(MCT) — WASHINGTON — In his first news conference since winning re-election, President Barack Obama on Wednesday showed himself ready to go toe-to-toe with Republicans over fallout from the deadly attack on the U.S. Consulate in Libya, even as he left open the door to compromise over year-end tax increases.

Speaking in the East Room, the typically cool Obama displayed a rare flash of anger in defending Susan Rice, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, whom some Republicans have accused of spreading inaccurate information about the Sept. 11 attack on the diplomatic outpost in Benghazi. Rice is a potential pick for secretary of state in Obama’s second term, although some GOP senators have sworn to block her nomination.