Graham to keep holds on Obama nominees
Washington (CNN) - Sen. Lindsey Graham vowed on Sunday that he would continue to block President Barack Obama's nominations until Congress hears from Benghazi survivors.
The South Carolina lawmaker told CNN's Candy Crowley on "State of the Union" that he will place holds on any nomination put forth by the administration unless it makes available five survivors of the September 11, 2012, attack on the U.S. compound in Benghazi, Libya, who have been interviewed by State Department investigators but remain out of Congress' reach.
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"I've been trying for a year to get these interviews without holds," Graham said.
Graham scoffed at any notion his maneuver amounts to political grandstanding, portraying his actions as a last resort and couching them as part of "trying to perform oversight."
"I don't want to hold anybody. All I want to do is talk to the survivors," Graham insisted. "I'm not trying to prosecute a crime."
Graham announced his intention to hold all of Obama’s nominations the day after CBS's "60 Minutes" aired a controversial report on the attacks. The newsmagazine has since pulled its report, saying that its eyewitness, a British contractor stationed in Libya, lied to reporter Lara Logan about what he saw on the ground.
When pressed by Crowley about whether the debunking of the piece would impact his stance, Graham told her it wouldn’t.
"I never asked for the British contractor. I didn't know he existed," Graham said.
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Isn't it a wonder that Graham is more worried about 4 Americans who died in Benghazi (with a black, Democrat in the White House), but doesn't seem to care why over 3000 died on 9/11 (with a white Republican in the White House)?
What is Graham' s agenda? I have the impression it has absolutely nothing to do with Benghazi.
He may be President, but I'm the keeper of the flame. What a bunch of bologna.
I wish the GOP would put up or shut up. They can't come up with any real solutions to the problems that our country faces, so they keep recycling the same non-existent "scandal" as an excuse to block any progress. Their greed for power has blinded them to everything else, even the polls that show that voters don't approve of their obstructionist behavior.
Typical Repuke, completely worthless to society.
We could do a better job moving the country forward if we could get these obstructionist pachyderms out to the way...
Grow up Graham, it's not your ball and we all want to continue to play.
Graham is worried that he'll be primaried by the Teapublican if he doesn't start acting like one.
So he's obstructing and demanding endless phony "investigations" in true Teapublican form.
There were 13 Benghazi's during Bush's presidency and ZERO investigations.
imagine how much faster the economy would be growing if the minority party would shoulder some of the weight...I hope the folks in So. Carolina sends him back to private life in the next election...
Sen Graham is putting more value on his re-election than on what is good for the country.
Republican senators just keep slinging you know what on the wall and see what sticks. We have embassies all over the world, unless we station hundreds of troops around them they cannot be protected. Libya was the last place for as to have an embassy.
Stop acting like children
Obama is hiding something. What is it? If he didn't he would have these people standing at the door waiting to tell their strory.
lindsey graham hasnt done anything else along with te rest of his party then obstruct the president – whats new?
Dear Mr. GRAHAM, you are forfeiting any positive image you still have.
You may not have known regarding the British contractor, but certainly you based on the false CBS report, which now was withdrawn. Your stance today insisting on your menaces merits to be asked to RESIGN!!!
"Sen. Lindsey Graham vowed on Sunday that he would continue to block President Barack Obama's nominations until Congress hears from Benghazi survivors."
All Graham has to do is contact Issa to find out the GNOP talking points and find out there is no evidence of a cover-up or anything close to it. Amazing what "once upon a time" rational people go bonkers when challenged by a Tea-Party hack on the right!
What I don't understand is why didn't the GOP pursue the investigation of the 9/11 attacks on New York and Washington and the invasion of Iraq under false pretense with such obsessive vigor? oh yeah, bush jr was a republican! And a lot more Americans died from those!
As a Marine, we find your self serving statement and political practices abhorrent. We will work to see that this is your very last term and will block all things you do against the American people. Your behavior is treasonous and your financial backers deserving of utter contempt and a trial for treason. You are a danger to our country, our governance and way of life, for which we are sworn to defend. We will defend it.
@ kvining < It doesn't impact your life cause it wasn't your friend or relative who was killed because our government didn't do anything to try and save their lives. Your president COVERED IT UP. Keep your head in the sand, we don't need an opinion from someone who only cares about themselves.
This Administration was supposed to be the most transparent in history! Benghazi aside, this further demonstrates exactly the opposite!
Lindsay Graham is doing his best to avert getting primaried by some Tea Party wing nut, so he's dialing up his bellicose rhetoric against the president. What he expects to learn from the survivors of Benghazi is beyond me.
All you demos need to shut up about Benghazi....You are part of the problem....
Allowing this administration to get away with what amounts to treason has and will effect your everyday life. You want to give them complete license to do whatever they want to you and the rest of the citizens in this country without any accountability?? Look at the way he has already used the IRS, NSA and the AffordableCareAct . Obama doesn't want Benghazi investigated because he was more than likely unlawfully funneling weapons to the Syrian rebels (Muslim Brotherhood) through Libya. He let four people die and has lied about it consistently since then. Do you think he gives a fig about what happens to you???? The GOP has at least tried to stop him which is more than I can say for the enablers on the left and in the media. You'd better wake up or you won't have an everyday life to worry about, one of these days.
Double down on dumb. Just because it's all a myth and there's no truth behind the story is no reason to stop telling it to a Republican.
Sanctions, hearings, nominee blocks. What do you think I'm here for, to pass legislation and govern?
Thanks a lot Sen Graham, thanks a lot, a true asset to American society.