By Tracy Connor, NBC News
Embattled U.N. envoy Susan Rice is dropping out of the running to be the next secretary of state after months of criticism over her Benghazi comments.
“Today, I made the decision that it was the best thing for our country, for the American people that I not continue to be considered by the president for nomination of secretary of state,” Rice told NBC’s Brian Williams.
“I didn’t want to see a confirmation process that was very prolonged, very politicized, very distracting and very disruptive because there are so many things we need to get done as a country and the first several months of a second term president’s agenda is really the opportunity to get the crucial things done.”
Rice noted that President Obama’s second-term agenda included “comprehensive immigration reform, balanced deficit reduction, job creation.”
She added, “And to the extent that my nomination could have delayed or distracted or deflected or maybe even some of these priorities impossible to achieve, I didn’t want that and I much prefer to keep doing what I’m doing which is a job I love at the United Nations.”
The full interview with Rice will air on tonight’s “Rock Center With Brian Williams” at 10p/9c. Excerpts will also be broadcast on Nightly News at 6:30 pm ET.
Obama said in a statement that he accepted her decision and regretted “the unfair and misleading attacks” on Rice, who was considered a front-runner to replace Hillary Clinton as the nation’s top foreign policy official.
Criticism over remarks
Rice has been under intense fire from Republicans for initially characterizing the Sept. 11 assault on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi, Libya, as a spur-of-the-moment response to a crude anti-Muslim film.
“What happened in Benghazi was in fact initially a spontaneous reaction to what had just transpired hours before in Cairo, almost a copycat of the demonstrations against our facility in Cairo, which were prompted, of course, by the video,” Rice said on NBC’s “Meet the Press” five days after the attack.
“Opportunistic extremist elements came to the consulate as this was unfolding. They came with heavy weapons, which unfortunately are readily available in post-revolutionary Libya, and it escalated into a much more violent episode.”
As more details emerged suggesting it was a premeditated terrorist action, GOP critics accused Rice of misleading the public at the height of the presidential campaign.
She countered that she went with the best information available about the attack, in which Ambassador Chris Stevens and three other Americans were killed.
“I relied solely and squarely on the information provided to me by the intelligence community. I made clear that the information was preliminary and that our investigations would give us the definitive answers,” she said on Nov. 21 at the United Nations.
By then, Obama had already expressed strong support for Rice, warning Sens. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) to stop slamming her and vowing to block her confirmation.
“They should go after me,” he said at his first press conference after his re-election.
Despite a series of closed-door meeting with Capitol Hill lawmakers to drum up support, Rice continued to face questions from senators key to her confirmation.
After a Nov. 28 sitdown with Rice, Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) said she couldn’t yet endorse the veteran diplomat and raised a new point of concern: her role in protecting American embassies in Kenya and Nairobi that were bombed by terrorists in 1998.
Sen. Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) suggested Rice was seen as too much of an Obama loyalist and the GOP preferred “someone of independence.”
Attack on critics
In her resignation letter to Obama, Rice took aim at her GOP critics.
“The position of secretary of state should never be politicized,” she wrote.
“As someone who grew up in an era of comparative bipartisanship and as a sitting U.S. national security official who has served in two U.S. Administrations, I’m saddened that we have reached this point, even before you have decided whom to nominate. We cannot afford such an irresponsible distraction from the most pressing issues facing the American people.”
Obama praised Rice as “an extraordinarily capable, patriotic, and passionate public servant.”
“While I deeply regret the unfair and misleading attacks on Susan Rice in recent weeks, her decision demonstrates the strength of her character, and an admirable commitment to rise above the politics of the moment to put our national interests first.”
McCain and Graham, among Rice’s loudest critics, said they would continue to press the administration on Benghazi.
“I respect Ambassador Rice’s decision,” Graham said in a statement. “President Obama has many talented people to choose from to serve as our next secretary of state.”
The withdrawal leaves Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) as a possible candidate for the job, and Republicans have said he would have a smoother run.
"I think John Kerry would be an excellent appointment and would be easily confirmed by his colleagues," Collins said last month.
Rice, 48, has been the United States’ permanent representative to the United Nations since 2009, after serving as a senior advisor to the Obama campaign, working at the Brookings Institution and holding other diplomatic and national security positions dating back to 1993.
Leave a Comment:
I had a bigger issue with her monetary holdings regarding the Keystone Pipeline, although that is a simple matter of divesting yourself of those holdings, still in all, maybe not the best choice.
finally this stupid broad has a moment of clarity.
This trend of calling people stupid just because you disagree with them is really very tiresome.
I think her clarity was the fact that Obama Claus couldn't save her. Bam! We havin wild Rice for dinner.
Sad pathetic old Uncle Henry, another ignorant rightie!
What would your opinion be if she were a white male?
And your point is? Regardless of who or what Uncle is a typical Right haten fool!!!
jock59801
Prove your thought by re-posting it after every lib comment filled with vile obscenities and name calling.
Or are you the typical liberal hypocrite?Yeah, I THOUGHT so!
I personally feel that most of the liberal world thrives on slandering the opponent and name calling, no matter what you say, some liberal will take offense and call you a hater, a racist, a redneck or worse. Its a very common trend for the ignorant these days.
Sad...politics has become so transparent on evil vs good. A Senator is a good replacement? really? what experience does he have? does that matter or is a "smooth" entry more important? just really sad.
Kerry has a lot more foreign policy experience than Rice or even Clinton ever did.
At this point with all the inept and incompetence , does it matter if hes 'qualified' ? Susan Rice was qualified and she couldnt tell the difference between a protest and murder.
My dog could do better, he is smart enough to make "NO COMMENT" when he doesn't know whats going on. Maybe my dog should teach Susan a thing or two.
Anyone wanna bet we get a fiscal cliff solution in the next 24 hours. Yep
I don't think she was going to be secretary of state the media made that claim. I've always figured it was going to be John Kerry sounds like a good choice to me.
Corker calls her an Obama 'loyalist'. I thought a sitting President got to choose his/her Cabinet and of course, would be looking for people that shared his views and style of governing. What the hell is going on with the Party of NO?
I have a hunch te repubs oppose her because they want Kerry to take the post so their failed MA candidate can win the seat vacated by him. The Prez should appoint a leading republican senator and give them a taste of their own medicine.
That's how I feel - this is so ridiculous. It's a cabinet appointment. They lost the election. Deal with it. Dragging it out and drawing attention to your uncompromising, wasteful attitude is just going to further harm the Republican Party image.
wow--now that's an idea--any suggestions?
JackBNimble1
They do, and she did. She lied like a bad rug!
Gee, Brian, I am saddened by biased incompetent news readers. Cheers.
Good that she is gone!
Anybody Remember the phrase "You don't change horses in the middle of the stream"
Can't We just keep Hilary in there?? - maybe she can set some things right, maybe not. it is a grand mess anyway and both parties are to blame.
I think Hillary's distancing herself from this administration. I believe she still has a desire to become President and she knows that being aligned with Barry would be a huge mistake. She's hoping everyone will forget this in four years.
It does not matter if you are qualified if your not an old white man republican whom just lost to a minoirity
John Kerry?
Please don't say that and mean it. He is an aloof snob who has no business representing this country.
So let me get this straight. Bush lied about WMD's but Susan Rice was just regurgitating talking points from Obama? The fact is, she lied about Benghazi for political reasons and to protect the President during an election, then she has the nerve to say to NBC that the GOP playing politics is the reason she's dropping out. Hmm, I guess it's okay when a liberal breaks the rules, lies and uses politics but not when it's the other way around?
It was two months before the election. Everything was sorted out long before then and everyone knew it was going to be.
Look Benghazi wasn't the only embassy attacked on that date multiple embassy's were attacked all over the Muslim world. Some were actually attacked because of that video. But Benghazi come to find out was attacked by terrorist. The point should be to capture the one who did it not crucify the UN ambassador. What is funny to me is that she is the ambassador to the UN and has no power when it comes to embassy security that is the state department and Clinton. But the GOP is scared or Hillary popularity so the attack Rice.
Also when the WMD claims where made by the Bush administration and we went to war in Iraq we lost thousands of troops and Condaliza was all for it. But no one claimed to oust her are secretary of state.
The GOP wanted this attack to be Obama's, Jimmy Carter moment but it back fired in the debates in front of the whole country
Senator McCain was going around on lots of talks shows backing up the WMD threat and no one is calling for his resignation
Kinda a double standard don't you think
Bush lied and many died.
obama lied, people died and the media complied!
The GOP is a bunch of punks...to push this woman on false claims...YEAH..FALSE CLAIMS...on her. I hope they are happy they have acheived their goal. Sick of the GOP...all of them! They all need to be replaced with this racist witch hunt!
You are most welcome! Glad we could be of service. Bam!
Deinage: You are taking like a member of the Nazisocialistche Deutsch Arbeiter Partei, not a Democrat. Not all GOP members are punks and I take exception to your comment as my Father and Mother are GOP members (I am not)
Please Grow Up.
tr: if it doesn't apply to you, ignore it. i was talking about the gop in congress and senate...are you parents in congress and the senate? people need to quit taking things so damn personal...these are my opinions..don't like them..don't read them.
roger carter: i hope youre friends mccain and graham lose their seats when they are up for re-election!
Mr. Hendricks...YOU GROW UP!
Too bad Susan would of made a Excellent Secretary of State.....
But can't have a Young Black Woman becoming too power full in American Politics...
Republicans have already been blind sided once by the likes of Obama....
Former Secretary Condoleeza Rice was not exactly "Old" when she got confirmed either....
A sad pity on how BOTH Rice's were treated in the process anyway. Both Sen. McCain's attacks and Sen. Boxer's attacks 8 years ago show a complete lack of class.
Given that, I would say have General Powell come back and give it a shot with this Administration.
Let's put the nation first, eh??? without it (and the constitution) a lot us us are toast - myself included.
Apparently you don't consider Condi Rice to have been a black female Sec. of State. Pop quiz: name the last white male Sec. of State. Thought so.
Warren Christopher I presume? Under President Clinton????
Brian Williams is one of the most bias newsment on tv--On Susan Rice's comments--The party first tried to blame it on a video--Everyone knows it was watched in real time and they were all advised there was a huge problem words directly from the U.S. ambassador --Now to take the blame away from the White House -they blame the Republicans as always ---P.S. I am not a Republican it is a shame that a newsman would hide the truth
your all nuts.
She wasn't the best choice to start with. Then it was learned that she & hubby had large investments in the keystone pipeline. Turns out she's quite wealthy. Surely, we can find better public sevants. Kerry's in the same boat as well. I'm a liberal BTW.
You may as well empty both Houses, the White House, and the Court Benches as most elected officials are quite wealthy.
One reason we cannot get really good public servants is that many qualified people will not touch the cesspool that is politics with a ten meter barge pole whilst wearing a beekeeper suit. Politics smells that bad and stings that much.
Another reason is - you guessed it - money. Money is a both a good and bad force - and a system that will not go away, either - Konstatin Simis's work USSR -the Corrupt Society is a good read on how bribes and back door practices flourished - even in the Soviet Union and their very busy firing squads.
and money is the reason Obama won't negotiate with GOP on closing loopholes for the wealthy. At least the GOP is willing to let wealthy pay more taxes by fixing the holes. Like you stated, there's plenty of wealth on both sides. I'd like to see all those Hollywood celebs, musicians, union bosses fork out more money. Hell, even General Electric doesn't pay much in taxes on the billions they make.
Amazing how some still can see a person being a secretary of state who could not figure out that spontaneous attack won't bring rocket propelled immunition and brak into the ambassy. Apparently "the brillianl woman" used available info, but not her brain.
Wow; unexpected but now the republicans can find some other distraction to stall the fiscal crisis which is fast approaching. This should be at the forefront of all political discussions, as it truly affects all of America moving forward.
Has Rush left yet?
Hey Mittens, do your research about the outdated information relayed to Ms. Rice. She was just relaying a message, it's not her fault. Now Shhhhhh
Yup, she was just "following orders," its not her fault at all. I think we heard this line of reasoning 70 years ago, it didn't work then nor should of it, as it didn't work now.
A tragic display of the idiocracy of our body politic. The character assassination of Susan Rice is proforma for the Republicans. I admire Rice's professionalism and personal character in her withdraw from candidacy. Her statement is eloquent and unfortunately shows the American people that they in fact lost a superb potential Cabinet member.
In simple words, the Republicans are fools.
Common knowledge.
And "brillinat professional" woman could not figure that spontaneous attack won't result in destroyng the embassy with rockets.
Well at least now we won't have to hear McCain's blabber about Rice.
No, only about the next person the President nominates if it isn't who the republicans want to dictate it should be. I don't think anybody told them they lost the election.
uppity diversity NI^6ER!!!!!
More GOP ignorance and hate, but totally typical!!!!!
Gosh I could have fun as a president today. I would spread a rumor of hiring McCain and Grahmn. Let the democrats tear them down like McCain and Grahmn did on Rice. Afterwards spread the rumor I changed my mind.
Why are Republican Senators acting like they get to choose? Regardless of your political beliefs - If the President nominates someone and a majority of the Senate approves, isn't that how it's supposed to work?
If some of these fools want to hold up the nomination process just like they're doing with our budget, that's fine. That's exactly what these Tea Party baffoons are known for - accomplishing nothing and wasting money. Time for the Republican Party to cleanse itself of this cancer. The day these guys came in and started saying "no" to compromise, they lost me forever. That's just not how representative democracy works.
Obama hung her out to dry and now she's blown away.