This is a rush transcript from "Hannity," May 14, 2013. This copy may not be in its final form and may be updated.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA: The day after it happened, I acknowledged that this was an act of terrorism.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SEAN HANNITY, HOST: Not true. Now, that was President Obama trying to rewrite history yesterday about what he said immediately following the Benghazi terrorist attack. Now, unfortunately, for him, even the Washington Post gave that claim four Pinocchios and used Obama's own words to prove him wrong.
Now, here's why. The day after the attack, which also happened to be one day removed from the anniversary of 9/11, President Obama merely claimed that acts of terror would not be tolerated. He never called directly called Benghazi an act of terrorism. And that is not all. As The Post points out, President Obama was repeatedly given opportunities in the days after that to do the exactly the right thing. He didn't. Watch.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, "60 MINUTES"/CBS, SEPT. 12, 2012)
STEVE KROFT, HOST: Mr. President, this morning you went out of your way to avoid the use of word terrorism in connection with the Libya attack.
OBAMA: Right.
KROFT: Do you believe that this was a terrorist attack?
OBAMA: Well, it's too early to know exactly how this came about, what group was involved. But, obviously it was an attack on Americans.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, "THE VIEW"/ABC, SEPT. 25, 2012)
JOY BEHAR, CO-HOST: Then I heard Hillary Clinton, said that it was an act of terrorism. Is it? What do you say?
OBAMA: Well, we are still doing an investigation.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HANNITY: All right. Joining me now to respond to this former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld. His new book, "Rumsfeld Rules: Lessons in Business, Politics, War, And Life," it hit bookshelves today. And, Mr. Secretary, good to see you. I love the book.
DONALD RUMSFELD, FORMER DEFENSE SECRETARY: Thank you.
HANNITY: We will have you on specifically to do a lot of talking about that.
Why the mysterious reluctance and resistance? Look at that, he was on two weeks later on "The View." He went that day and spoke to the United Nations and still is blaming a video that we all know is a lie.
RUMSFELD: I can't imagine how a person could stand up there when everyone involved knew it was a terrorist attack. It was the anniversary of 9/11. The people were not demonstrators. They were well-armed. And, the idea that it was somehow related to a YouTube video and that, that narrative kept being promoted, I suppose it's because it fit their hopes and what they wanted to be the case.
HANNITY: Ever hear of anyone going to a spontaneous demonstration and just having their back pocket a rocket-propelled grenade and rocket launchers and mortars? That never happens, right?
RUMSFELD: Not a chance.
HANNITY: All right, but we do know is that the testimony last week by Mr. Hicks in the last conversation that he had with Ambassador Stevens -- Ambassador Stevens -- we're under fire. We're being attacked.
RUMSFELD: Right.
HANNITY: And, they never even spoke. Two weeks later when the president was on "The View," he had never spoken to Mr. Hicks nor to anybody else.
RUMSFELD: That testimony before the Congress was moving. It was emotional. It was firsthand account of what actually took place. And, it literally trashed the narrative that had been promoted by the White House.
HANNITY: The CIA got it right from the next day, they knew and those on the ground that testified last week, they knew it was an attack. The CIA knew it was an attack. They wrote the original talking points. Twelve points later, the truth was removed and this huge lie about a YouTube video and spontaneity was inserted. How does that happen?
RUMSFELD: But, even going back to the beginning. The Brits knew that there was a danger and they pulled their people out. The people in the United States in Benghazi knew that there was a danger and asked for additional security.
HANNITY: And, the CIA warned them. And, what more element to that, that we learned that last week.
RUMSFELD: Yes. Now, it was a terrible tragedy and people lost their lives. And, the way it has been handled since then has compounded the problem. Because, the first rule of something like that is to gather the facts and then inform the American people.
HANNITY: Tell them the truth.
RUMSFELD: Yes.
HANNITY: We deserve the truth, don't we deserve the truth? Don't we?
RUMSFELD: Indeed. Well, in our system we have to.
HANNITY: All right. So, before they screwed up because they denied the assistance that the CIA said to give and the people in the ground requested, during we have two separate stand-down orders. We still don't know where they come from. Can you imagine Americans under attack, other Americans ready to risk their lives to help them and nobody goes?
RUMSFELD: That's why these hearings have to go forward. They are going to have to call the people up. They are going to have to find out precisely what capabilities existed. Because the first problem was not protecting people when they knew, they needed protection. The second problem was not assisting them when they were under attack.
HANNITY: And, then the third part is the lie and the cover-up.
RUMSFELD: Indeed.
HANNITY: Do you have any doubt it is a lie?
RUMSFELD: You know, it --
HANNITY: You have been around Washington too long, Mr. Secretary.
RUMSFELD: Yes.
HANNITY: I don't want to put words in your mouth.
RUMSFELD: Well, it's a harsh word. And, I think that the hearings will prove what actually took place and there is no question that the narrative that was put out after the fact, days after the fact --
HANNITY: Weeks after --
RUMSFELD: Weeks after the fact --
HANNITY: Was not true.
RUMSFELD: -- was false.
HANNITY: What if this was you and George W. Bush was president?
RUMSFELD: Well, everybody blames George W. Bush for everything. So, even years later.
HANNITY: If the dog bites, if the bee stings, if you're feeling sad it's all Bush's fault.
(LAUGHTER)
RUMSFELD: That's right. I've never seen a situation like that in my life. And, of course, he hasn't defended himself. He has been quiet and has not wanted to respond, and I understand that, but --
HANNITY: I wish he go out --
RUMSFELD: -- he deserves defense.
HANNITY: -- and take a shot back once in a while verbally and go after them.
RUMSFELD: Yes.
HANNITY: But -- All right, so we are going to talk about your book in the days to come. We are looking forward. We are going to have a one hour special with a studio audience with you.
RUMSFELD: Fantastic.
HANNITY: I'm looking forward to it.
RUMSFELD: Thank you.
HANNITY: Mr. Secretary, good to see you.
RUMSFELD: I appreciate it.
HANNITY: Thank you. "Rumsfeld's Rules" in bookstores everywhere.
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