HILLARY SPEAKS – AT 9:07 A.M. ET:    We now have a preview of Hillary Clinton's Benghazi defense, which will be presented in her about-to-be-published book.  It is not so much defense as offense, in which she actually defends the use of the now-famous video as an instigating factor in the Benghazi incident.  From The Politico: 

Hillary Clinton offers a detailed account of the deadly attack on the American embassy in Benghazi — and a pointed rebuttal to Republican critics who’ve laced into her over the incident — in a much-anticipated chapter of her forthcoming book, “Hard Choices,” obtained by POLITICO.

“Those who exploit this tragedy over and over as a political tool minimize the sacrifice of those who served our country,” Clinton writes in the gripping chapter, “Benghazi: Under Attack.”

Read that carefully.  That's the language of Bill Clinton.

Casting doubt on the motivations of congressional Republicans who have continued to investigate the attacks, including with an upcoming House select committee, Clinton continues: “I will not be a part of a political slugfest on the backs of dead Americans. It’s just plain wrong, and it’s unworthy of our great country. Those who insist on politicizing the tragedy will have to do so without me.”

The arrogance is breathtaking.  "I will not be a part of..."  Someone should remind the secretary that she serves at our pleasure, and that questioning her actions and judgment is part of the democratic political process.  It's not up to her to decide whether to participate. 

The 34-page chapter is Clinton’s most complete account to date of the attack and its aftermath. Her tone is less defensive than defiant: Clinton takes responsibility for the “horror” of the loss of life in Benghazi, but puts it in the context of “the heartbreaking human stakes of every decision we make” — and she accuses adversaries of manipulating a tragedy for partisan gain.

She'll get plenty of support from her amen corner in the American media, but I'm not so sure this defiance will fly.  In fact, her timing isn't very good.  The House, under the brilliant Trey Gowdy, is about to investigate Benghazi.  If facts turn up that contradict Clinton's claims in her book, the book can easily become the butt of jokes.

But the book will be widely publicized, and many of the "interviews" with Clinton will be butterballs.  I can't wait for Diane Sawyer to ask the softies.  Our side must respond with thoughtful replies, and with facts.  The facts are not on Clinton's side.

May 30, 2014