Where Was Obama When Benghazi Burned?

There was much fanfare about George W. Bush remaining seated for a few minutes in a classroom full of elementary school children in Sarasota Florida after the news of the plane flying into the second tower on September 11, 2001. It was conveniently named his “My Pet Goat” moment because he was there to support Laura Bush’s reading initiatives and the class was reading “The Pet Goat.” How dare he sit and finish the book rather than jump up, exit the room, and dash off to Air Force One, or wherever the Secret Service would whisk him away too.

I watched the video. Although many have attempted to portray his reaction to be equivalent to a deer in the headlights, I believe his face was telling. He just received news America was under attack, on our own soil. News like this is never something any American wants to hear. I can only imagine what it was like to get that news as the President of the United States. If you really watch the film, you can see him change demeanors instantly. He went from a happy man to a very serious one in a split second. He had to make a decision to dart from the room, scaring the children and potentially leading the nation to panic, or he could remain calm, finish up this moment with the children, then quietly kick into military mode as soon as he exited the room. President Bush knew he was being filmed. He knew his reaction could set the tone for our nation’s reaction to the attack. He chose the latter option.

The children who were in that classroom were interviewed years later. They were glad he reacted as he did.

"I don't remember the story we were reading — was it about pigs?" says Williams, 16. "But I'll always remember watching his face turn red. He got really serious all of a sudden. But I was clueless. I was just 7. I'm just glad he didn't get up and leave, because then I would have been more scared and confused." Chantal Guerrero, 16, agrees. Even today, she's grateful that Bush regained his composure and stayed with the students until The Pet Goat was finished. "I think the President was trying to keep us from finding out," says Guerrero, "so we all wouldn't freak out."

I remember sitting up in my bed as I watched the news, horrified for our nation and scared for what else would happen that day. I agree with these children, I am glad President Bush chose calm over panic. What we experienced as a nation that day was beyond horrific. But, because our leader was calm – angry, terrified, shocked, heartbroken at the loss of American life, but calm – America followed his lead.

Today, a little irony is on the table. Four Americans were killed when Benghazi burned. Details for the whereabouts of our President are hazy. We are told this point is irrelevant. But how our leaders react is very important. It helps shape the reaction of the nation. All we really know is talking points were altered and the narrative, and reaction, was crafted around a false story. When the truth began to trickle out about our leadership's reaction, mistrust set in.

It has been almost nine months since Ambassador Stephens and three other Americans were killed at the attack on our compound in Benghazi. The fact we still do not really know where our President was during this time, or what he was doing is disturbing. The fact the press has not been very interested in finding out is more disturbing.

It is time for the President’s whereabouts to be made public. It is time for the United States to control the fire rather than fan the flames.