Could Susan Rice be the next secretary of state?

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Let me be very clear I have great respect for Senator McCain and his service to our country I always have and I always will.

I do think that some of the statements he made about me have been unfounded but I look forward to having opportunity at the appropriate time to discuss all of this with.

And that was UN ambassador Susan Rice just this past Wednesday responding to Senator John McCain would say that he would potentially.

Block her possible nomination as secretary of state.

You may know the senator criticized and strikes after her early comments about the deadly attack at the US consulate in Benghazi.

-- -- went on -- Sunday news programs including Fox's Sunday calling it a spontaneous demonstration -- result of that anti Islamic YouTube video.

Well this morning on FOX News Sunday Senator McCain way back.

And on this again.

We give everyone the benefit of explaining.

Their position on the actions that they took.

I'll be glad to have the opportunity to discuss these issues with her but why did she say that.

Why did -- say that.

That al-Qaeda.

Has been decimated.

In her statement here on this program a Qaeda has been decimated.

There are on the rise are all over Iraq -- to training camps -- in Libya they're all over Syria there are on the rise everywhere in the Middle East.

Well could the controversy do you rail ambassador rice is possible nomination as the next secretary of state.

Port O'Connor chairman of the senate foreign pack and former outreach director for the John McCain presidential campaign joins us as does just that -- former democratic congressman.

From Pennsylvania forward and Joseph welcome on this Sunday morning had to be waiting area to -- -- -- -- -- let me start or do I ask your boss I mean -- highly critical in this rice but she has long history you know what the president do you expect him denominator.

Despite this controversy.

Well if he nominates her you know she's certainly get a confirmation hearing -- blaming the Intel -- a cop out -- -- sort of ostrich with its head in the sand defense isn't gonna work.

The question is is why did she allow herself to be a pawn for the administration when it's clear.

Within hours released today everyone with it -- close the matter knew that it was a terrorist attack -- yet still.

Five days later she went on -- Sunday shows and said hey it's a spontaneous protest in response to a video.

She needs to explain herself senator McCain's right I think Senator McCain made greater point is Susan -- is not the problem the administration is if you want to be secretary of state.

We can't allow yourself to be a point you've got to show.

Greater independence because at the end of the day your responsibilities the American people.

Joseph is Susan Rice the problem or is the administration a problem or not.

Well I think what John McCain who first of all.

I don't think I could have done with John McCain get his prison were not the greatest respect for that man.

But I think what he did today really showed what the real problem was -- all the Sunday paused and -- what we learned in the military.

Expect what you inspect.

And he basically said look I'm going to give her an opportunity to explain what really did go down.

I'm gonna be an American before -- partisan I wanna know what went down and then I'll make my judgment and I think that's what everybody should do.

I think that as I said before there were those who happened on certain aspects -- -- -- where that's been the less than a commanding.

Effort.

But all that said the accountability review void that's now -- headed by an ambassador with the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff -- Just like we had a chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff on one just a few years earlier need to get to the root of what occurred and then let's do what Americans really want.

Let's make a decision based upon the facts in a very pragmatic way.

Because I think the lack of trust and what people are -- in Washington DC is our biggest deficit may -- weekly gain if I acted upon what the facts are and then that's what should be done.

Well you know before I mean it seems to some ms.

rice has a lack of trust even -- she says she did rely solely and squarely on the intelligence.

Says it's is not a fault and she says she made it clear that.

What she was saying about that dead Muslim video in that demonstration.

Was preliminary.

Again blaming the Intel -- a little bit of a cop out I think she needs to get the opportunity to explain herself.

And she really needs to take accountability of -- actions obvious it's clear it seems to be clear nobody knows for sure.

If she allowed herself to be a pawn for the administration and again if you're gonna be the nation's top diplomat you gotta show some -- -- -- yes you have to have loyal to the administration.

But at the end of the -- day your responsibilities to the American people.

But I do agree with -- -- the bottom line -- we afford that Americans no answers and we need to get to the bottom of this in a bipartisan.

Why don't you let it work when you're sort upon I mean you know you're you're now Carter administration you you say -- -- administration line that they say they believe is true.

I -- is that a fair characterization.

Well -- -- here's the thing why did they send her out there why didn't they send secretary Panetta white it -- -- David Petraeus why didn't they send Secretary Clinton.

Something tells me those folks would have been better suited for for the situation but yet they sent her out there I think part of the reason was because admiral loyalty.

And they one -- them to hold the line from the administration again we don't know that but that's where sort of the arrows -- pointing in that direction.

More than anything I could guard Jeff.

-- if I could and with all due respect Ford is when I worked in the White House.

We really make sure that.

We understood that there was really -- and we never ever met a one -- intelligence officer because they're always saying on the one hand but on the other hand.

But that's said we were given talking points.

We make sure that we stayed true to those talking points from the intelligence agency that's supposed to give us the information of what goes down.

It's not that Susan Rice is blaming the intelligence agency.

If she was telling her she had ignored what the intelligence agency had given her then we would be having a diplomat that is a cowboy out there.

-- she should have gone right down with what the intelligence seat she gave me that's not been a point one.

That's what's program -- -- I hear -- aren't quite -- look forward if we can just do.

What the intent believing that the ten CC gave her the right but the facts then speak those facts now.

I have no problem with people like John McCain asking to find out suspect down because he differs but let's get to the facts before.

So I cannot I cannot say much else I read says that -- -- that is the protocol to follow the talking points for the talking points that hate the earth is flat or you really going to follow them.

-- -- it seems that everybody including the president he made this point and in the third debate.

Pitino is an act of terrorism I find it very hard to believe that she didn't at least think of the possibility she could have either declined the opportunity go out there and speak.

Or say hey we need to change the talking points because I know better and now you -- -- put her up potentially for secretary of state in this sort of global.

You know situation we're having all around the world I think we need somebody depending on what happens with -- -- -- loyal not only the administration but to the American people.

And just -- don't want a person who is our ambassador the United Nations to overrule.

What an intelligence agency has given -- -- didn't -- ahead then we'll find out afterwards I just don't like cowboys out.

And -- final point and I wanna point out that you are -- former vice admiral of the navy -- thirty years in the military you were on the idea.

-- you -- the defence attache to the National Security Council.

You think she will be nominated and if she is do you think that she will be confirmed as the next secretary of state.

I served as Susan -- the desk.

-- -- She is a fine representative of the people of America as a diplomat.

And if she is and I don't know I'm not -- in a circle obviously but if she is nominated.

And state finish this investigation find that she did what she was supposed to do is adhere to what he -- -- he gave her.

Yes I think America would be well served by her and and I think you ought to find out John McCain will support her because he wants to do what's right for America.

Well I think we're done.

-- that ahead.

I grew rep says that if we get to the bottom of this and we have a forthcoming you know confirmation hearing and we -- get down everything embarrassed.

Then she should be -- obviously she's qualified she was given a unanimous consent to be UN secretary.

You know so it obviously she's -- the question is.

Is you know again can we find out where her loyalty lies -- the American people are just solely to this administration -- port deal put forth their agenda.

All right forward and Joseph and a it's good prediction from Joseph thank you for joining us that John McCain will eventually support Susan Rice if she is nominated joke we'll get back and that.

And if you accept -- thanks so much what the.

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Could Susan Rice be the next secretary of state?

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