McCain misses Libya briefing while criticizing lack of info

Sen. John McCain (R-AZ), holds a news conference on the Benghazi terrorist attack at the U.S. Capitol November 14, 2012 in Washington, DC. / Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images

While Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., was leading a press conference Wednesday to condemn the administration's lack of transparency regarding the attacks in Benghazi, Libya, it turns out he could have been attending a classified briefing on the subject.

Due to what his office called a "scheduling error," McCain accompanied Sens. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., and Kelly Ayotte, R-N.H., at 11:30 a.m., Wednesday to demand before reporters a select committee of Congress to investigate the violence in Libya, rather than attend the scheduled 11 a.m. closed-door briefing for members of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. At his press conference, McCain continued to rail on the president and his administration - including U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Susan Rice - for botched handling of information in the aftermath of the attack.

Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, the ranking Republican on the committee, reneged slightly from a report today that she was critical of McCain for missing the meeting, but maintained it's important he's fully briefed on intelligence, and disagreed with his call for a select committee.

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"All I was trying to point out is that he's a very valuable member of our committee," she told CBS News. "He would be involved in all the briefings and the hearings and the investigation, and thus I don't think that it's necessary to create a whole new separate committee."

McCain told CBS News he hadn't yet viewed the thousands of pages of classified emails, telegrams, and intelligence reports that the State Department made available to the committee. As a member, he can access the documents by visiting a secure room on the Hill. Collins hasn't requested that viewing either but attended the briefing and viewed whatever documents were presented there.

When asked Thursday about the briefing, McCain reportedly grew angry and told a CNN producer, "I have no comment about my schedule, and I'm not going to comment on how I spend my time to the media." Pressed on why he wouldn't comment, McCain said, "I have the right as a senator to have no comment. And who the hell are you to tell me I can or not?"

Meanwhile, Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., another member of the Homeland Security committee, also missed the briefing, but did an interview on CNN the same day attacking Mr. Obama for his handling of the Benghazi attack, and, at one point, admitting, "I don't know enough of the details." 

Margaret Brennan and John Nolen contributed to this report.

[Holly-wood]

McCain misses Libya briefing while criticizing lack of info
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Way to go numb nuts! This old fossil is so obsessed with making the President look bad that he misses a meeting about the very intel he says he isn't getting. Maybe the old f@rt is getting senile.

McCain, Graham, King, and the Obama haters at Faux News have a preference for a certain type of "Rice". They excused Condi Rice for being part of an administration that allowed 9-11 to happened and lied about WMD in Iraq but they attack Susan Rice for doing no more than reading talking points about the Libya attack on TV.

I guess the GOP hacks and their supporters really want Scott Brown back in the Senate since they think that John Kerry is the President's's second pick for SOS. SCREW THEM. If I were Obama I would nominate Rice anyway. Let these partisan white males in the GOP attack a minority female. That will really do their pathetic party good with the changing demographics in this nation. Let them p*ss off the minorities and the females, groups they are losing big time.

[kaymck513]

Oh Senator McCain, it's so hard to scrape the egg off your face when your big fat foot is in your mouth. You need to get out of politics as it's obvious your hatred for the president is overwhelming what little brain function you still have. And that goes for all your other republican colleagues that rush to harsh judgement before all the FACTS are in.

[KPeters_from_UK]

TIREDOFBEINGBANNED replies: Mick.....why don't you worry about that drug infested prostitute laden crap hole of a place you live in. By the way, I think the statue in the red light district is a great likeness.


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TIREDOFBEINGBANNED

Typical of the Far Right attitude telling Americans where they are allowed to live, which Americans have the right to Freedom of Speech and who is allowed to vote. The Tea Party baggers are fascists.

Hey TIREDOFBEINGBANNED I still file and pay my IRS taxes, I still vote and I don't hide my money in offshore accounts like your hero Romney. Kinda makes me more of a patriot than Romney!

[GOP-R--Con-Men]

Does the old folks home know that resident McCain is off his rocker and running loose?

[Jaylah54200]

Typical TeaPublican. In such a hurry to bash Obama that he misses meetings where he's going to get the very info he's demanding.

Doesn't make you look to smart, John!

[GOP-R--Con-Men]

Hey Lucky 7m

The CIA was operating out of them so maybe you need to ask them? But you like McCain would rather rail against President Obama.

[TimeToEvolve]

McSame is a completely disgraced Republicon who has become completely irrelevant except for the white inbreds in Arizona. And he is completely a part of the failed and obsolete Republicon Party.

I am so so glad to see the Wall Street puppets, the Republicon Party, finally get their come uppance. They spent like drunken sailors during the Bush Crime Family Reign of Terror and now they will be exposed for the half wit failures they are.

They spent 4 long years after the last Republicon pResidential disaster trying to make Obama fail and they failed. Heck, the Republicons caon't even eff up right. Truly, truly pathetic and time for them to go onto the trash heap of history so we can have a second party in America.

[Mick_from_Amsterdam]

tiredofbeingbanned replies:

Mick.....why don't you worry about that drug infested prostitute laden crap hole of a place you live in. By the way, I think the statue in the red light district is a great likeness.

*****************************************

Sorry Tired...

You seem to know Amsterdam better than I (I don't spend much time in the Red Kight District unless taking American friends on a tour)

If you've actually been here, I'm surprised you would malign it so.

Once you get past the fact that by and large, most Amsterdammers speak better English than the average American...and learn to deal with a daily barrage of civilized behavior...it's not so hard to take

I had no choice in any case...

I had made a vow to myself, jokingly at first, when I first saw George W. Bush's name in connection with a run for the presidency. It was a small article about his already having a $25 million "war chest"

I laughed...the very idea was so ludicrous, I told myself if that draft-dodging, coke-snorting ne'er-do-well was ever elected president of the United States...I'm gone!

As a sick joke moved toward horrifying reality, I began to think that perhaps it wouldn't be such a bad idea to leave a country that I fought, bled and killed for...since as it turned out, eight years of the Bush/Cheney Gang rendered it a great place to be from...

Not just because of failed oil deals disguised as wars...or the largest transfer (theft) of wealth in the history of the human race...but the climate of intolerance, polarization and downright hatred that has grown so virulent in a little over a decade...fostered by would-be media demagogues, trailer park "patriot groups" corporate hustlers and religious extremists...

Besides Tired...if you break a promise to yourself...you can't trust anyone!

*************************************

BTW, Whacko With Many Names...your shrill, juvenile attempts at insult gave you away...

both times...

As always

[Mick_from_Amsterdam]

Which one of your legion of psychotic alter-egos will have a go at me next...seven?

[Jaylah54200]

Don't blame you at all Mick.

I had said (in all seriousness) that if Romney/Ryan won this last election, I was selling my house and moving to Norway.

[TJphoto]

Hey John, It was an "ID TEN T" error. It could happen to any member of Congress who has his head stuck so far up his (you know) that it sticks out his neck. You could have been a Statesman. You choose to be the voice of the Republican party instead. Now tell the American people who are suffering how many retirements from the Government you are collecting. That should fly!!!

[TimeToEvolve]

Why does this senile, half brained bozo remind me of typical Republicon?

[Jaylah54200]

Um, because he is one? ;)

[Maerzie]

Why would McCain have to EVER review the available facts? He has always known better than anybody else, so he makes his OWN rules. His name should actually be Cocky McCain!