RNC Responds To Clinton Book Tour By Recycling Previously Debunked Attacks
This week the national Republican Party invoked its broken-record strategy, attacking Hillary Clinton during her national book tour with a series of recycled, previously debunked attacks. Like a broken record, the right wing keeps repeating the same bad tunes over and over again. In reality, these sour notes have been corrected multiple times over. Desperate to go on the offensive, the right is burning its credibility, knowingly repeating charges already disproven.
The right wing attacks Hillary Clinton for Benghazi, but she took responsibility, took action and has been transparent from the beginning. The RNC attacked Clinton for acknowledging in her book that it is inaccurate “to state that none of them [the attackers] were” influenced by an anti-Islamic online video, even though two Senate committees acknowledged as much when investigating the attacks. The RNC attacked Clinton for the Russian Reset, but Secretary Clinton was clear-eyed when it came to President Putin and understood the opportunity presented to achieve critical goals during Medvedev’s tenure. She built and maintained a coalition (that included Russia) to enact the toughest sanctions in Iran’s history. Clinton made progress with Russia, including the New START treaty and cooperation on Iran and Afghanistan. She refused to defend Russia’s policies when they clashed with our own.
The RNC brazenly attacked that Clinton’s State Department “worked hard against” Iran sanctions. Secretary Clinton built and maintained a coalition to enact the toughest sanctions in Iran’s history. She worked with Senate and House sponsors to push the Iran sanctions bills into conference. The RNC falsely claimed Clinton hesitated on Egypt. But in reality, Sec. Clinton called on the Egyptian government to implement political, economic, and social reforms in response to the Egyptian people. She told the Human Rights Council that the U.S. stood ready to assist Egypt, “however appropriate, especially through economic assistance that helps promote reform and create greater opportunity.”
The broken record spun on the turntable again as the RNC claimed Clinton bungled relations with Asia. But in reality, she improved and expanded U.S. relations in the region by holding the first ever U.S.-ASEAN summit. Under her leadership, the U.S. reasserted America’s presence in the region. The RNC accused her of calling Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad “a reformer.” But in reality, Secretary Clinton did not defend Assad and referenced the opinion of others in labeling him as a reformer. In fact, Clinton said Syria’s Assad was “not indispensable, and we have absolutely nothing invested in him remaining in power.
RNC Attack #1: Benghazi
RNC: Clinton Still Maintains That The YouTube Video Was “Indeed A Factor” In The Benghazi Attack
FACT: Hard Choices: “It is inaccurate to state that every single one of them was influenced by this hateful video. It is equally inaccurate to state that none of them were.” “‘There were scores of attackers that night, almost certainly with differing motives,’ she writes. ‘It is inaccurate to state that every single one of them was influenced by this hateful video. It is equally inaccurate to state that none of them were. Both assertions defy not only the evidence but logic as well.’” [Politico, 5/30/14]
Senate Select Committee on Intelligence: “Some intelligence suggests the attacks were likely put together in short order, following that day’s violent protests in Cairo against an inflammatory video, suggesting that these and other terrorist groups could conduct similar attacks with little advance warning.” [Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, 1/15/14, page 41]
Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs: “The IC’s [intelligence community’s] preliminary conclusion was that there had been a protest outside of the mission prior to the attack, making this assessment based on open source news reports and on other information available to intelligence agencies.” [Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, 12/30/12, page 28]
FACT: On September 12, 2012, Clinton said the “assault” was committed by “heavily armed militants.” In remarks following the attacks in Benghazi, Secretary Clinton stated: “Yesterday, our U.S. diplomatic post in Benghazi, Libya was attacked. Heavily armed militants assaulted the compound and set fire to our buildings. American and Libyan security personnel battled the attackers together. Four Americans were killed… We are working to determine the precise motivations and methods of those who carried out this assault.” [Secretary Clinton remarks, 9/12/12]
RNC Attack #2: Russia
RNC: Sec. Clinton “‘Was The Face’ Of The Failed Russia Reset”
FACT: Secretary Clinton was clear-eyed when it came to President Putin and understood the opportunity presented to achieve critical goals during Medvedev’s tenure. In 2010, the Carnegie Endowment issued a report on U.S.-Russia relations. It said, “Having fallen to a historic low after the 2008 Russia-Georgia war, U.S.-Russiacooperation is again on the rise, thanks to last year’s ‘reset’ of the relationship.” The report goes on to say, “The improved tone in U.S.-Russia relations is itself an important accomplishment of the reset.” During her tenure, Secretary Clinton worked successfully to secure Russia’s cooperation in anti-terrorism efforts in Afghanistan, reaching a historic “lethal transit” agreement, allowing U.S. military planes to transport lethal materials over Russia to Afghanistan.
FACT: Secretary Clinton built and maintained a coalition (that included Russia) to enact the toughest sanctions in Iran’s history. Secretary Clinton helped impose the toughest sanctions in Iran’s history by getting Russia and China on board. Even the Wall Street Journal editorial board noted that, “Clinton surely pulled out every stop to get Russia and particularly China…on board.” And as Howard Dean recently told CNN, “Hillary Clinton cranked up the sanctions for the first time under President Obama that actually made the Iranians come to the table.”
FACT: While Secretary Clinton made progress with Russia, including the New START treaty and cooperation on Iran and Afghanistan, she refused to defend Russia’s policies when they clashed with our own. When Russia and China used their veto to block U.N. action against Syria, she said, “It’s quite distressing to see two permanent members of the Security Council using their veto when people are being murdered, women, children, brave young men. Houses are being destroyed. It is just despicable. And I ask, whose side are they on?” [ABC News, 2/24/12]
RNC ATTACK #3: IRAN
RNC: Clinton’s Own State Department “Worked Hard Against” Iran Sanctions Legislation
FACT: Secretary Clinton built and maintained a coalition to enact the toughest sanctions in Iran’s history. Secretary Clinton helped impose the toughest sanctions in Iran’s history by getting Russia and China on board. Even the Wall Street Journal editorial board noted that, “Clinton surely pulled out every stop to get Russia and particularly China…on board.” And as Howard Dean told CNN, “Hillary Clinton cranked up the sanctions for the first time under President Obama that actually made the Iranians come to the table.”
FACT: Sec. Clinton worked with Senate and House sponsors to push Iran sanctions bills into conference. According to HRC: State Secrets by Jonathan Allen and Amie Parnes, “In June [Secretary Clinton] invited [House Foreign Affairs Committee chairman] Howard Berman and [Senate Banking Committee chairman] Chris Dodd up to a conference room on the seventh floor of the State Department to discuss a pending bill intended to punish Iran by sanctioning foreign companies that did business in the petroleum and banking sectors there. The basic concept was to force other countries to pull out of Iran and thus cripple its economy, which might persuade the Iranians to negotiate an end to their pursuit of nuclear weapons in exchange for the removal of sanctions… Each man had passed a version of a bill called the Comprehensive Iran Sanctions and Divestment Act, or CISADA, through his respective chamber with little or no opposition. Berman and Dodd had written slightly different bills, and they had had to convene a conference committee of House and Senate members to sort out their differences and send the bill to the president for his signature or veto. But in reality, the work of the conference committee was now being done by Hillary, Berman, and Dodd on the seventh floor because the White House had serious concerns about the consequences of the congressional approach; and with Democrats in control of both chambers and the presidency, Berman and Dodd wanted to find a path that would avoid an ugly showdown between the White House and Congress.” [HRC: State Secrets and the Rebirth of Hillary Clinton, pg. 186]
RNC ATTACK #4: EGYPT
RNC: Clinton, At The Center Of The Crisis, Initially “Hesitated” When Then-Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak’s Rule Was Threatened
FACT: Sec. Clinton called on the Egyptian government “to implement political, economic, and social reforms” in response to the Egyptian people. In remarks after meeting with Jordanian Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh at the State Department, Secretary Clinton said, “Before I talk about our meeting today, I want to say a word about the protests taking place in Cairo and other Egyptian cities. As we monitor this situation carefully, we call on all parties to exercise restraint and refrain from violence. We support the universal rights of the Egyptian people, including the rights to freedom of expression, association, and assembly. And we urge the Egyptian authorities not to prevent peaceful protests or block communications, including on social media sites. We believe strongly that the Egyptian Government has an important opportunity at this moment in time to implement political, economic, and social reforms to respond to the legitimate needs and interests of the Egyptian people. The United States is committed to working with Egypt and with the Egyptian people to advance such goals.” [DipNote blog, state.gov, 1/26/11]
FACT: Sec. Clinton told the Human Rights Council that the U.S. stood ready to assist Egypt, “however appropriate, especially through economic assistance that helps promote reform and create greater opportunity.” According to Sec. Clinton’s remarks at the Human Rights Council, “That is why, as we watch what is happening in Egypt, we hope that there will be a broad array of opposition voices and representatives to ensure that the reform process is inclusive. We want to see concrete steps taken, including enacting constitutional reforms and releasing political detainees and lifting the state of emergency. The United States stands ready to assist, however appropriate, especially through economic assistance that helps promote reform and create greater opportunity.” [Remarks at the Human Rights Council, state.gov, 2/28/11]
RNC ATTACK #5: PIVOT TO ASIA
RNC: The “Much-Touted” Pivot Policy, Has Been “Bungled” And Frictions With China Are “Destined To Be Commonplace”
FACT: Sec. Clinton understood that “America’s future is linked to the future of the Asia-Pacific region.” According to Sec. Clinton’s remarks entitled Regional Architecture in Asia: Principles and Priorities, “We start from a simple premise: America’s future is linked to the future of the Asia-Pacific region; and the future of this region depends on America. The United States has a strong interest in continuing its tradition of economic and strategic leadership, and Asia has a strong interest in the United States remaining a dynamic economic partner and a stabilizing military influence.” [Remarks on Regional Architecture in Asia: Principles and Priorities, 1/12/10]
FACT: Sec. Clinton improved and expanded U.S. relations in the region by holding the “first ever U.S.-ASEAN summit.” According to Sec. Clinton’s remarks entitled Regional Architecture in Asia: Principles and Priorities, “For these reasons and more, we began last January to lay the foundation for a revitalized Asia-Pacific relationship. My first trip as Secretary of State was to Asia – in fact, this will be my fourth to the region in the last eleven months. President Obama participated in the APEC Summit in Singapore as well as visiting China, Japan, and South Korea; we supported the creation of a regular G-20 leaders summit with strong Asian participation reflecting the new global balance of financial and political power; we held the first ever U.S.-ASEAN summit; we signed the Guam International Agreement that helps sustain a strong U.S. military presence in the region; and we signed the ASEAN Treaty of Amity and Cooperation. And it was no accident that the first state visit hosted by President and Mrs. Obama was for an Asian leader, Indian Prime Minister Singh.” [Remarks on Regional Architecture in Asia: Principles and Priorities, 1/12/10]
FACT: Under Sec. Clinton, the U.S. “climbed out of the hole we found ourselves in at the beginning of the administration and reasserted America’s presence in the region.” In her book Hard Choices, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton wrote, “When we started in 2009, many in the region doubted our commitment and our staying power. Some in China sought to take advantage of that perception. Our pivot strategy was designed to dispel those doubts. During one long discussion with Dai, he exclaimed, ‘Why don’t you ‘pivot’ out of here?’ I had logged more miles and sat through more awkwardly translated diplomatic speeches than I imagined possible. But it paid off. We had climbed out of the hole we found ourselves in at the beginning of the administration and reasserted America’s presence in the region.” [Hard Choices, pg. 79, 2014]
FACT: Sec. Clinton improved relations with China and, along with President Obama “laid the groundwork for a solid, wide-ranging relationship with their rival.” “For Clinton, the Chen Guangcheng affair and its resolution epitomized what she and Obama had set out to achieve at the start of the administration. They had methodically laid the groundwork for a solid, wide-ranging relationship with their rival, the kind that should be able to sustain the blow of a crisis— and it did. The S& ED [annual Strategic and Economic Dialogue] concluded as planned and Beijing pursued its relationship with Washington almost as before, except for a few expected strident comments.” [The Secretary, Kim Ghattas, 2013]
RNC ATTACK #6: SYRIA
RNC: And It Was Clinton Who Called Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad “A Reformer”
FACT: Sec. Clinton did not defend Assad and referenced the opinion of others in labeling him as a reformer. According to Politifact’s Pundifact, “So Clinton did refer to Assad as ‘a reformer.’ But she crafted the line as the opinion of ‘members of Congress of both parties,’ not her opinion. And she never defended (as [Chris]Wallace said) Assad, instead saying in that interview that he ‘exceeded the use of force that any of us would want to see.’ Still, Clinton’s comments were widely reported and criticized… Criticizing parts of Clinton’s tenure as secretary of state, Wallace said Clinton ‘defended Syria’s President Assad as a possible reformer at the start of that country’s civil war.’ Clinton’s original comments in March 2011 were not that straightforward. The statement in question was actually, ‘Many of the members of Congress of both parties who have gone to Syria in recent months have said they believe he’s a reformer.’ Clinton was talking about the beliefs of Congress and didn’t ‘defend’ Assad, as Wallace put it, instead saying that the use of force that he deployed was more ‘than any of us would want to see.’” [PunditFact, Politifact, 6/1/14]
FACT: Sec. Clinton said Syria’s Assad was “not indispensable, and we have absolutely nothing invested in him remaining in power.” According to a Congressional Research Service report for Congress, “In the wake of the embassy incident, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton made the strongest declaration yet against the Asad government. In part seeking to respond to speculation that the United States wants the Asad regime to remain in power, she stated that: ‘From our perspective, he has lost legitimacy…. If anyone, including President Assad, thinks the United States is secretly hoping that the regime will emerge from the turmoil to continue its brutality and repression, they are wrong. President Assad is not indispensable, and we have absolutely nothing invested in him remaining in power.’” [“Unrest in Syria and U.S. Sanctions Against the Asad Regime,” Congressional Research Service, state.gov, 8/9/11]