Insults fly in emails between Clinton aide, reporter

Secretary of State-designate and U.S. Senator Hillary Clinton (D-NY) and press secretary Philippe Reines at the U.S. Capitol January 7, 2009 in Washington, D.C.

/ Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

(CBS News) Amid ongoing questions about the recent violence in Libya and possible related security issues, BuzzFeed reporter Michael Hastings on Sunday became embroiled in a heated email exchange with Philippe Reines, aide and spokesman to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who ultimately told him to "f**k off" and "have a nice life."

Hastings, who opted to publish the entire exchange on BuzzFeed Monday, initially wrote to Reines with questions about how and why CNN was able to acquire the personal diary of Christopher Stevens, the ambassador to Libya who along with three other Americans was murdered in Benghazi earlier this month.

"Why didn't the State Department search the consulate and find AMB Steven's diary first? What other potential valuable intelligence was left behind that could have been picked up by apparently anyone searching the grounds? Was any classified or top secret material also left?" Hastings asked in his first note.

He continued: "Do you still feel that there was adequate security at the compound, considering it was not only overrun but sensitive personal effects and possibly other intelligence remained out for anyone passing through to pick up? Your statement on CNN sounded pretty defensive--do you think it's the media's responsibility to help secure State Department assets overseas after they've been attacked?"

In his response, Philippe accused Hastings of being "needlessly antagonistic" before launching into a lengthy response criticizing CNN for using information from the diary in its reporting. CNN obtained the diary following the attacks in Benghazi, and according to BuzzFeed, the State Department had not previously known the diary existed.

The State Department called CNN's reporting "indefensible" and said the network had defied Stevens' family's wishes.

"What [CNN is] not owning up to is reading and transcribing Chris's diary well before bothering to tell the family or anyone else that they took it from the site of the attack. Or that when they finally did tell them, they completely ignored the wishes of the family, and ultimately broke their pledge made to them only hours after they witnessed the return to the Unites States of Chris's remains," the State Department said in a statement over the weekend, according to Politico. "Anderson Cooper didn't even bother to offer any other explanation as to why the network broke its promise to the family. And only did so after being contacted by a reporter asking about the diary and their convoluted sourcing. How do they justify that? They have yet to even try to defend the indefensible."

CNN defended its use of the journal, contending the network was "raising questions about why the State Department didn't do more to protect Ambassador Stevens and other U.S. personnel."

"Perhaps the real question here is why is the State Department now attacking the messenger," CNN said in a statement.

In the email thread between Hastings and Reines, Hastings called the State Department's statement "offensive" and accused the department, and the administration, of propagating "misinformation."

"The defense that the administration has offered that there was no intelligence warning of an attack is weak. If there was no intel, then clearly the CIA and other intel agents stationed in Benghazi weren't doing their jobs well. If there was intel, then we have some kind of cover-up--whether out of incompetence or ass covering before the election or just the trauma of losing four good men, it's hard for me to say at this point," Hastings wrote.

From there, the conversation devolved to personal insults: Reines wondered "Why do you bother to ask questions you've already decided you know the answers to?"

"Why don't you give answers that aren't bulls*** for a change?" Hastings responded.

Reines then called Hastings an "unmitigated a**hole" and directed him to "have a good day."

"And by good day, I mean F**k Off," he wrote. In a subsequent email he added: "Have a good life Michael."

The publication of the exchange - which is arguably unflattering to both parties - offers a rare glimpse at the often-fraught relationships between reporters and communications officials. Voters were also offered a glimpse of the tensions on the trail earlier this year, when Mitt Romney's travel press secretary Richard Gorka told the reporters to "kiss my a**" and "shove it."

Rick Santorum also lost his patience with reporters on the trail during his candidacy, after New York Times reporter Jeff Zeleny pressed him for details about comments he made calling then-rival Mitt Romney "the worst Republican in the country to put up against Barack Obama."

"You said Mitt Romney is the worst Republican in the country," Zeleny said to Santorum on the rope-line following his initial remarks. "Is that true?"

"Stop lying," Santorum said, alleging that he had been referring to Romney's record on health care. "Quit distorting my words ...It's bulls***."

Zeleny later told CBS News, however, that he suspected Santorum's outburst was a "tactic" aimed at building support among conservative Republicans.

"It is a very common tactic for Republican presidential candidates. Or even Democratic presidential candidates to try and use the media as a foil here," Zeleny told "CBS This Morning" at the time. "He clearly knew the cameras were rolling here."

President Obama, meanwhile, told reporter Neil Munro, of the conservative website Daily Caller, that "it's not time for questions" when Munro interrupted the president during June remarks about immigration in the White House rose garden.

"Are you going to take questions?" Munro asked.

"Not while I'm speaking," Mr. Obama said.

[audemus]

America does not have the influence to dictate to an entire region caught-up in revolution, who their leaders will be. The explanation for the reaction coming from this Clinton aid to this reporter has more to do with someone trying to exploit a personal and private tragedy for political or journalistic gain, BuzzFeed is well-known for their efforts at creating viral media...they just picked a bad time and a bad topic, to exert their poor-taste.

[LBMonizRetiredJournalist]

As a retired journalist I'm not in the least surprised by the state department spokesman's bureaucratic tactic of trying to shift blame elsewhere. CNN and the reporter who submitted the question both acted as responsible journalists. The Clinton spokesman either has never been a professional journalist or he just doesn't care since he'll likely be out of a job when Clinton leaves. Having also been a public relations executive, I'd fire him now for bad judgement. There's an old journalism saying: Never pick a fight with someone who buys their (printers') ink by the barrel.
The lack of security responsibility wasn't CNN's but the State Department's. Those two sights should have been secured by Marines until inspected and cleared by consular officials based on my own experiences with consular and Marine consulate security.

[RollotheNorman]

Weren't any Marines in country, Mr Retired Professional Journalist. This was a consulate, which generally doesn't have Marine guards, that's Embassies. The Libyan Embassy's Marine contingent had been requested but where not expected for some time. The office with jurisdiction of the Consulate was the Department of States CID. They got the FBI in country about 48 hours after the attack. CNN should be criminally prosecuted lifting the Ambassador's Diary from the scene of the attack. The CNN took advantage, unlawfully, I think, to secure documents he had no right to.

[Martha12345]

Tell me again why Amb. Stevens was so poorly protected, Hillary ?

[jjc9999]

Tell me again.
Why were the twin-towers so poorly protected in 2001?
How about the troops in Iraq?

[jschm2681]

Don't ask such hard questions. With from 24 (US intelligence) to 72 hours (Libyan govt) notice, this adminstration left their Ambassador out there unprotected on 9/11. That's in indefensible.
Nice how the author had to throw ROmney under the bus about an article on DofS messup.

[BWB2020]

" JoKeely September 25, 2012 12:36 AM EDT
BWB, All this talk of a "crime scene" - as if you are an expert from watching CSI..."

Was there, or was there not a murder committed at the scene?

Then it is a crime scene. Duh.

"...A terrorist attack is an act of war..."

Since when? Ok, let us see... before the word "terrorist" was hijacked by right-wing war mongers, it used to be defined as a military, or para-military attack against a civilian population, designed to terrorize the population into submission. Now the acts of resistance against the US military are termed "terrorist attacks", but "shock and awe" is not. I don't remember when the laws were changed allowing for the redefinition of the word, but bottom line is we shouldn't be in countries where we are not wanted, much less keeping secrets there.

People resisting foreign occupation, or foreign meddling, are not "terrorists", unless and until they bring the fight to non-combatant civilian populations. Shooting up an embassy, or setting IEDs targeting military transport is NOT terrorism, because soldiers and embassy staff are not civilians.

Yes, it is important to "gather evidence" after an act of war..."

Again it is only you defining it as an act of war, I don't agree with your assessment, and my assessment is based more in reality, while yours is based on your own re-interpretations of the English language.

"...but it is more important to "secure possible security threats" first..."

There are no "security threats" in a country that cannot threaten American soil. If there are, then they're not American security threats, but rather threats to a small interest group having nothing to do with Americans.

"...The first being State got their people out of Benghazi (since it was obvious sufficient security for personnel did not exist);..."

Check.

"...the second security issue was any documents, computers, and other potentially "sensitive" information be included in the evacuation..."

Shouldn't be any "potentially sensitive information" on any computers, or other documents in the first place. If the embassy was up to no good, and feels the need to keep secrets, they only keep secrets from Americans, it is no secret to the victims.

"...This is SOP for ANY diplomatic mission ANYWHERE in the world for ANY NATION..."

Riiight, when taking arms fire, you can go try to grab some computers and file cabinets if you want. For me, after innocent lives are taken to safety, nothing else matters, send in the police, or CID, and have them handle their business. If, for example, the CNN guy took an RPG up the wazoo while bending over to pick up a journal that wasn't his, I have no sympathy for him, shouldn't have been there bending over. In fact, to quote a famous comedian, I think God's will would have been done for the CNN guy, and I think He would have wanted me to laugh about it a whole lot.

[royalstar05]

All of this is bull$hit. Who cares what these 2 kids said to each other. It changes nothing.

[Unsilent_Majority]

It really is unbelievable....here is a story about a spokesperson for Sec. Clinton having this altercation with a member of the media. Needless to say its possible the answer to his question may paint the administration's handling of Libya in a bad light. And how does the author of this article wrap up her story? She devotes the final third of the story to the fact that republicans have also had unprofessional exchanges with members of the media. ARE YOU KIDDING ME???!!! This story is not about Republicans! This story is about The current administration and how they bungled the situation in Libya and yet main stream media needs to find a way to take a shot at republicans...sickening.

[Unsilent_Majority]

Try what again? This is a story about the obama administration, cnn, and the conflict over what went down in libya. Did you bother to read the headline? This is about Clinton and the administration she serves. For once in your life get your head out of the sand and just recognize the truth. The main stream media has no problem being critical of republicans, but NEVER are they critical of democrats in isolation. They ALWAYS temper any negative comments about democrats with some equally negative comment directed towards republicans. I'm not asking you to change your politics. Im asking you to recognize the obvious media bias.

[Unsilent_Majority]

Actornaught...You're the one who called Clinton evil, not me. I happen to think she is an effective S.of S.

And how is it that you're calling the reporter, Michael Hastings, a strawman for republicans? Do you even know who he is? Hastings is the reporter who exposed General McCrystals negative comments about Obama, resulting in the General getting fired. He was awarded the "Game Changer of the Year" award for reporting by the Huffington Post...a liberal media outlet, not a conservative one.

And in fact, Hastings recently called the anti-Obama author Dinesh D'Souza a "hack" for D'Souza's book "Roots of Obamas Rage. Link to that article below...Needless to say you are a simple minded person who would rather just be told how to live your life rather than take time to observe what is actually going on. Just look at the pretty colors and ignore the tragedy unfolding.

Dinesh D'Souza

[infantryman1968]

Insults fly in emails between Clinton aide, reporter


LOL!


CNN turns on Obama first!

Who's next?

[endrepubs]

I gotta go with the State Dept on this one. CNN was out of line in the handling of the diary. CNN was very disrespectful of the Ambassador.

[Unsilent_Majority]

Maybe CNN was being respectful of all our other ambassadors stationed in the region by letting them know to watch their backs because the state department is asleep at the wheel.

[chevyhotrod]

Notice how Lucy changes the subject from the State Department to Mitt Romney and Rich Santorum? Just like a good little Democrats do all the time. Don't focus on the issue at hand, deflect and point fingers elsewhere...

Lucy Madison is a political reporter for CBSNews.com, being listed as a "political reporter" would infer unbias reporting, but this is not what Lucy Madison does. She is a mouth piece for the adminstration and should be exposed for what she really is.

[Jaylah54200]

It is the job of the media to ask the tough questions.

But it is not the job of the media to purposely antagonize people with the obvious express purpose of goading them into saying something that the reporter can then write about in order to try to make the news, not report on it.

Some of these questions were valid and I, too, want to know the answers to them eventually. But I'm guessing that the State Department is still trying to piece a lot of what happened together and it's been a very stressful time for them.

And shame on CNN for intentionally violating their word to Stevens' grieving family. If they were going to run with the diary, they never should have told the family that they wouldn't.