation to make this point -- If around me were behind and not making progress.

They would probably go that way that could be so mean to shake up the campaign.

But Romney is behind.

I mean -- I don't think that we -- that's another issue yeah.

Well if anything behind her -- about it now the question of the hour that is the question about -- what we have -- that whether he is or not he's closing.

Yeah I don't know I don't know let me know that the momentum should he change the trajectory of the -- that is that still going in his direction we don't know that is what everybody's trying to figure out and I don't think either campaign knows where you think.

We can't you look at the internals of both campaigns and say.

He has definitely closed the gap yes but is it continuing -- room.

We don't know right now we know he close the gap that we're -- but we're waiting for individual battleground states to start turning red but even Ohio this is neck and neck.

According neck and neck but the president -- a little lead there at some point some of these states I think that's right we have to Demille.

If we look if you go look I'm really took -- -- real clear politics a look back at the Ohio you know go back to to bank.

Can Mitt Romney leading like two of those polls now there.

Potential sampling problems there are also some.

Reasons that they may or may not be accurate and I've talked to people inside through the Republican establishment who say that you know he's.

Much closer than the public polls suggest there was one I think one internal -- that had Mitt -- actually leading.

In Ohio so it may not be that what's happening internally is happening publicly but if you look at these places that that we all think he needs to do to win.

In order to win.

He's not -- overtaken Barack Obama and Wisconsin he's not in overtaken him -- was in Iowa he's not been overtaken him in Ohio.

How he has he I think north Carolina's done for -- is moving toward.

The president Florida is still moving towards round numbers are an important run away from the Florida as an ordinary.

Heading towards Romney so let's say a bad movie and I had president big plans for this online -- to go over to this wall -- and do that thing but of course crack down on us and that's a word I can use on the -- ship.

And luckily it was on live TV because.

I would be throwing something.

That's its first hit his first.

We're going to do it on tape on Friday and I'm going to show you know works Bill Hemmer is not the only one can -- -- -- But you push that thing and it shows you how you can -- the what if game of how you get to 270.

So if Florida.

Virginia.

North Carolina.

Colorado.

Then New Hampshire yes like it feels like it's going -- -- -- -- so I was just on the ground there all the people there think Romney looks pretty good.

So then let's just put Ohio side and give it to -- it given to President Obama then you come down to.

In the northern Iowa and Wisconsin -- let's give President Obama Nevada.

Okay -- still -- Iowa and how Wisconsin and now only needs is wanted it to.

But without -- in New Hampshire Ron given an interaction and Virginia and Florida I can't Colorado game karaoke in that case you're right it's only needs he needs one on to yet -- -- -- What I want.

But what -- Wisconsin.

He could be ground zero was got to remember this about Wisconsin people you know I think that the people are missing the big story about Wisconsin because.

-- if you just look at the surface results -- say a Republican hasn't won a presidential contest Wisconsin.

Since 1984.

What that doesn't tell you is that in 2000 the margin was like 121500.

Yeah.

Well Kerry Kerry won by I think 7000 a little sore yeah 7000 were always four and in 2000.

Gore won by 121005 and I think the total if you combined 2002004.

The total margin.

Was like 171500.

Votes effectively tie.

And then it would.

-- Obama won Wisconsin in 2008 so we in this week.

But Wisconsin is not a blue state as people think of it in presidential elections it is a purple state has been -- decade.

The effect of all of the recall election theme moving the -- red -- -- what would be.

Would you guys -- this -- -- little time it has an area I think that's right and I think it was more about he's not gonna come after my god -- it was it was personal that walker for sure as more time.

That's -- is that.

Look you know what does -- in the group's American knows that well they then democratic forces -- consider this life and death they just got -- it terribly.

They -- they lost twice they lost in 2010 and in the recall to the question is are they like fighting for their lives.

And I am not really energized when are they just solemn.

So you're losing the residue was a -- well.

So businesses advantages and disadvantages from from both sides really but if you I talked I was in Wisconsin couple weeks ago I talked to Republicans there.

Who said we're having trouble getting people coming in and year making the phone calls were having trouble getting -- or not there's.

People are tired why give an -- going there are spending well there that's another question now that was before the debate right now that was in the last weekend of September it.

And then the first debate happened and everybody I talked to said.

We can't we don't have enough seats for people to come in and sit down and make phone calls people were fired up again.

And you know that it would Italy it remains to see whether the -- we'll have that galvanizing -- momentum for for the duration.

But it was certainly the case that the debate did that then and there's one other reason that Republicans I think it may have a -- this a slight advantage in Wisconsin.

And if any does go to the recall they organized the heck out of the recall they have this was a dry -- Six months ago and they have.

Maybe they know where the drivers not in the would have picked up they know how to do this thing they did -- who did it successfully in walker expanded his lead.

In the recall over the original gubernatorial race Adam from Wisconsin says walker woke us up.

Guest says I want to see 269269.

Happen it would be great upgrade no political.

Bearing on.

I I know the and I didn't do you know work comes down to a main congressional desert to the one.

One day -- came in Texas has Romney will win Pennsylvania -- it's you know it's kind of like Charlie in the football.

Pennsylvania Pennsylvania measure -- -- Republicans put in some money there and they just they get -- pulled -- I think there -- some Republicans -- think Pennsylvania.

Is possible -- that senate race is very close with Bob Casey and but it's I don't think there are many Republicans think it's it's.

It's really in them in the cards so we'd just just technically say let's just put it in that pile and just when you're adding it up.

That it goes President Obama and then you focus on these other states and it's pretty amazing that you come down to.

The Rust -- it's come down to seventh at Iowa.

Three Wisconsin and Ohio and yet.

That's really what you come down -- -- and the crazy part is we've been to those states I think eight times.

In the past.

Six months.

It's fresh reports been on the road a lot of times.

Before we wrap up a -- do get -- -- more comments.

Lynn I love Steve.

-- Greg first timer great show I'll be a regular watcher.

-- likes the use of the word crap -- -- -- on the FEC yeah maybe -- are plain Jane thanks for this show sorry about your -- shirts.

I say when I'm in recovery.

And you're really a group we talked.

I know if I'm fine I'm recovered learn.

Just don't go away in the black and avoid meeting and -- will persist until spring training and it'll be just fine.

I appreciate you watching at all I can't watch or care what appeared to feel it's really I'm done -- absolutely no World Series opens its it's.

I don't last time this happened to me was after the 1986 -- who's your -- -- -- out there.

And I thought -- escaped grief for the rest of my.

As I said on the show I think it was Friday -- dispose of cruel mistress.

-- indeed okay well that wraps up the online show you have been here -- before welcome aboard because it's pretty honest.

Thanks for tuning and how will of course be back here tomorrow spending extra special report I'll tell you what time that -- was going to run this weekend.

Control our own little wave goodbye.

Good night everybody.

Load More