Obama defends handling of Libya attack

President Obama defended his handling of the Libya attack during a mostly serious appearance Thursday on The Daily Show With Jon Stewart.

Obama said security would be improved at embassies worldwide, and attributed changing stories of the attack to changing evidence.

"Every piece of information that we got -- as we got it -- we laid it out to the American people," Obama told Stewart.

Officials initially linked the attack that killed Ambassador Christopher Stevens and three others to the protest of an anti-Islam film that got out of hand; days later, they called it a pre-planned terrorist attack.

Asked about better communications and security, Obama said: "When four Americans get killed, it's not optimal. We're going to fix it. All of it."

Obama also discussed his sub-par performance in the first debate with Mitt Romney, Obama said he had an "off night," but the issues remain the same.

"Gov. Romney makes a good presentation," Obama said, "but the fundamentals he's calling for are the same policies that got us into this mess."

Stewart, whose program satirizes the news, also threw in some comedy -- asking Obama how many times Vice President Biden shows up for meetings in a "wet bathing suit."

"We had to stop that," Obama deadpanned. "I gotta say, though, he looks pretty good."

Stewart also jokingly asked Obama how many fundraising solicitations his campaign had sent him during the interview.

Said Obama: "It depends on whether you've maxed out!"

From the pool report:

"When asked about the trade-off between national security and civil liberties, Obama reiterated his vow to close Guantanamo. And when asked about political gridlock in Washington, Obama said he hoped that more Democrats are elected to win more seats. ...

"Stewart asked if had made a stronger affirmative case for a second term or more negative one against Romney. Obama listed his accomplishments such as ending the Iraq War, health care, the auto bailout and said he had a "strong story to tell" but he added that part of his job was "also preventing things that won't work." He listed restricting rights for gays and lesbians, not passing a budget to make college more affordable and rolling back health care and turning Medicare into a voucher system."

And here's a transcript on Obama's "optimal" quote:

Jon Stewart: "Is part of the investigation helping the communication between these divisions? Not just what happened in Benghazi, but what happened within. Because I would say, even you would admit, it was not the optimal response, at least to the American people, as far as all of us being on the same page."

Obama: "Here's what I'll say. If four Americans get killed, it's not optimal. We're going to fix it. All of it. And what happens, during the course of a presidency, is that the government is a big operation and any given time something screws up. And you make sure that you find out what's broken and you fix it. Whatever else I have done throughout the course of my presidency the one thing that I've been absolutely clear about is that America's security comes, and the American people need to know exactly how I make decisions when it comes to war, peace, security, and protecting Americans. And they will continue to get that over the next four years of my presidency."