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Did we see a glimpse of our political future on Wednesday? Hillary Clinton vs. Marco Rubio. (AP Photos)

Did we see a glimpse of our political future? Hillary Clinton vs. Marco Rubio in 2016

BY Tom Tangney  on January 24, 2013 @ 9:17 am (Updated: 9:37 am - 1/24/13 )

Hillary Clinton spent the entire day on the Hill Wednesday, defending her State Department's response to the crisis in Benghazi, a crisis that took the life of our Ambassador and three other Americans.

In the midst of the main stage drama, we might have caught a glimpse of our political future.

I know we just inaugurated a President three days ago, but in the world of politics, it's never too soon to speculate about the next election.

On Wednesday, it wasn't just a Secretary of State in the hot seat over the death of a U.S. Ambassador in Libya, it was also the last chance for Republicans to rough up the early frontrunner for the 2016 Democratic nomination for President. Hillary Clnton is stepping down from her post as soon as John Kerry is confirmed.

Republicans did not hold their fire.

"I'm glad that you're accepting responsibility," said Senator Rand Paul. "I think that ultimately with your leaving you accept the culpability for the worst tragedy since 9/11, and I really mean that. Had I been president at the time and I found you did not read the cables from Benghazi, you did not read the cables from Ambassador Stevens I would have relieved you of your post. I think it's inexcusable."

And Hillary Clinton met fire with fire.

"The fact is we had four dead Americans. Was it because of protest or was it because of guys out for a walk one night who decided they'd go kill some Americans? What difference at this point does it make? It is our job to figure out what happened and do everything we can to prevent it from ever happening again Senator," said Clinton.

If this was indeed an audition for president, I thought Hillary Clinton came off very well - she was forceful and controlled, emotional when it counted, when she talked about meeting the coffins of the four Americans who died in Benghazi, and to no one's surprise, knowledgeable and experienced. When she was talking about her first-hand experience with the black-masked militias who served as her non-traditional security guard in Libya, you knew she was a hands-on Cabinet member.

But she was not the only potential presidential candidate in that committee room. Florida Senator Marco Rubio topped the most recent Politico poll as the favorite Republican for 2016. With that possibility in mind, it's interesting to note how Rubio conducted himself, in contrast to the more fiery Senators like Rand Paul, John McCain, and Ron Johnson.

Rubio by comparison was the model of politeness. He asked pointed but relatively neutral questions, probing ever so modestly.

"One of the things that I'm most interested in exploring with you today a little bit is how information flows within the state department and in particular in hindsight, looking forward how we can prevent some of this happening. So I was curious about a number of things. First of all, were you ever asked to participate in any sort of internal or inner agency meaning before this attack with regard to the deteriorating security situation in Libya?"

Four straight questions in this rhetorically tamped-down vein. And it's not like Rubio can't ramp it up - here he was at the Republican Convention just a few months ago

"So no one misunderstands our problem with President Obama isn't that he's a bad person. Our problem is that he's a bad president. A government that spends $1 trillion more than it takes in. An $800 billion stimulus that created more debt than jobs. A government intervention into health care paid for with higher taxes and cuts to Medicare. Scores of new rules and regulations. These ideas don't move us forward. These ideas move us backwards."

At Wednesday's hearing, Rubio was almost like a grad student asking a professor a question. Now grad students often eventually turn the tables on their professors and that indeed may be what happens in this case. But Wednesday, he seemed more respectful than necessary even, as he patiently heard Hillary out.

So why did Rubio take this approach? He may have given us a clue in his Convention speech when he talked about asking people for advice.

"So I called a few people and asked them, ‘What should I say?' They had a lot of different opinions. But the one thing they all said was, ‘Don't mess it up.'"

Wednesday, first and foremost Rubio didn't mess up. And by the way, neither did Hillary.

Tom Tangney, KIRO Radio Host
Tom Tangney is co-host of KIRO Radio's Seattle's Morning News and resident enthusiast of...everything. He loves books, movies, TV, art, pop culture, politic, sports, and Husky football.
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Comments (11)


  • Add A Comment

  • flipper wrote...
    Controlled?
    January 24, 2013 10:37 am
    The 4 dead Americans comment had a vocal tone of yelling at someone. She's not controlled. Never has been.
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  • Cooldude1 wrote...
    Controlled?
    January 25, 2013 12:22 pm
    Atleast we had a hearing reg Libya. How many Americans died in Iraq? How much was spent on the war there? Where are the weapons of mass destruction? And how many hearings have we had? And how many people had resigned owning up responsibility for it?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • mnpat wrote...
    " it was also the last chance for Republicans to rough up the early frontrunner for the 2016 Democratic nomination for President."
    January 24, 2013 10:40 am
    Well we see how you interpreted the hearing....very sad commentary indeed. I can only suggest you turn off the liberal view and look at a conservative/moderate view before putting mouth and diatribe into circulation. The government has had serious issues regarding policy and it's overseas presence. Unfortunately we had Americans die under the watch of the current administration, corrections need to be made as was the case of "Fast and Furious". You may prefer to see this as one party against the other as the current liberal midset see it. I prefer to believe we as Americans want some answers and are getting fed up with the excutive priviledge of concealing information.
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  • Cooldude1 wrote...
    "it was also the last chance for Republicans to rough up the early frontrunner for the 2016 Democratic nomination for President."
    January 25, 2013 12:21 pm
    Sure. And how many Americans died in Iraq? How much was spent on the war there? Where are the weapons of mass destruction? And how many hearings have we had? And how many people had resigned owning up responsibility for it?
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  • The Real Me wrote...
    Controlled?
    January 24, 2013 10:44 am
    This is a woman who couldn't even control her own husband's weener. The thought of her being in charge of the country is ridiculous. God Help Us.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Cooldude1 wrote...
    Controlled?
    January 25, 2013 12:16 pm
    So you mean if a husband has affairs the wife is to blame? How convenient for all husbands of today!!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Rick W7PSK wrote...
    Stick to movies
    January 24, 2013 11:49 am
    your ultra liberal bias comes through every time you do a political article. You cannot do a contrast and compare with those dark red rose colored glasses.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • SeattleNative wrote...
    "Was it because of protest or was it because of guys out for a walk one night who decided they'd go kill some Americans? "
    January 24, 2013 3:47 pm
    Uh, no Hillary. It was neither of those things. It was a pre-planned, military-style attack by terrorist carrying RPGs, mortars, and machine guns.

    And you and the president knew it. And lied. And lied. And from the above statement, are still lying. And indignantly refusing to acknowledge those lies.

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  • cigarfan wrote...
    @SeattleNative
    January 24, 2013 5:37 pm
    What would the motive be for lying? Explain.
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  • Cooldude1 wrote...
    "Was it because of protest or was it because of guys out for a walk one night who decided they'd go kill some Americans? "
    January 25, 2013 12:25 pm
    Sure. And the Bush administration was a paragon of truth on the Iraq war. Heck, they wouldnt even let the press photograph the caskets coming home. How insulting to those who gave their lives for the US? How many Americans died in Iraq? How much was spent on the war there? Where are the weapons of mass destruction? And how many hearings have we had? And how many people had resigned owning up responsibility for it?
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  • ratrustle wrote...
    I like Hillary, but....
    January 30, 2013 9:46 am
    I don't reward someone for having a temper tantrum. Technically, Hillary is correct. It doesn't matter whether it was planned by terrorists or spontaneous. What does matter is that the State Department dropped the ball and no one seems to be accountable other than those who take "full responsibility" whatever the heck that means!
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