The Slatest

Sen. John McCain issued one of the harshest critiques of the White House response to the September attack on the U.S. Consulate in Libya, saying it “exposed the failures” of President Obama’s foreign policy. “It is now the worst cover-up or incompetence I have ever observed in my life,” McCain said on CBS’ Face the Nation Sunday. Obama’s rival in 2008 said that the issue would have an effect on voters because it reflects badly on Obama as commander in chief.

McCain said that the worst part of the response to Libya were the “gross, gross, outrageous statements” made by officials, including the president, after the attack. And he went as far as to compare it to Watergate. “Somebody the other day said to me, ‘this is as bad as Watergate,’” McCain said. “Nobody died in Watergate.”

Watch the interview after the jump.