Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) appears to be one of those politicians who doesn’t want to take “yes” for an answer. John Hudson had this report late yesterday:
Last month, Senator Lindsey Graham vowed to block the confirmation of every Obama administration appointee because the administration was preventing Benghazi survivors from testifying before Congress. Now, three Benghazi witnesses are set to testify for the first time. Their lawyer says the administration never discouraged their testimony, but Graham’s office says the holds aren’t going anywhere. “Still have holds in place,” Graham’s spokesman Kevin Bishop tells The Cable.It’s unclear what further actions might change Graham’s calculus on the holds….
Over the last year, I feel like a pattern has emerged. Congressional Republicans, convinced without evidence that their vague conspiracy theories have merit, said, “Give us classified briefings on Benghazi or we’ll throw a fit!”
At which point the administration hosted a series of classified briefings, offering nothing to substantiate the conspiracy. So Republicans said, “We demand testimony from David Petraeus or we’ll throw a fit!”
At which point Petraeus testified, offering nothing to substantiate the conspiracy. So Republicans said, “We demand testimony from Leon Panetta or we’ll throw a fit!”
At which point Panetta testified, offering nothing to substantiate the conspiracy. So Republicans said, “We demand testimony from Hillary Clinton or we’ll throw a fit!”
At which point Clinton testified, offering nothing to substantiate the conspiracy. So Republicans said, “We demand to hear directly from Benghazi survivors or we’ll throw a fit!”
At which point the administration agreed to make several Benghazi survivors available for testimony.
If Graham said he’d block the entirety of the Senate confirmation process unless the witnesses agreed to testify, and now they’ve agreed to testify, why is Graham still blocking the confirmation process?
Because it appears some people just enjoy throwing fits as if it’s some kind of immature habit.
Steve Benen is a producer for "The Rachel Maddow Show," the editor of MaddowBlog and an MS NOW political contributor. He's also the bestselling author of "Ministry of Truth: Democracy, Reality, and the Republicans' War on the Recent Past."