Fiasco Benghazi: Episode 4 - Feckless
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Sep 22, 2025 Lanhee Chen, a former chief policy advisor for Mitt Romney during the 2012 campaign, shares insights on how the Benghazi attack affected the election landscape. He discusses the rapid response of Romney's team and their strategic communications amidst ongoing protests. The conversation delves into media narratives, shifting intelligence reports, and how the political fallout played out post-election. Chen highlights the intricate relationship between security warnings and campaign strategies, revealing the scandal's long-lasting implications.
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Midnight Statement From Romney Campaign
- Lanhee Chen and Romney staff drafted and debated an aggressive statement overnight after the Benghazi attack.
- Chen read the release to Romney who approved it and ordered, "Let her rip."
Feckless Framing Became The Message
- Romney framed Benghazi as evidence of Obama's "feckless" foreign policy to underline a broader critique.
- The campaign used the incident to reinforce an existing narrative rather than dissect facts.
Jacksonville Press Conference Fallout
- Romney held a press conference in a Jacksonville strip mall amid backlash over the timing of his statement.
- He refused to walk back the message, saying he "simply could not apologize."
