Last night, Vice President Joe Biden dodged a criticism about the State Department rejecting requests for extra security in Benghazi by saying neither he nor President Obama knew the request had been made. Apparently, President Obama likes it that way.

White House Press Secretary Jay Carney, after confirming that Obama had not been informed of the denied request for security at the U.S. consulate in Benghazi, was asked if the president had requested updates regarding such situations elsewhere.

“[R]equests from the hundreds of diplomatic facilities around the country for security personnel or other related matters are made to the State Department,” Carney told reporters. “They are not made to the White House.”