memeorandum: Inflammatory Anti-Muslim “Movie” May Not Be A Real Movie (BuzzFeed)

11:50 PM ET, September 12, 2012

Top Items:

Foreign Policy Hands Voice Disbelief At Romney Cairo Statement — “Bungle... utter disaster...not ready for prime time... not presidential... Lehman moment.” And that's just the Republicans. — Image by Jim Young / Reuters — Mitt Romney's sharply-worded attack on President Obama …

The Right Scoop:

EXCLUSIVE: Open mic captures press coordinating questions for Romney “no matter who he calls on we're covered” — Before Romney issued his statement today, an open mic capture the press coordinating questions to ask Romney, with one saying “no matter who he calls on we're covered on the one question”.

Discussion: NewsBusters.org, Power Line, Weekly Standard, Mediaite, “The Lid”, The Gateway Pundit, The Daily Caller, American Power, Doug Ross, Riehl World News, Pat Dollard, The PJ Tatler and National Review

Brian Montopoli / CBS News:

Obama: Romney shoots first, aims later — (CBS News) In response to Mitt Romney's criticism of the Obama administration for its handling of recent violence in Egypt and Libya, President Obama told CBS News on Wednesday that Romney “seems to have a tendency to shoot first and aim later.”

Discussion: Newsy, CBS San Francisco, CNN, Pat Dollard, Weasel Zippers, ABCNEWS, Mediaite, Truthdig and Election 2012

Josh Rogin / Foreign Policy:

Inside the public relations disaster at the Cairo embassy — One staffer at the U.S. Embassy in Cairo was responsible for the statement and tweets Tuesday that have become grist for the presidential campaign, and that staffer ignored explicit State Department instructions not to issue the statement …

Discussion: Hot Air, NationalJournal.com, Election 2012, The Atlantic Online, OnIslam.net, Al Bawaba and Outside the Beltway

CNN:

FIRST ON CNN: Romney camp tries to manage fallout from Libya response — De Pere, Wisconsin (CNN) - Facing criticism for its aggressive and politically-charged response to Tuesday's violent attacks on the American embassies in Egypt and Libya, Mitt Romney's presidential campaign …

Discussion: Politico, ABCNEWS, Booman Tribune, American Prospect, Daily Kos, Mediaite, Towleroad News #gay, LifeNews.com and Talking Points Memo

Politico:

Ambassador Stevens killed at site with no Marines — The consulate where the American ambassador to Libya was killed on Tuesday is an “interim facility” not protected by the contingent of Marines that safeguards embassies, POLITICO has learned. — Ambassador Chris Stevens was killed …

Discussion: Wired, Newsy, Hot Air and The Right Scoop

Washington Post:

Mr. Romney's rhetoric on embassy attacks is a discredit to his campaign — J.CHRISTOPHER STEVENS, the U.S. ambassador to Libya, was a skilled and courageous diplomat who repeatedly placed himself at risk in order to support the cause of a democratic Libya. His death, along with those of three …

Discussion: Foreign Policy, Balloon Juice, ABCNEWS, National Review, democracyarsenal.org, Mediaite, The Belgravia Dispatch and Election 2012

John Aravosis / US Politics:

Romney gets capital of Libya wrong in press conf criticizing Obama on foreign policy — Mitt Romney got the capital of Libya wrong in his opportunistic statement this morning criticizing the President about his handling of the attacks against the US embassy in Cairo and the US consulate in Benghazi, Libya.

Discussion: Mediaite, DownWithTyranny!, The Political Carnival and PoliticusUSA

Darren Samuelsohn / Politico:

Obama's Libya moment — President Barack Obama had a presidential moment Wednesday in responding to the attacks in Libya that killed four Americans. He delivered—but the benefits of power also come with real responsibilities he'll have to live up to before November.

Discussion: CNN, Associated Press and Reuters

Walter Russell Mead / Via Meadia:

The Day The Roof Fell In — Sometimes trouble blows up out of a clear blue sky. That's what happened to the White House yesterday. — Coming out of the Democratic Convention, despite an uninspiring speech, President Obama had a united party and a comfortable bounce.

Discussion: No More Mister Nice Blog, CNSNews, Hot Air and Power Line

Katrina Trinko / National Review:
The Insane MSM Questions Romney Faced at Presser

Discussion: NewsBusters.org blogs, Wonkette, Mediaite, Weasel Zippers, JOSHUAPUNDIT and Hot Air

ABCNEWS:
Putin Thanks Romney for Calling Russia No. 1 Foe

Discussion: Booman Tribune, Campaign Stops, Daily Kos, Crooks and Liars and Angry Black Lady Chronicles

Jennifer Rubin / Washington Post:
Who's to blame for the original Cairo apology?

Discussion: Power Line, First Read, Mediaite and The Hinterland Gazette

Josh Marshall / Talking Points Memo:
When You Learn They're Not Ready

Discussion: Washington Post, The Daily Beast, PERRspectives, Salon and Daily Kos

Wall Street Journal:
Romney Offends the Pundits

Discussion: The Lonely Conservative

Jim Hoft / The Gateway Pundit:
ISLAMISTS DRAG DEAD BODY OF US AMBASSADOR THROUGH THE STREETS OF BENGHAZI! (Updated) ...Another Photo!

Discussion: Telegraph, The White House, National Review, Reuters, Riehl World News, Israel Matzav, Fox News Insider and American Power

Justin Sink / The Hill:
Obama slams Romney, says GOP rival 'didn't have his facts right'

Discussion: Ballot Box and Politico

William Kristol / Weekly Standard:
Romney Is Right — One can question the timing and tone …

Discussion: The Daily Dish, msnbc.com, The Page, The Daily Caller, Daily Kos and ABCNEWS

Brian Beutler / Talking Points Memo:
A Timeline Of The Attacks In Libya And Egypt — And The Responses

Discussion: rightwingwatch.org, CBS News, Bob Cesca's Awesome Blog!, Politico and Politicker

Julian Pecquet / The Hill: Violence in Middle East irrupts into tight 2012 race for White House

Politico:
Noonan: Romney not helping himself

Discussion: The Raw Story

William A. Jacobson / Le·gal In·sur·rec· tion:
Dead Ambassador dragged through streets, MSM furious at Romney criticism of Obama

Discussion: Washington Post, Lawyers, Guns & Money and Power Line

Jennifer Rubin / Washington Post:
Conservatives rally on embassy attacks

Discussion: Politico, WTOP.com, Washington Monthly, Wizbang, Pat Dollard and Wonkette

Benjy Sarlin / Talking Points Memo:
Romney Camp's New Explanation Of Libya Reaction: W.H. Actions Prove We're Right

Discussion: Washington Wire, The Atlantic Online, Weekly Standard and Daily Kos

First Read:
First Thoughts: Over the top — Romney issues over-the-top attack …

Discussion: Washington Post, The Atlantic Online, New York Times, Reuters, Talking Points Memo, The Hill, The New Republic, Liberal Values, Weekly Standard, americanthinker.com, The Week, IHT Rendezvous, Salon, The Caucus, Mother Jones, Firedoglake and CNN

Jeffrey Goldberg / The Atlantic Online:

Muhammad-Film Consultant: ‘Sam Bacile’ Is Not Israeli, and Not a Real Name — Revelations about the alleged producer of the now-infamous trailer for “The Innocence of Muslims.” — Actors portray the Prophet Mohammed and other historial figures in the controversial film, Innocence of Muslims.

Discussion: New York Times, Mashable!, Religion Dispatches, Philly.com, FP Passport, The Raw Story, Associated Press, The Atlantic Wire, Guardian, The Informer, Hot Air, L.A. NOW, No More Mister Nice Blog, Hit & Run, Blazing Cat Fur and NationalJournal.com, more at Mediagazer »

Associated Press:

Nakoula Basseley Nakoula Claims Role In ‘Innocence Of Muslims’ … FOLLOW: — Nakoula Basseley Nakoula, Nakoula Basseley Nakoula Anti Islam Film, Nakoula Basseley Nakoula Libya, Nakoula Basseley Nakoula Prophet Muhammad, Prophet Muhammad, Anti Islam Film, Libya Attacks, Libya Attacks Film, Libya Film, World News

Discussion: The Huffington Post, BuzzFeed, Guardian, Weasel Zippers, The PJ Tatler, Weekly Standard, The Back Channel, CANNONFIRE, The Raw Story, Mediaite, Wired, CNN, The Daily Beast and Truthdig, more at Mediagazer »

BuzzFeed:

15 Photos Of Libyans Apologizing To Americans — A peaceful demonstration from Benghazi, the Libyan city where a U.S. ambassador was killed in a consulate attack Tuesday. “Chris Stevens was a friend to all Libyans.” (via facebook.com) — Jessica Testa — a half hour ago — 49 responses

Discussion: New York Times and ABCNEWS

Adrian Chen / Gawker:

‘It Makes Me Sick’: Actress in Muhammed Movie Says She Was Deceived, Had No Idea It Was About Islam — The story of the Muhammed movie which sparked deadly protests in Libya and Egypt gets weirder. The actors who appeared in it had no idea they were starring in anti-Islam propaganda …

Discussion: BuzzFeed, Mediaite, Pat Dollard, Guardian, Alan Colmes' Liberaland and Talking Points Memo, more at Mediagazer »

New York Times:

Deadly Embassy Assault May Have Been Planned, U.S. Suspects — WASHINGTON —The Obama administration suspects that the fiery attack in Libya that killed the American ambassador and three other diplomats may have been planned rather than a spontaneous mob getting out of control, American officials said Wednesday.

BuzzFeed:

Inflammatory Anti-Muslim “Movie” May Not Be A Real Movie — The clumsy dubbing suggests that the footage comes from different films entirely. And there's no way that it cost $5 million to make. — View Video › — Image by — The anti-Muslim “movie” that served as the spark …

Discussion: Pat Dollard, Scared Monkeys, Guardian, The Week and The Daily Beast

Twitchy:
UPenn professor Anthea Butler calls for imprisonment of filmmaker Sam Bacile; Update: Butler locks her Twitter account

Discussion: Belmont Club and Pat Dollard

Associated Press:
Filmmaker Sam Bacile in hiding after anti-Muslim film sparks violence in which American diplomat was killed

Discussion: Hot Air, Guardian, Gawker, CNN, Religion Dispatches and Weasel Zippers

Sam Baker / The Hill:

Probe: HHS's Sebelius illegally campaigned for Obama on the job — Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius violated federal law by using her Cabinet position to campaign for President Obama, federal investigators said Wednesday. — The Office of Special Counsel (OSC) …

Discussion: CNN and American Spectator

Jake Tapper / ABCNEWS:
Office of Special Counsel Says HHS Secretary Violated Hatch Act

Discussion: LifeNews.com

Meredith Shiner / TwitLonger:

TwitLonger — The difference between the Jon Kyl and John McCain gaggles just now on Egypt/Libya: — Jon Kyl: It's like the judge telling the woman who got raped, ‘You asked for it because of the way you dressed.’ OK? That's the same thing. 'Well America, you should be the ones to apologize …

Discussion: Balloon Juice and New York Magazine

Scott Wong / Politico:
Kyl: Embassy statement like blaming rape victim [Updated]

Discussion: Truthdig and Valley Fever

Dana Blanton / Fox News:

Fox News poll: Obama has lead over Romney in post-convention poll — An increase in support from women as well as independents gives Barack Obama a post-convention advantage over challenger Mitt Romney. The president receives a five percentage-point bounce among women and a 12-point bounce …

Discussion: Politico and The Political Carnival

Rebecca Schoenkopf / Wonkette:

Sarah Palin Wishes Barack Obama Had A Bigger Penis — There seems to have been a small amount of tsuris in the Middle East yesterday, as a large lot of Libyans decided to kill some Americans. This makes most people show proper somberness and gravity. But not Sarah Palin!

Kevin Robillard / Politico:
Sarah Palin to Mitt Romney: Make attacks ‘personal’

Discussion: Washington Monthly

Reid J. Epstein / Politico:

Bill Clinton: Blame me, not Obama — ORLANDO, Fla. - President Bill Clinton said to blame him for the economy, if you want, but absolve President Obama from any fault. — Speaking to 2,000 people in a crowded and loud hotel ballroom here on the second night of his Florida campaign swing …