Republican senators’ angry criticism of U.N. Ambassador Susan Rice over her initial account of the deadly Sept. 11 attack in Libya smacks of sexism and racism, a dozen female members of the House said Friday.
In unusually personal terms, the Democratic women lashed out at Sens. John McCain and Lindsey Graham who earlier this week called Rice unqualified and untrustworthy and promised to scuttle her nomination if President Barack Obama nominates her to succeed Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton.
“All of the things they have disliked about things that have gone on in the administration, they have never called a male unqualified, not bright, not trustworthy,” said Rep. Marcia Fudge, D-Ohio, the next chairwoman of the Congressional Black Caucus. “There is a clear sexism and racism that goes with these comments being made by unfortunately Sen. McCain and others. READ MORE
At a press conference of female House Democrats pushing back against Sen. John McCain’s (R-Ariz.) criticism of Ambassador Susan Rice’s false explanation of the Benghazi terror attack, Rep. Gwen Moore (D-Wisc.) mocked McCain’s choice of former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin (R) as his running mate in 2008.
“It’s very difficult to recruit qualified women, and Sen. McCain should know that,” Moore said at a Capitol Hill press conference Friday, prompting laughter from the other women members on the stage.
Several female House Democrats held a press conference to defend Rice from criticism made by McCain and other Republicans over her false explanations of the terror attacks in Benghazi, Libya.
Congressional Black Caucus Chairwoman Rep. Marsha Fudge (D-Ohio) accused Rice’s GOP critics of having sour grapes after the party’s loss in the 2012 presidential election, mocking McCain for finishing near the bottom of his class at the Naval Academy. McCain, the son and grandson of famous admirals, has admitted not taking his academic studies very seriously while at the academy. READ MORE