Republicans spend hour of 2016 convention on 2012 Benghazi attack

After an emotional introduction by Pat Smith, the mother of one of four Americans killed in the Sept. 11, 2012, terrorist attack on Benghazi, Libya, the Republican National Convention played a video of people recapping the attack, then brought out two of the members of the team that fought in the attack, Mark Geist and John Tiegan. The two recounted their harrowing night, at great length and apparently without a teleprompter. They, like Smith, blamed Hillary Clinton for not protecting the Americans at the U.S. diplomatic outpost in Benghazi, then ended their sometimes jocular tale with a call to vote for Donald Trump: "Every fallen veteran has done their part. Now you do yours."

Some people were puzzled by the extensive, factually dubious focus on Benghazi, which happened four years ago and was litigated politically during the 2012 election and ever since by congressional Republicans.

Republicans apparently think the Benghazi attack still has some real political resonance.

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