We’re almost two hours into the Gowdy committee hearing, and it’s going well for Hillary Clinton. Trey Gowdy used much of his opening statement to defend his committee. That’s playing into the Democrats’ hands. He should have laid out the strongest elements of the case against Clinton.

Clinton, her eyes on the prize, used her opening statement as part of her presidential campaign. She served up a lecture on American foreign policy and the need for us to remain engaged in the world.

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The committee Republicans need to step up their game.

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UPDATE: Things are picking up.

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Jordan is hammering Clinton now based on emails from her spokesperson Victoria Nuland. They show that while Americans are still fighting for their lives, Clinton’s staff is trying to figure out how to spin this, talking about what to say “if pressed” and referencing the Romney campaign.

Jordan wraps it all up brilliantly with a “speech” about how Clinton chose not to level with the American people. I hope this becomes a central sound bite in the coverage of the hearing.

Read the article “Clinton Skates through Early Portion of Benghazi Hearing, but Then the Tide Turns” on powerlineblog.com.