http://twitter.com/#!/MarkHalperin/status/256786020325019648

A troubling pattern? That’s putting it mildly. As Twitchy reported, Joe Biden flat-out lied during last night’s vice presidential debate, claiming the Obama Administration was never informed of any security concerns regarding the U.S. consulate in Benghazi. Since those remarks, Biden has been taking major heat from critics, including members of the intelligence community as well as members of the Romney campaign:

[Biden] will now come under pressure to clarify his position, which could extend the Benghazi controversy for one or more news cycles, causing further headaches for the Obama re-election campaign.

It also leaves [Biden] vulnerable to the accusation that the administration was out of touch with what was happening on the ground in Libya. That was seized upon by the Romney campaign, whose senior adviser, Dan Senor, questioned the administration’s grasp of vital national security issues. He said Biden’s statement had pointed to “the larger failures of the administration to be completely transparent about the terrorist attacks in Benghazi and the security situations leading up to the attacks.”

At a campaign rally this afternoon in Richmond, Virginia, Mitt Romney himself took Biden to task for his stunning mendacity:

Romney going hard on Libya right now. Says Biden “directly contradicts” sworn testimony of State Department officials.

— Henry C.J. Jackson (@hjacksonAP) October 12, 2012

At Richmond Rally, #Romney says VP #Biden is ‘doubling down on denial’ regarding the #Libya attacks.

— Ed O’Keefe (@edatpost) October 12, 2012

Romney on Benghazi: “The vice president directly contradicted the sworn testimony of State Dept officials. He’s doubling down on denial.”

— Mike O’Brien (@mpoindc) October 12, 2012

From The Washington Post:

“He’s doubling down on denial and we need to understand exactly what happened as opposed to just having people brush this aside,” Romney told a crowd gathered outside an auto dealership in Richmond. “When the vice president of the United States directly contradicts the sworn testimony of State Department officials, American citizens have the right to know just what’s going on.”

Of course, the truth-averse couldn’t handle Romney’s candor. Rather than accept that Biden lied to the American public last night, they chose instead to echo lying liar Stephanie Cutter and accused Romney and Republicans of playing politics with the deaths of four Americans:

RW media, not even necessarily Romney/Ryan, are turning legitimate issue (Libya) into their own little circus.

— Ben Yelin (@byelin) October 12, 2012

.@alexwagner: Romney campaign using its oars as good as they can to muddy the waters on #Libya #NowWithAlex

— NowWithAlex (@NowWithAlex) October 12, 2012

How serious is #Libya to the outcome of this election? Will Romney gain traction on this new strategy? #NowWithAlex #msnbc2012

— NowWithAlex (@NowWithAlex) October 12, 2012

This Libya thing is on MSM life support. Confusion on whos & whys but Romney/Ryan need to stop politicizing the attack for cheap pol points.

— whoisagentzero (@whoisagentzero) October 12, 2012

@nowwithalex Only serious to Romney campaign and hypocritical GOPers who are looking for a scandal. #Libya #NowWithAlex #msnbc2012

— Chris Warlock (@misfittweet) October 12, 2012

The idea that Romney and the GOP are “looking for a scandal” is vile on so many levels … Stephanie Cutter must be proud of her acolytes.

This Twitter user sums up the difference between the Left’s warped priorities and the Right’s commitment to the truth:

So, Romney is talking about Libya and Obama is talking about Sesame Street.

— Jason Silah (@silahpalooza) October 12, 2012

Bingo.

Read more: http://twitchy.com/2012/10/12/boom-romney-smacks-biden-over-last-nights-libya-lies/