Obama campaign manager says president takes responsibility for consulate attack in Libya

DENVER – A top campaign aide says that President Barack Obama takes responsibility for the consulate attack in Libya that killed four Americans.

Deputy campaign manager Stephanie Cutter tells The Associated Press in a phone interview Tuesday that, quote, “every time an American dies abroad, everybody takes responsibility, from the top down.”

Asked whether that includes Obama, Cutter says, quote, “Absolutely … He’s the president of the United States.”

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said Monday that she was responsible for security at the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi. Republicans have accused the Obama administration of ignoring requests for more protection before the attack.

Cutter says it’s “unfortunate” that Republicans are mounting political attacks and that, in her words, “in times of crisis, normally the country comes together.”