Rep. Schiff: 'Excessive and partisan focus' on initial Benghazi intelligence a 'horrendous distraction'

Today, outgoing Defense Secretary Leon Panetta is expected the lift the military's ban on women in combat. The move will open up hundreds of thousands of jobs for women who want to serve on the front lines.

Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) weighs in on the decision on Starting Point this morning, calling the choice a "very positive step."

"I think it’s overdue and it’s wonderful for several reasons.  First it’s going to be an extraordinary opportunity for women and it’s also going to be extraordinary for the institution itself," Schiff says. "Whenever we’ve integrated an institution it not only benefits the women that now have new job opportunities but it benefits the institution with better leadership and better coordination."

Rep. Schiff also discusses Hillary Clinton's testimony at yesterday's hearing on Benghazi, calling the "excessive and partisan focus" on the intelligence community's initial report that the attack was spawned by protests a "horrendous distraction."

"It used to be that the partisanship ended at the waters edge, but not any more, not even when fatalities are involved," Schiff remarks.