Saturday, May 11, 2013

@SharylAttkisson reviews trail of Benghazi talking points; references to Islamic extremism, jihad removed

◼ Last November, investigative journalist Sharyl Attkisson issued a series of tweets in an attempt to untangle the web of Benghazi talking points woven by the CIA, the State Department and the White House. Months later, she’s at it again. Are we any closer to knowing the truth, or is it time to settle for Jay Carney’s “blame Romney” spin? - Twitchy

Follow the timeline @SharylAttkisson

◼ BROTHER OF TOP OBAMA OFFICIAL ABOUT TO OUST BENGHAZI REPORTER SHARYL ATTKISSON?

Saturday morning Patrick Howley of The Daily Caller dropped another nuke on the fire that is Benghazi-Gate. Howley connects the dots surrounding a number of recent leaks coming of out CBS News about the fate of its award-winning investigative reporter, Sharyl Attkisson.

From the beginning, Attkisson has been one of the few mainstream journalists willing to dig into the September 11 terror attack in Libya, and the Administration's response to it. Fearing the story might lead exactly where it did yesterday with Jonathan Karl's bombshell report, the mainstream media has poured most if its energy into wishing the story away or playing Palace Guard for the White House.

Attkisson's dogged pursuit of the truth has not only pitted her against a media desperate to protect Obama, but also, apparently, against her bosses at CBS News, one of whom is the brother of a top Obama official.

Moreover, CBS News president David Rhoades is not only the brother of President Obama's national security advisor, Ben Rhoades, but ABC News reports that Ben Rhoades was very much involved in the editing of the now-infamous CIA talking points.

◼ Top Obama official’s brother is president of CBS News, may drop reporter over Benghazi coverage - Patrick Howley/Daily Caller
Neither the White House nor CBS News responded to requests for comment for this report.
◼ Wow: CBS News President and WH Official Tied to Benghazi Scandal Are Brothers - Guy Benson/Townhall

One of the mainstream media journalists whose pursuit of the truth has been truly tenacious and nonpartisan is CBS News' Sharyl Attkisson. Her tough reporting has made life difficult for everyone from Hillary Clinton to the Bush administration and Congressional Republicans. She's also been relentless on the Obama administration's Fast & Furious gun-running scandal -- and, of course, Benghazi. As we mentioned this week, Attkisson's tough investigative journalism is starting to bother unnamed CBS News executives. Here's Politico's scoop, in case you missed it:

But from where Attkisson is sitting, there are actually two Goliaths, one of which is almost entirely absent from the Post profile. The second Goliath is CBS News, which has grown increasingly frustrated with Attkisson's Benghazi campaign. CBS News executives see Attkisson wading dangerously close to advocacy on the issue, network sources have told POLITICO. Attkisson can't get some of her stories on the air, and is thus left feeling marginalized and underutilized. That, in part, is why Attkisson is in talks to leave CBS ahead of contract, as POLITICO reported in April. Farhi mentions "internal conflicts" in the final paragraph, though he seems to dismiss them. The "internal conflicts" are indeed real -- Attkisson is still eyeing an exit, according to sources -- and provide important context for today's piece.

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