Terror Politics Come to the Fore

Politico Senior Writer Jonathan Martin told John Dickerson on Monday's "Washington Unplugged" that even some Democrats are irked over how Mr. Obama initially responded to the failed attack.

"I think you did hear some grumbling that the president's reaction was not as quick and not as, perhaps, emphatic," he said. "This is a party that's concerned about the politics of national security. They do not want to be tagged by the Republicans as weak on this issue."

Republicans will also use this issue as a platform for the mid-term elections. "If you're in a Republican primary in a red leaning district or state there's little downside politically at least in going after this president," he noted.

Dickerson also talked to CBS News National Security Correspondent David Martin about how Yemen has become on the radar screen of officials in the administration.

"Yemen came on the radar screen in the Spring...at that time they started building up their intelligence capability sending in special forces to begin training some of the Yemeni…they've taken action that was stronger than anything that happened during the Bush administration. There was nothing on the magnitude of what the Obama administration has done in Yemen," he said.

Watch Monday's "Washington Unplugged" with Politico's Jonathan Martin and CBS News' David Martin above.

More coverage from CBSNews.com:

Christmas Day Attack a Wake-Up Call for Obama

Travelers to U.S. Face Heightened Security

TSA Shuts Down Terminal After Breach

Schumer: Airlines Must be Firm on Security

Studying Arabic a Cover for Abdulmutallab?

U.S. Born Cleric Key Player in Bomb Plot?

Official: We Knew Al Qaeda Planned "Christmas Surprise"

U.S. Intel Lapses Helped Abdulmutallab

Special Report: The Christmas Day Terror Attack

"Washington Unplugged" appears live on CBSNews.com each weekday at 12:30 p.m. ET. Click here to check out previous episodes.