Yesterday the worst job in Washington had to belong to Jay Carney.
In a televised briefing, the White House press secretary found himself besieged by reporters asking about Benghazi.
He told some whoppers. The edits made to the now-infamous talking points were a “matter of non-substantive factual correction.” “All this is a distraction from the key issues.” There’s no “hidden mystery” behind the changes.
Here’s the real problem: Carney’s challenge here is not simply to defend the White House line. It’s to give answers that contradict neither the testimony before Congress this week by three former State Department officials nor the many statements put out by the president and his team since those attacks.
Carney’s problem is that it can’t be done.
This week’s testimony has moved us far past the time when it might all be cleared up by a press conference. The White House says the CIA is responsible for any misinformation and that the changes weren’t done by the White House but by State and other agencies.
Only one way to clear it up: Put all those involved under oath before Congress — including the former secretary of state and the former director of the CIA — and ask them all the same questions.