1.   Bennett backed down from his threats, and Wednesday his friends and colleagues rushed to defend him.

2.   Admissions officers rushed to defend their policies, saying that the Center for Individual Rights consistently interprets admissions decisions too simplistically.

3.   After the September crash, federal officials and USAir executives rushed to defend the safety of the airline.

4.   Gymnastics officials Wednesday rushed to defend their sport, which has come under increasing criticism because of eating disorders and frequent injuries.

5.   Journalists rushed to defend him.

6.   Most GOP lawmakers rushed to defend Bush, saying members of the intelligence committees were also made aware of the threats.

7.   No coach or teammate rushed to defend him.

8.   Repeatedly describing herself as unschooled, Hildegard wrote in an unconventional Latin that scholars now rush to defend for its poetic merits.

9.   Republican politicians no less than Democratic ones will rush to defend the status quo.

10.   Republicans, including Alabama Sen. Jeff Sessions, rushed to defend him.