◼ U.N. Ambassador Susan Rice is dropping her name from consideration for secretary of state, NBC News reported - THE BLAZE
In a letter to President Barack Obama obtained by NBC, Rice wrote, “If nominated, I am now convinced that the confirmation process would be lengthy, disruptive and costly – to you and to our most pressing national and international priorities.”
“That trade-off is simply not worth it to our country…Therefore, I respectfully request that you no longer consider my candidacy at this time,” she wrote.
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Obama: Today, I spoke to Ambassador Susan Rice, and accepted her decision to remove her name from consideration for Secretary of State.
Obama statement says Rice will continue to serve as U.N. ambassador.
◼ OBAMA DOUBLED DOWN ON RICE--AND LOST - Joel Pollak/Breitbart
President Barack Obama has suffered a major political defeat with Susan Rice's withdrawal today of her name from consideration as the next Secretary of State. A month ago, Obama raised the stakes by defending Rice angrily in his first post-election press conference, challenging Republicans to "go after" him instead. He and his party cast Republican objections as racist and sexist, rather than motivated by legitimate concerns about her role in lying to the public about the Benghazi terror attack and her thin record as ambassador to the United Nations.
For a long time, the GOP seemed to be losing the public debate over Rice's potential nomination. But Obama's needlessly confrontational approach handed Republicans a victory. By trying to force the GOP to back down with false accusations of prejudice, Obama created a no-win scenario for himself: if he proceeded to nominate Rice, Republicans could turn her confirmation hearings into a full public investigation of the Benghazi debacle; if he backed down, he would look weak and perseverating. The press followed Obama's lead, but the GOP held firm.
◼ Dan Rather On Obama And Susan Rice: "He Made A Lot Of Tough Talk, Didn't Back It Up" - Real Clear Politics
On... MSNBC's "Rachel Maddow" show, guest Dan Rather was disappointed with President Obama after Susan Rice decided to withdraw herself from Secretary of State considerations. Rather said Obama talked tough, but didn't back it up.
"He indicated in his press conference just after the election -- he made a lot of tough talk, didn't back it up," Rather said. "So there are people who say, 'Listen, the kind of leader we want is one who will fight to the finish, never give in.' On the other hand, one could make the case that President Obama has said to himself, 'Yes, I could probably force this to a vote, and win the vote. But it would cost me down the road.'"
