I guess this was inevitable.
Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) joined the chorus of Republicans criticizing President Obama's response to the violence in Libya on Monday, going so far as to suggest that the administration's handling of the situation is worse than Watergate -- the scandal that brought down President Richard Nixon: "I think this is an issue -- Benghazi-gate is the right term for this. This is very, very serious, probably more serious than Watergate."
Now, Blackburn struggled to explain what it is about the attack she considers Watergate-like, or even what she's accusing the administration of, exactly.
But for those keeping score at home, we've now reached the sixth Republican-identified Watergate of the Obama era.
Rep. Peter King (R-N.Y.), June 2012:
Alleged national security leaks from the Obama White House are "worse than Watergate."
Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.), May 2010:
An e-mail from Rep. Darrell Issa's (R-Calif.) campaign suggested Wednesday that the controversy over Rep. Joe Sestak's (D-Pa.) alleged administration job offer could be President Barack Obama's Watergate scandal. [Issa sent] an e-mail with the subject line "The Sestak Affair - Obama's Watergate?"
The Weekly Standard, September 2011:
Will the 'Fast and Furious' Scandal Be Obama's Watergate?
Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.), November 2011:
Bachmann made a striking accusation against the Obama administration, presenting a severe conspiracy surrounding the government's involvement in the failed Solyndra solar power company. "It just stinks on every level. This makes Watergate look like child's play," Bachmann declared.
The American Spectator, February 2012:
Is Media Matters Obama's Watergate?
Putting aside the fact that Republicans really need a new touchstone to serve as a point of historical comparison, there may come a point at which the administration is embroiled in a legitimate scandal, and I wonder whether Blackburn and other assorted GOP partisans will regret having cried wolf quite so many times.
