After joking with reporters, President Barack Obama ignored Tuesday a shouted question about whether Sec. Hillary Clinton is to blame for security failures surrounding the terrorist attack in Benghazi, Libya.
The exchange was first reported in the White House pool report, as Obama went to a debate prep session in Williamsburg, Va., before Tuesday's presidential debate in New York:
REUTERS: How are you feeling about tonight?
OBAMA (smiling): I feel fabulous. Look at this beautiful day.
NBC: Are you aware Michelle voted for you yesterday?
OBAMA (turning to yell back): Thank goodness!
POLITICO: Is Hillary to blame for Benghazi?
OBAMA: (Silence. Kept walking.)
Clinton accepted responsibility for the security failures before the attack in interviews Monday from Lima, Peru. The secretary did, however, say she does not know who briefed Ambassador Susan Rice on the attacks before a series of interviews Rice conducted days after the attack; Rice attributed the attack on the consulate to violence stemming from a protest against an anti-Islam film.
A group of Republican Senators led by Sen. John McCain has called Clinton's admission "laudable," but said the White House must take responsibility for the security issues in Libya.