Most approve of panel on Benghazi but suspect political motivation

Sixty-seven percent of people in a new poll approve of the creation of a select committee to investigate Benghazi, even though a nearly equal number believe Republicans are acting for political gain. 

A Fox News poll released this week found majorities of every major demographic, including Democrats, approve of the creation of the select committee to investigate the 2012 terrorist attack on a diplomatic post in Benghazi, Libya, that killed a U.S. ambassador and three other Americans. 

{mosads}Eighty-three percent of Republicans approve, and 66 percent of independents feel the same. Fifty-five percent of Democrats approve, while 41 percent disapprove. 

Democrats in the House have knocked the committee, which was approved last week in a largely party-line vote. They call it a politically motivated stunt ahead of the midterm election, arguing that both chambers of Congress and the State Department have already conducted numerous reviews. 

They also claim it is aimed at trying to damage former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who is seen as a likely presidential nominee in 2016. 

House Democrats have not made a decision and are divided on whether to appoint members to the committee. House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) named the seven GOP members last week. 

Sixty-three percent of survey respondents say Republicans’ pursuit of the investigation is politically motivated. That includes 82 percent of Democrats and 65 percent of independents who say it is for political gain. 

A narrow majority of Republicans, 54 percent, say the investigation is aimed at getting to the truth, while 38 percent believe the investigation is mostly for political gain. 

Forty percent of people believe Clinton has been honest with the public about the events surrounding the attack, while 50 percent think she has tried to deceive the public. 

Similarly, 54 percent think President Obama’s administration has tried to deceive the public about the attack, while 38 percent believe the administration has been honest. 

The poll surveyed 1,025 registered voters and has a 3 percent margin of error.