Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) is demanding that U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice go on television and apologize for her characterization of September attacks in Benghazi if she has any hope of being appointed the next secretary of state.

The Arizona senator last week pledged to block Rice from becoming the nation’s top diplomat because he said that her early assessment of the attacks — which relied on CIA-approved talking points that did not mention al Qaeda — made her “not qualified” for the job.

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In his 20th Sunday morning show appearance of 2012, McCain was asked by CBS host Bob Schieffer if he was willing to reconsider Rice if she were nominated.

“I think we give all nominees the benefit of a hearing process,” McCain replied. “Maybe she could start out by publicly coming back on this show and saying, ‘I was wrong. I gave the wrong information on your show some weeks ago.’ That might be a beginning.”

“But until then, you remain opposed to her nomination?” Schieffer pressed.

“Under the present circumstances until we find out all the information as to what happened, I don’t think you could want to support any nominee right now,” McCain replied. “It really goes to heart of this — quote — light-footprint policy that this administration has been perusing and all of the failures throughout the Middle East.”

“The chickens are now coming home to roost.”

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Watch this video from CBS’ Face the Nation, broadcast Nov. 18, 2012.