Bret Baier Clashes With Stephanie Cutter Over Claim Libya Only a 'Political Topic' Because of Romney: 'Four People Are Dead

Just hours after she claimed the only reason the terrorist attack on the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi was a "political topic" was because of GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney and his running mate Paul Ryan, Obama campaign spokeswoman Stephanie Cutter appeared on Fox News to defend her remarks.

During "Special Report With Bret Baier" on Thursday, Cutter, for the second time that day, accused Romney of politicizing the Libya attack, doubling down on her comments.

"Who was the first person to respond to the Libya attacks? It was Mitt Romney. And Mitt Romney was criticized for that response because it was political – by national news organizations. He was asked to apologize by national news organizations--"

"Wait a second…wait a second," Baier interrupted, explaining that the real issue is the Obama administration's initial statements on the attack, many of which turned out to be completely false.

The host went on to play a video of President Barack Obama appearing on the "Late Show With David Letterman" on Sept. 18, a week after the attack. The president said terrorists used an anti-Muslim video as an excuse to attack the U.S. Consulate. He also strongly condemned the filmmaker, calling him "very offensive" and a "shadowy figure." Baier also pointed out that U.S. Ambassador Susan Rice and other Obama administration officials repeatedly told the public that the Libya attack was the result of the video.

"What are you suggesting? Are you suggesting we’re playing politics with this?" Cutter asked defensively.

"I'm not suggesting anything. You said that the entire reason this has become a political topic -- four people are dead," Baier said.

Cutter asserted that the current administration has treated the tragedy in Libya with the "utmost seriousness."

"That’s why we’re being responsible and diligent about our investigation," she added.

She lamented the fact that Romney and his running mate continue to insist that the Obama administration is involved in a cover-up in Libya. "You know how investigations go," she said, defending the inconsistencies in the official White House story.

"Why was there such a jump to tie it to the video?" Baier pressed, trying to get a straight answer.

Baier went on to point out glaring inconsistencies in the Obama administration's evolving Libya story, explaining that the State Department revealed this week that there weren't even protests outside the U.S. Consulate before the attack as the White House initially claimed.

With much more ground to cover, Baier ran out of time and was forced to end the interview.

"Next time I'll bring my notes," Cutter concluded.

Watch the segment via Fox News/Mediaite here:

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Related:

• ABC’s Jake Tapper Confronts White House on Crumbling Libya Story: ‘Didn’t President Obama Shoot First and Aim Later?’
• Obama’s Deputy Campaign Manager: Benghazi Attack Is Only a Political Issue ‘Because of Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan’