The moderate-liberal commentator in New York claims that it was because the liberal Democrat — who drew widespread criticism for her role in the administration's botched response to the Benghazi, Libya situation that killed a U.S. ambassador and his staffers — was a black female: "Last week, Rice withdrew herself from consideration to follow in
Hillary Clinton’s steps at the State Department. It was clear that the
relentless Republican attacks had taken their toll — all the ugly
statements and insinuations by Sens. John McCain and Lindsey Graham. Oddity is as oddity does: The man [Sen. McCain] who was going to have Sarah Palin
play commander in chief if worst came to worst was suddenly interested
in competence and honesty. Has there ever been anyone as incapable of
holding higher office as the moose-hunter from Wasilla? But McCain doesn’t care. Squashing Rice’s chances to become Secretary
of State provides a scalp that the old warrior can hang on his door and
brag about. He may not have gotten the prize he wanted back in 2008, but
Rice now won’t get hers, either."
More: "Some wonder why President Obama did not defend Rice to a greater
degree. She is a good friend of his — and was likely his clear choice to
head the operation over in Foggy Bottom. It appears to many in and out of the Obama administration that the
extreme right-wingers of the Tea Party have scared him away from showing
even the least bit of favoritism for a black statesman (or, in this
case, woman). Maybe he should have worn brass knuckles to this fight. Otherwise, the
elephants will just keep on slinging mud. Their reserves of it are
endless. Muck is all they have."
Stanley Crouch: "The Right Came For Susan Rice's Scalp"
