Upstream | October 15, 2012 | 30 comments

Ambassador Stevens' Father Rebukes Romney: "Abhorrent to make this a campaign issue"

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jeffissleeping
The father of Christopher Stevens, the U.S. ambassador to Libya who was killed in the attack in Benghazi last month, said his son’s death shouldn’t be politicized in the presidential campaign.

“It would really be abhorrent to make this into a campaign issue,” Jan Stevens, 77, said in a telephone interview from his home in Loomis, California, as he prepares for a memorial service for his son next week.

Mitt Romney, the Republican nominee, has criticized President Barack Obama for not providing adequate security in Libya, saying the administration has left the country exposed to a deadly terrorist attack.

The ambassador’s father, a lawyer, said politicians should await the findings of a formal investigation before making accusations or judgments.

“The security matters are being adequately investigated,” Stevens said. “We don’t pretend to be experts in security. It has to be objectively examined. That’s where it belongs. It does not belong in the campaign arena.”

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-10-14/libyan-ambassador-s-death-not-a-politic...
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30 comments // Ambassador Stevens' Father Rebukes Romney: "Abhorrent to make this a campaign issue"

  • Milieu
  • R3zn8D
    • 0
      R3zn8D  
    • It isn't politics, it's dereliction of duty, followed by a Watergate style cover-up. There is no other way to see this.

    • 7 months ago
  • Paratus
    • 0
      Paratus  
    • It's a fact that Stevens and others in State asked for additional security and it was denied. It's a fact that the U.S. was warned about this happening days before it did. It's a fact that Barry lied about the cause of the riots which lead to this. It's a fact that Barrys underlings maintained Barrys lies. It's a fact that the administration is incompetent.
      What I find liberal like is the fact that when we went to Iraq in 2003 it was faulty information from the Bush controlled intelligence community that lead to "Bush lying" to achieve his goals. NOw it is the fault of the intelligence community for not having the proper perspective on the Libyan thing.
      Foreign policy is just one more reason why the tyrant in the White House is a danger to this country and needs to go.
      Romney is not using the death of Ambassador Stevens as a political tool. He is pointing out the incompetence of Obama and another of his failings.

    • 7 months ago
  • SFirman
  • Abbynrml
    • +3
      Abbynrml  
    • Of course the republican hypocrisy abounds. They love to politicize any issue that involves President Obama or any democrat for that matter. Just as they wrapped themselves in the flag and attacked anyone who dare question their lies on the Iraq War, they now refused to pass increases to veteran's benefits, filibustered the veterans Jobs Act, and the COLA increases. They only care when it benefits them. They should respect the wishes of his family but you can bet they will line up like good little pions and denounce the father and try to tie it to the President Obama. They for some stupid reason seem to think the killing of the ambassador and two other americans in Lybia is somehow the only foreign policy issue the president has as they refuse to give him credit for his accomplishments. If Bush would of killed Bin Laden they would of paraded the body from the towers site in a tickertape style. It must be whine season for the conservatives as they cannot stop complaining about the tactics of Vp Biden who put Ryan in his place. They will press the Lybia story as well as Syria, even though they wouldn't do anything different towards Syria and Ryan voted to cut embassy security funding by $330 million this year. One could argue the tea party republicans made our embassies less safe and are responsible for them not having adequate security. For a party that loves this country so much they seem awful willing to make us vulnerable to attack in an effort to make President Obama look bad. Using the ambassador needs to end now. Let his family bury him and honor their wishes.

    • 7 months ago
  • crabbyoldguy
    • -10
      crabbyoldguy  
    • I imagine Bin Ladin's kin are saying the same thing.

      Imagine going to Andrews, heck take you Sec of State along also, to meet the bodies of those killed, making a little speech and scoring a photo op. It's not about the fact that folks were killed, it's the fact that this White House tried to blame an obscure youtube video, taken in conjunction with all of the security leaks, coverups like Fast and Furious, being caught off guard when the Arab Spring sprung, these people are not leaders.

      Romney killed that guys wife
      Romney is a felon tax evaider
      Romney is a dog hater

      And ya'll want to talk about decency, remember how the libs tore into Santorum and the death of their baby ? Some of you libs are truly an embarrassment to society.

    • 7 months ago
  • Vierotchka
  • jeffissleeping
  • dubscorleone
  • jeffissleeping
    • +8
      jeffissleeping  
    • "They've gone way past armchair quarterbacking, Jeff." "....crossing into crass exploitation of American deaths to further this idea that Obama can't keep us safe...They've been doing this since the 2008 election, dude. They want to push this idea that Obama is secretly rooting against America and for the terrorists...that's what Romney's trying to capitalize on here." - My friend as I posted this story

    • 7 months ago
  • Leen61
  • FreeSpiritMuse
    • +7
      FreeSpiritMuse  
    • Leen61:

      According to Romney, that may be seen as a weakness. Look at the way they talk about and treat American Citizens. There will be more war under Republicans, it's all they know. Except this time, it might be our last one.

    • 7 months ago
  • Leen61
  • ankab
    • +5
      ankab  
    • Leen61:

      They are better wirh words like vulture. He ought to be ashamed of himself. Is assigning
      blame to the president his answer to the terrorist attacks. As if his party is in the clear for the biggest terrorist attack ever in US hisory.

    • 7 months ago
  • fiberbundle
    • +1
      fiberbundle  
    • FreeSpiritMuse:

      The question I keep asking myself is, "Who would take a bullet for draft-dodging chicken hawk Romney?" How could he possibly rally the troops? If he gave a war who would come? Who would serve? If someone is widely regarded as someone without integrity, no matter what his political philosophy or how wealthy his friends are--how can he possibly function as President?

    • 7 months ago
  • Leen61
  • OlBlue
  • grhd1972
    • -6
      grhd1972  
    • ankab:

      I assume your refering to 9/11 as the big terror attack. The attack that was carried out by people that were part of an orginization that was trained and armed by the Clinton administration? So apparently 9/11 is Bush's AND CLINTONS fault. Remember the far left has just as many shadded opinions and misleading beliefs as the far right.

    • 7 months ago
  • artemis6
  • fiberbundle
    • +3
      fiberbundle  
    • OlBlue:

      Yeah, you are right. We can do like the Romans did and hire from all over the empire. He could have a pure Mormon Praetorian guard. He could lease out extra soldiers to provide personal security for the 1% overlords.

    • 7 months ago
  • ankab
  • grhd1972
    • 0
      grhd1972  
    • ankab:

      Our government trained al qaeda when clinton was in office so they could fight against opression. If you recieved your news from a credible source (not Current) you wouldn't look like a crazy left winger(just as bad as being called a crazy right winger).

    • 7 months ago
  • ankab
    • 0
      ankab  
    • grhd1972:

      So what's a nasty job like you doing on a nice cite like this? Really? Who exactly is this
      "credible" source? They trained them to take a plane & fly it into a building?

    • 7 months ago
  • FreeSpiritMuse
  • MSII
  • FreeSpiritMuse
    • +4
      FreeSpiritMuse  
    • MSII:

      This election is disturbing. The fact is this man lies. People who will vote for him, completely overlook this and dismiss it. He has not been truthful or upfront. If he gets elected, and implements his hidden agenda, the outcry will be deafening. Especially from those who have only one political agenda, or seem to think he's got their best interest in mind. Why can't people see the influence of the radical, right wing tea party in this?

    • 7 months ago
  • MSII
    • +4
      MSII  
    • FreeSpiritMuse:

      I suspect the same people who mindlessly support him now would continue to "believe" anything he would then do. they aren't thinking reasoning people, but "believers". They'll just keep "believing" "he knows what's best".

    • 7 months ago
  • ankab
  • ankab
  • Leen61
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