Poll: Majority back new Benghazi probe
Washington (CNN) - Around half the public says they support another congressional investigation into the Benghazi attack, according to a new national poll.
The reason?
The ABC News/Washington Post survey indicates that nearly six in ten say the Obama administration has tried to cover up the facts on the September 11, 2012 attack, which left U.S. ambassador to Libya Chris Stevens and three other Americans dead.
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As for Hillary Clinton, half of those questioned in the poll, which was released Tuesday, say they disapprove of how then-secretary of state handled the attack.
What's behind stepped up Republican attacks on Clinton
Steven's death was the first time a U.S. ambassador had been killed on duty in more than 30 years. The Benghazi attack has become a partisan flashpoint around the Obama administration's conduct of foreign policy. Republicans have sharply criticized the administration's handling of the matter from security preparations beforehand, to its response during the attack, and its slow-to-evolve public explanation after-the-fact.
And they have targeted the State Department, and especially Clinton, who is seriously considering a second run for the White House. If Clinton decides to launch a campaign, she'd instantly become the overwhelming front runner for the 2016 Democratic presidential nomination.
According to the poll, 51% say they support another congressional investigation, with 42% saying the incident's been investigated enough already. As you can imagine, the survey indicates a wide partisan divide. Seventy-two percent of Republicans questioned say they back the new investigation, but that number drops to 52% among independents and just 31% among Democrats.
Fifty-eight percent say the Obama administration has tried to cover up the facts, with 32% saying it has honestly disclosed what it knows about what happened in Benghazi. Again there's a large partisan gap, with 84% of Republicans, 65% of independents, but only 30% of Democrats saying the administration has tried to cover things up.
Half of those questioned say they disapprove of how Clinton handled the attack, with 37% saying the approve. Once again, there's a partisan divide, with 78% of Republicans, 58% of independents, but only 22% of Democrats giving the former secretary of state a thumbs down on how she handled the incident.
Clinton testified about the attack last year in front of House and Senate hearings. But Republicans say there are still questions left unanswered.
Clinton said earlier this year that Benghazi was her biggest regret during the four years she served as America's top diplomat.
"It was a terrible tragedy losing four Americans, two diplomats and now it is public so I can say two CIA operatives," Clinton said at a speech in New Orleans.
With the much anticipated release of "Hard Choices," Clinton's memoir of her years as American's top diplomat, just a week away, GOP attacks on her have increased.
Last week the chapter of the book that deals with Benghazi was leaked. As reported by Politico, the chapter highlights Clinton's defense of how she responded to the attack, as well as criticism of Republicans who Clinton says play politics with the deadly assault.
In the chapter, Clinton writes, "As Secretary I was the one ultimately responsible for my people's safety, and I never felt that responsibility more deeply than I did that day."
Clinton, writing in "Hard Choices," also appeared to suggest that she won't take part in the investigation or any of the committee's hearings.
"I will not be a part of a political slugfest on the backs of dead Americans," Clinton writes. "It's just plain wrong, and it's unworthy of our great country. Those who insist on politicizing the tragedy will have to do so without me," wrote Clinton.
CNN Senior Congressional Producer Deirdre Walsh contributed to this story
What Benghazi? Nonsense, it is like Birth certificate, ACA Law, Shut Down. You have any brain? Benghazi? Why din't they prevent Karachi, Yemen bombing? Why didn't they prevent 9/11? Nonsense talk for politically gaining points? Skipping Voter, term-limit, Filibuster, Earmark, gun ban reforms? America, first you get Educated. God bless!!! Hillary16.
PS: GOP darn well knows Hillary indispensable.
Oh for the love of.... this is getting really old. Even if there was some 'evil' coverup weve let far worse happen for far less reasons. Its time to move on to more important things. We get it, you can spend money to whip up fools using false equivalency and emotional appeals: that still doesnt mean theres any real evidence of crazy theories
Hey, Rudy NYC. I don't know if you'll see this comment or not, but here is that poll I predicted 🙂
Mr. Ben Ghazi is gaining momentum.
Rah. Rah.
But the gang keeps telling me that nobody cares about this.
Obama then Clinton. Looking forward to that
Of course they do. I mean if the other 6 or 7 investigations didn't uncover anything it's simply because this administration is more skilled at lying and only a lopsided biased investigation by more people who already know the truth is going to figure out the real truth. And with the MSM beating the nontroversy drum daily what would one expect?
FIFY
I bet if you asked that same 1 in 6 they would swear President Obama was born in Kenya, his birth certificate is fake, OBL is still alive, and he caused Superstorm Sandy.
And Mitt will win in a landslide.
Let's keep searching strawberry patches for elephants.... But this time lets make sure the deck is absolutely stacked against the administration.
Pleeeeeeaaaasse!!!! Bring on another investigation. The gift that keeps on giving!
Here is your Koch brothers money propaganda machine, you can't seriously believe the majority of people want this dead horse beat some more, really, they think they can con you, please!
Unfortunately the American populace is dumb as dirt these days. With unreality TV being so popular no wonder so many people just listen for soundbites. Hillary says what difference does it make what the cause of the attack was and Fox turns it into what difference does it make Ambassador Stevens is dead. And the MSM runs with it.
I give up. Vote GOP and when you're making slave wages and the only rights you have are to open carry, don't cry. I have a good job, it's not going to affect me one way or another. But there's going to be a lot of sick PWT.
The Obama administration has covered so much up and have such a compliant press its not going to happen. We should have at least tried to learn from this and had a special prosecutor in the IRS scandal. At least we don't have to listen to Baghdad Bob Carney anymore up there lying through his teeth every day and the press laughing at his incredulous tales but holding him accountable for nothing.
Keep conning yourselves gop, we'll see ya in November, k?
The Dems just need to get the CIA person who gave them the bad intel and have him testify. Nowadays, you have to have your ducks in a row or your gonna get called on it. You would think the Obama admin. would have learned this by now.
Any decision regarding Benghazi came from the White House d cabinet members MUST provide what the President decides, do not like his choices they can leave and that is what many cabinet members and others associated with this administration have done. Hillary"s book has the right name, now it is for her to explain her choices with honesty!!!
What Benghazi? Nonsense, it is like Birth certificate, ACA Law, Shut Down. You have any brain? Benghazi? Why din't they prevent Karachi, Yemen bombing? Why didn't they prevent 9/11? Nonsense talk for politically gaining points? Skipping Voter, term-limit, Filibuster, Earmark, gun ban reforms? America, first you get Educated. God bless!!! Hillary16.
PS: GOP darn well knows Hillary indispensable.
Anyone notice the decline of TV Soap Operas coincides with the rise of Fox News ?
Ha, Benghazi again. The transcripts from the hearings are online for everyone to read. So repuks, nothing there.
Also, the majority of Americans are sick and tired of you repubs wasting time and American tax payer money.
You are just soooooooo afraid of the Clintons that you cant see the distain Americans have for your
Christ will u stop.re-hashing this tripe, there is no great truth to uncover. The administration screwed up, so did Congress. Where were you people after 9/11/01, the greatest screw-up in our nation's history, of which there still remains unanswered questions? That's right, you were all busy being obedient sheep. "Go shopping", we were told, "nothing to see here."
Ha, Benghazi again. The transcripts from the hearings are online for everyone to read. So repuks, nothing there.
Also, the majority of Americans are sick and tired of you repubs wasting time and American tax payer money.
You are just soooooooo afraid of the Clintons that you cant see the distain Americans have for you
"I'm curious how you would like me to reply."
Reply or don't ... as suits your purpose, tom I. As I stated, I'll leave it to you.
My other comment you responded to? I stand by it, regardless of whether or not smith served; or agrees with my comment.
My comment itself had nothing to do with smith or his service record.
Hey, Wake Up People, I am right there with you.
Politicans spend all their time on foolishness while there are many real issues that never get addressed.
What happens after this witch hunt ends up nothing? Several million dollars of tax payer money is wasted again!!
bobo
Man..... We should be doing whatever we can to become energy independent and to create jobs! Can we please do that First... then worry about pollution in 5 or 10 years? We need to become a strong country again with a booming economy first!!!
====
WITH A NAME LIKE bobo , you must be a friend of Rick Perry .
Worry about pollution in 5 or 10 years , thats what the right wing corporate pro republican environmental policy has been since 1950 , we can fix it down the road .
You and your pro drill baby drill , lets breath smoke mentality didn't work .
As for Benghazi , great job , great job GOP . Any idea of how much your kangaroo court will cost the tax payer ?
Who in Washington is looking to the future? Another probe into grown adults and the risk of a job in a war zone. Where is the probe on children being gunned down at school?
Ok Folks...I can understanding getting to the bottom of an issue. However where are all the investigations concerning the last few wars we had? Thousands of lives were lost in the Gulf Wars. Where are the investigations for those?