House Dem compares Benghazi, IRS to space alien conspiracy theory

Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-Texas) on Friday implied that by continuing to push for answers on Benghazi and the IRS, Republicans are promoting conspiracy theories that should be as easy to dismiss as questions about whether the government is keeping space aliens in cold storage.

Doggett was one of several Democrats who defended IRS Commissioner John Koskinen from what they say as Republican attacks against the IRS at a Friday hearing. When it was Doggett's turn to speak, he asked Koskinen a series of questions dealing with the "seriousness" of the hearing.

His odd, rapid-fire questions to Koskinen seemed to imply that GOP questions on these issues are not serious, and are only meant for public consumption (you can watch the video here.)

"Have you ever been in Benghazi?" Doggett started.

"No," Koskinen replied.

"Do you know if you or Ms. [Lois] Lerner have ever had any responsibility for anything having to do with Benghazi and our embassy there?"

"No."

Doggett's didn't specify what aspect of the Benghazi attack, which resulted in the death of four U.S. officials, he sees as a conspiracy. However, Republicans have said the Obama administration didn't do enough to try to save the U.S. officials, and then purposefully misled the country about the cause of the attack in the first few days. Democrats have dismissed these charges as an attempt to hurt Democrats politically.

Doggett then pressed on to see if Koskinen was involved in other conspiracy theories.

"How about Area 51 out in Roswell, New Mexico, where all those space aliens allegedly came? Have you ever had any responsibility for that?"

"No," Koskinen replied, without clarifying further whether he believed aliens were being held in New Mexico.

"Have you ever had custody of the president's birth certificate?" Doggett then asked.

"No," Koskinen replied.

"I believe one of the mistakes that you've made in dealing with the committee today is that you did assume professionally that this is a serious inquiry," Doggett concluded. "I believe it's an endless conspiracy theory here."