only sustained because there are people who are willing to
fight for it, to stand up for it, and in some cases, lay down
their lives for it. Our country is only as strong as the
character of our people and the service of those both
civilian and military who represent us around the globe.
No acts of terror will ever shake the resolve of this great
nation, alter that character, or eclipse the light of the
values that we stand for. Today we mourn four more Americans
who represent the very best of the United States of America.
We will not waver in our commitment to see that justice is
done for this terrible act. And make no mistake, justice
will be done.
But we also know that the lives these Americans led stand in
stark contrast to those of their attackers. These four
Americans stood up for freedom and human dignity. They
should give every American great pride in the country that
they served, and the hope that our flag represents to people
around the globe who also yearn to live in freedom and with
dignity.
Republicans are claiming that Obama’s reference to “acts of
terror” was a generalized reference to terrorism with no
specific application to Benghazi, which earlier in his
statement Obama had called “this outrageous and shocking
attack,” without using the word “terror.” But the
reference to “four more Americans” in the very next
sentence strongly suggests that Obama was applying the label
to Benghazi. If you’re willing to grant that the debate’s
moderator, Candy Crowley (no relation!), had a right to
intervene at all, it’s hard to complain about her coming to
Obama’s defense on this narrow point.
(MORE: Obama Campaign Bullish after Strong Second Debate)
