Days after the U.S. consulate in Benghazi was attacked on Sept. 11, in which four Americans were killed, including Ambassador Christopher Stevens, Rice appeared on major U.S. TV networks arguing the assault ensued from a spontaneous protest against a U. S.-made film clip believed to have denigrated the Prophet Mohammed.
The Obama administration later acknowledged the attack as a terrorist act carried out by militants linked to al-Qaeda. The evolving rhetoric made the event a hot-button issue in the presidential campaign.
John McCain and Lindsey Graham, both veteran Republican senators, vowed last week to do everything in their power to block Rice's nomination as secretary of state.
Obama came to the defense of Susan Rice at his first press conference at the White House since his re-election.
"If Senator McCain and Senator Graham and others want to go after somebody, they should go after me," Obama said. "And I'm happy to have that discussion with them."
Landmark building should respect the public's feeling