NotOptimal
October 26, 2012 | 04:20 PM

Would recommend that you go see his statement in context.

Stewart was talking about the way things were communicated post attack, particularly the dischordant statements between State and the White House... and asking the President to admit that the messaging post attack was "not optimal."

Obama (rightly in my opinion) refocused the question to the fact that four Americans died - and that this is the important thing to consider, not the communication happening after the fact.

The implication is that there would be an "optimal" way to communicate this... and it was mishandled, no one is disputing that.

But in context, the point was, "when Americans have died" there is no "optimal" situation anymore.

He was gently saying, "keep your eye on the ball."

And I'm not a fan of Obama, but this whole goatrope is indicative of a broken process where adults can't have a conversation.

To say that Obama was REALLY saying, "it was unfortunate politically that people died, because our messaging wasn't as good for a few days" is reading motives that I just don't believe he, or any other American, had in relation to the tragic events.

Yes, it lends itself to misunderstanding... yes, he could have said it better. But in context, and giving the benefit of the doubt... there was nothing wrong with what he said.

If you're looking to be offended, you can always find a reason, which oddly, was the point of your article - odd that you would DO the very thing you're saying we shouldn't.

Bob