What Did TIME Editor Say About Libya That Led to This Charge From Scarborough: You're 'Gobbling Up the [Obama] Talking Points Like Thanksgiving Turkey

(Photo: MSNBC)

TIME Magazine's Joe Klein appeared on MSNBC's "Morning Joe" Monday, where he asserted that "there are not" lingering questions about the Sept. 11 attack in Benghazi that killed four Americans.

When pressed on the issue by host Joe Scarborough, Klein conceded: "Ya, there is a big question.  The question is why are John McCain and Lindsey Graham continuing this ridiculous argument that was a political issue during the campaign?"

When Scarborough noted that we still know very little about how or why the first ambassador was killed abroad in decades-- and what the administration could have done to prevent it-- Klein pivoted to say the "question" that remains is how to best conduct diplomacy abroad.  What is the best combination of security and accessibility?

Klein then said he didn't know if the requests for increased security "exist," before the conversation pivoted back to Susan Rice and the now-discredited talking points blaming a YouTube video for a spontaneous protest that turned deadly.

"The talking points were accurate!" Klein stated.  "They were absolutely accurate.  It was a spontaneous demonstration by extremists--"

When Scarborough interjected, "by al-Qaeda?" Klein said that "anyone" can call themselves al-Qaeda, but that al-Qaeda was not involved.

Scarborough pointed out that everyone acknowledges that it was a terrorist attack at this point, before Klein said condescendingly, "define al-Qaeda."

"Are we now going to define what the meaning of 'is' is?" Scarborough replied.  Referencing reports of Gen. Petraeus' recent closed-door hearing, he said that Gen. Petraeus said they knew almost immediately that al-Qaeda, or an al-Qaeda affiliate, was involved.

"I would guess al-Qaeda means al-Qaeda," he said with exasperation.

Klein proceeded to argue semantics for several more minutes, soon saying that the president called the attack terrorism immediately.

Scarborough interjected: "Joe, seriously? ... Has the president invited you to go play golf?  Because you are just gobbling up the talking points like Thanksgiving turkey."

Watch the clip, via MSNBC:

(H/T: WeaselZippers)

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