Tipsheet

Hillary Laughs When Voter Says He Wishes Trump Would Have Punched Gowdy During Benghazi Hearing

At the CNN Democratic town hall Monday night in Des Moines, Iowa Hillary Clinton, Bernie Sanders and Martin O'Malley spent two hours answering voters' questions. One particular attendee who noticed the majority of the questions were aimed at domestic issues pivoted the discussion to foreign policy when Clinton was on the stage. This voter explained that, while he hadn't been fully committed to voting for Clinton next year, he said he was "gung ho" about her after watching all 11 hours of her testimony in front of the Benghazi Select Committee in October. 

At one point, he quipped that he wishes Donald Trump would have reached over to "punch" Chairman Trey Gowdy in the face during the hearing. 

While the audience didn't exactly react, Clinton thought it was hilarious and let out a hearty laugh.

It goes without saying how insensitive her reaction was considering the seriousness of the Benghazi committee's investigation. Gowdy and his fellow committee members have spent over 20 months trying to figure out how four Americans lost their lives in Benghazi, Libya when security contractors were within close range and, according to the book and film "13 Hours," were told to stand down. Who is to be held accountable for holding these soldiers back from the fight?

The same voter who spoke with Clinton at Monday night's town hall eventually reached his actual question: How much of an interventionist would she would be as president on a scale of 1 to 10? he asked. 

Clinton didn't give a number, but she did explain that she would place negotiation and diplomacy ahead of military action. No ground forces in Syria and Iraq, she said.

Later, Clinton insisted that Benghazi is still only an issue because the "Republicans want to make it an issue."