Change of Heart: Sec. Napolitano Now Agrees System “Failed Miserably”

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by Steve Krakauer | 9:10 am, December 28th, 2009

» 11 comments

Sec. of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano was on NBC’s Today show this morning, back-tracking a bit from her statements about the attempted terror attack made yesterday on several Sunday shows.

She says her comments about how “the system worked” were taken out of context – and she agrees the system actually “failed miserably.”

While she said “everything happened that should have” and “everything went according to clockwork,” among other similar statements, she did use the caveat “once this incident occurred” as well. The first question from Matt Lauer was about these comments. “I think the comment is being taken out of context,” she said, before continuing to drive home the point about, once the attempted terror attack took place, things were handled well (which many are in agreement about).

Lauer pressed on: “You would then concede that the system prior to that, the system that’s supposed to prevent something like this from happening, failed miserably?”

Napolitano agreed:

It did. And that’s why we are asking a lot of the same questions I heard you asking before this interview. How did this individual get on the plane? Why wasn’t the explosive material detected? What do we need to do to change perhaps the rules that have been in place since 2006 for moving somebody from the generic tied database to a more elevated status. All of that under review right now.

This doesn’t show a change in what Napolitano believes, but does show her conveying it differently. One of the biggest critics of Pres. Obama, Napolitano and others in the administration since Friday has been Rep. Peter King, but the main critique seems to be the tone taken. That has changed, at least slightly, today.

But Napolitano still is missing some key answers. When Lauer asked how a person who bought a “one-way, trans-Atlantic ticket with cash, checks no luggage, a man whose own father has written a letter to authorities both in his own country and U.S. embassy authorities” got through, Napolitano responded, “I’ve asked the same questions Matt.”

Appearances on the Today show and elsewhere should be the place for some answers.

Here’s the Today interview (h/t Newsbusters):

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Zakk

Only the best and the brightest need apply…
m

Wow, talk about a misleading headline. Napolitano didn’t have a change of heart at all. She’s saying the exact same thing as she did yesterday.
Zakk

Maybe she was just a little ‘Baucus’ when she made her first statement.
RazorsEdge

Something about this interview SK that may be missing in your “media” reporting. You write opinion, right?

Did it seem to you that there was some coordination between Lauer/Napolitano? Even if just virtually coordinated?

Napolitano able to claim she was taken out of context and she was correct in her statement of worked like clockwork, then Lauer, how did you write? Oh, ‘Lauer pressed on’ with his “would you then concede question”.

Did it seem to you that Lauer’s pressing on was stated in a way to “allow” Napolitano rationalize her thinking AND able to state the pre-incident failed miserably WITHOUT saying it? No video/audio (yet) that the “system failed”. Her answer was it did, but through her words of “it did”.

Did it seem to you SK, that Lauer set up the tee-ball for Napolitano to hit? You’re in the Media, does that Media do that sort of thing?

I don’t blame Napolitano for trying to use the media or thread the needle with her response. That’s politics and becomes harmful only if they begin to believe their rhetoric or the public looses.

But is it possble a MSM would “stage” an interview in such a way to help an ally or hurt a foe.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Chuck-Varrick/1170421091 Chuck Varrick

The dumbest White woman on the Planet Earth….and she’s all ours!
StewartIII

Like Michelle Malkin said, “she’s Obama’s biggest joker,” what a “clown!”
***
Michelle Malkin — Clown alert: Janet Napolitano says the “system worked”
http://michellemalkin.com/2009/12/27/clown-alert-janet-napolitano-says-the-system-worked/
ChrisNH

‘Big Sis’ is wiping her brow today. She knows she dodged a big bullet. Reports that ‘more are on the way’ should convince the Obama administration to slow down the construction on the monument they’re building for themselves. The things that people care most about–jobs and security–Obama is paying lip service to. All this ‘social engineering’ dithering is going to prove his undoing.
marquis2.0

I have it on good authority that the one dude on MSNBC Rachel Mandow is going to look like Big Sis Napolitano in about 10 years, (just needs to throw on that blazer with the padded elbows). Both these dudes should at least consider shaving down their adams apples. On the real tip though, could this administration become any more of a joke… amateur hour, every day.
Ben Linus

@marquis2.0
I have to admit, I was thinking the same thing when I saw Napolitano on CNN the other day. I think it has to be the best Rachel Maddow impersonation I’ve ever seen.
BTW — I just want to give CNN’s Candy Crowley a quick kudos. Candy Crowley went after Napolitano, and pressed her on what happened, way before Lauer got to her this morning.
I think Crowley softened Napolitano up quite bit for Matt. Lauer should be thanking Crowley.
Zakk

I agree with Ben, but I do have one question…WHY? Why did you kill Jacob?
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