Hillary Clinton fends off "Benghazi" heckler

"Benghazi, Benghazi, you let them die!"

Published October 24, 2013 1:05PM (EDT)

  (AP/Cliff Owen)
(AP/Cliff Owen)

Speaking before a large audience at the University of Buffalo, former first lady and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton got a taste of the kind of heckling she can expect if she ultimately decides to run for president in 2016, according to a report from Politico.

Clinton, who was at the university as part of its Distinguished Speaker Series, was in the midst of her remarks when a man rose up and began shouting, "Benghazi, Benghazi, you let them die!" in reference to the terrorist attack on the U.S. embassy in Benghazi, Libya, on Sept. 11, 2012.

Speaking over the heckler as he was taken from the room, Clinton said, "We have to be willing to come together as citizens to focus on the kind of future we want, which doesn’t include yelling, it includes sitting down and talking with one another." Her comment was greeted by the crowd with a standing ovation.

While Clinton took questions at the end of her remarks, she deflected inquiries as to whether she planned on running for president in 2016. She did outline what she'd be looking for in a candidate, however, saying she'd like to see one able to "isolate the extreme voices and allow the vast majority of American voices to be heard."

Watch Clinton's interaction with the heckler below, via local station WIVB:


By Elias Isquith

Elias Isquith is a former Salon staff writer.

MORE FROM Elias Isquith


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Benghazi Heckler Hillary Clinton Politico University Of Buffalo Video