Only CBS Covers Benghazi Emails Outlining White House Cover-Up, NBC And ABC Ignore Story ~ THE 5TH ESTATE ASIA

Friday, May 02, 2014

Only CBS Covers Benghazi Emails Outlining White House Cover-Up, NBC And ABC Ignore Story

Friday, May 02, 2014

CBS forced by Independent Media coverage to play catch-up as BenghaziGate finally blows wide open; Americans must DEMAND action before, during and after Senate hearings

NEWSBUSTERS
By Kyle Drennen
04/30/2014

After White House emails released on Tuesday showed the Obama administration had a direct hand in crafting false talking points about the Benghazi terrorist attack in 2012, Wednesday's CBS This Morning was the only network broadcast to cover the latest developments in the ongoing scandal.

No escape: Obama now faces the music

None of the network evening newscasts covered the story Tuesday night, with NBC and ABC continuing to be out to lunch Wednesday morning.

Introducing a full report on the Benghazi emails, This Morning co-host Charlie Rose announced: "New emails are renewing controversy this morning over the Obama administration's response to Benghazi.

The documents were obtained by the conservative organization Judicial Watch. Four Americans died in the 2012 assault, including Ambassador Chris Stevens."

In the segment that followed, White House correspondent Bill Plante informed viewers: "Judicial Watch says that the emails, which they obtained through the Freedom of Information Act, suggest that the White House, in shaping its talking points on the Benghazi attack, deliberately twisted the facts so that the President would look good in his reelection campaign."

Ambassador Stevens died a horrible death from fire

Plante cited one email that appeared to be a smoking gun of the White House engaging in a cover-up:

One of the emails was sent from Ben Rhodes, a White House communications advisor and the brother of CBS News president David Rhodes.

It was addressed to White House officials, including spokesman Jay Carney, who would help prepare then-U.N. Ambassador Susan Rice to present the administration response.

It listed several goals for Rice. Among them, "To underscore that these protests are rooted in an internet video, and not a broader failure of policy." Also, "To reinforce the President and the administration's strength." Rice, on all the Sunday interview shows, linked the consulate assault to protests against an anti-Islam video, not a terrorist operation.

After playing soundbites of Rice, Carney, and Hillary Clinton all defending the administration's handling of Benghazi, Plante pointed out: "Republicans in Congress now say that the newly released emails are evidence that the White House was trying to protect the President as he faced reelection." Utah Congressman Jason Chaffetz explained: "It demonstrates for the first time that the direction on the talking points came directly out of the White House."

Plante wrapped up the report by touting administration spin:

Rice will not be laughing in her prison cell

But a National Security Council spokesperson said the Rhodes email reinforces a consistent White House message, saying in a statement, "This email contains general topline talking points.

There were protests taking place across the region in reaction to an offensive internet video, so that's what these points addressed."

Now, White House officials continue to insist that they had every reason to believe at the time that the demonstrations inspired the attack.

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