Man Behind the Furor (Wash. Post Puff Bio on Joseph Wilson)

The Washington Post ^ | Wednesday, October 1, 2003 | Richard Leiby

[kristinn]

Former diplomat Joseph Wilson used to tell reporters he felt certain how his obituary would read. It went: "Joseph C. Wilson IV, who was the last American diplomat to meet with Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, died . . . "

But "it seems to change," Wilson said yesterday, smiling across his desk in his Washington office. He has kept mentally revising the obituary to keep up with the political maelstrom over Iraq policy and White House leaks that is swirling around him.

A recent version began: "Joseph C. Wilson IV, the Bush I administration political appointee who did the most damage to the Bush II administration . . . "

The current version goes: "Joseph C. Wilson IV, the husband of the spy the White House outed, . . . "

SNIP

As the world now knows, Wilson is married to Valerie Wilson, nee Plame. She is his third wife. She is 40, slim, blonde and the mother of their 3-year-old twins. In the photos in his office, she has the looks of a film star.

"She is really quite amazing," Wilson said. "We were just discussing today who would play her in the movie," he cracked.

SNIP

Even though the White House has said Rove wasn't involved, Wilson made clear yesterday that he has no intention of backing off from his assertion that Rove at least condoned someone's making telephone calls to reporters about his wife. He said he took a call from a reporter who quoted Rove as saying: "Joe Wilson's wife is fair game."

Wilson said he and his wife have attended the same Episcopal church as Rove. Wilson quoted Valerie as saying, "Perhaps the next time we are taking communion I should introduce myself so he can see that I have a face and a name other than 'fair game.' "

[kristinn]

The Post has plenty of nice things to say about the sainted Mr. Wilson. Go read the whole thing. He's a swell guy.

[Cicero]

Well, the Media liars tried a full court press on Bush with the Enron affair. They pulled out all the stops for weeks. It was nothing but Bush . . . oilman . . . Texas . . . Enron. But in the end they failed miserably, although they did manage to cover up the fact that it was mostly clinton who was responsible for what happened.

I think this one will fail again, but it will be very unpleasant. And it's a bit like advertising. Nobody REALLY believes it, yet it affects the mind. It works.

Keep in mind that it was Graham and the Washington Post who orchestrated Watergate. They are just salivating to do it again, with support from the NY Times and the usual suspects.

[YaYa123]

I'm sitting here watching the replay of HARDBALL, and 2 times now, Mathews has read the Wash Post quote that says 6 reporters said the White House called them before the Novak column was published. That is plain wrong.

Andrea Mitchell is one of the 6 and last night on NBC Nightly News, Tom Brokaw said Mitchell was called AFTER the Novak column was published. This morning on on FOX & Friends, Wilson said himself the reporters told him they were called AFTER the Novak column was published.

The difference is important, because AFTER Novak had published Wilson's wife's name, it was no longer a secret, it was common knowledge, in the public domain.

The democrats are peeing their pants over this one. And Wilson is pumping it for all it's worth. He's been on tv more in the last 24 hours than Wesley Clark was during the war...and he will be on NIGHTLINE with Ted Koppell, coming up in a few minutes. He's going to appear with democrat senators tomorrow afternoon at the Capital.

[expatpat]

What kind of idiot spends his time composing (and re-composing) his obituary?

[YaYa123]

MSNBC, CNN, and even FOX has shown replays of democrat senators on the senate floor wailing and gnashing teeth about this corrupt administration. Where oh where are the Republican senators who surely rose to condemn them for rushing to judgement?

I jest.....I haven't seen a republican senator rise to defend this president or this administration on anything!

(Mitch McConnell was on HARDBALL tonight up against Lautenberg, and he did a credible job....but he's just one. Not enough, and not soon enough. When are our guys going to learn to speak out in the same news cycle?

GRRRRRR

[Redcoat LI]

Take a look at the CNN poll posted to be freeped.The drool-cup set is alredy swallowing the Schumer,Pelosi line that an independant council is needed. Good thing nobody watches CNN.

[kristinn]

I don't know. Maybe the first two Mrs. Wilsons could tell us.

[kristinn]

The Pubbies are cowering in the cloak room, as usual.

The facts in this case are few, but they have been badly reported by the press and and repeated by eager 'Rats who think it's 1974 all over again.

[YaYa123]

I don't think this is a puff piece at all. It makes Wilson sound positively wierd...and his wife too, if she has toddler twins, and works in a dangerous, life threatening job at the CIA.

I'm betting she isn't much more than a paper pusher, but no matter what her job, it's obvious from this piece that the two of them are enjoying the hell out of it. I don't think that would be the case if Novaks and some White House leakers had put her life in jeopardy.

[YaYa123]

"badly reported by the press and and repeated by eager 'Rats"

This is the most aggravating aspect of this! Just listening to Wilson on his many tv appearances and you are better informed than the tv talkers. It's maddening!!

Koppell opens his show by showing Wilson exiting a limo, as Koppell says "this man has the full attention of the White House.".

Oh this is going to be drama queen heaven.

[what's up]

This whole scandal is for one reason only - to weaken support for Arnold in the Recall.

Hillary doesn't want Bush to have CA in 2004.

The lefties know this Wilson thing is all lies. But their MO is to bring out a scandal...true or not...7 days before an important election. (Remember Bush's DUI?)

[kristinn]

He obviously cares very much about his wife's security. Really.

[Fred Mertz]

She is 40, slim, blonde and the mother of their 3-year-old twins. In the photos in his office, she has the looks of a film star.

On another thread I read that former CIA guy Larry Johnson said Plame began her CIA training 30 years ago.

I wish someone could confirm what I read that someone saw on TV tonight.

[kristinn]

Drama queen, indeed. Maybe Harvey Firestein can play Mr. Wilson in the film opposite Madonna as Mrs. Wilson.

[YaYa123]

I was thinking Nathan Hale but you win.

[kristinn]

The aggrieved Mr. Wilson has finally admitted his wife works for the CIA.

[woodyinscc]

Why don't they report that he is tied in some way to the Kerry campaign. He just said on CNBC that he has had several meetings with Kerry's advisors. This stinks to the high heavens. The CIA would not run an investigation in Niger the way he has explained it, and everyone knows better!! Who authorized it? Where is the report? The press are proving once again, that they are nothing but lap dogs for the dims!!

[mdittmar]

"What did he know,and when did he know it."

[YaYa123]

Jon Donleavy ended his report by saying "the republicans are planning their response", and said Gillespie, RNC head called Wilson a partisan.

Koppell asked Wilson, "Your wife, working as an analyst, has knowledge of nukes in Iraq".

Wilson corrects him, Kopell says I know she used to be an operative, but now is an analyst. Wilson says, you need to check your sources, but no further argument.

Did your wife suggest you for the job? Wilson says, "No". But then, in response to a question, Wilson says yes, it may have happened that the CIA asked my wife if she thought I might be interested in going to Niger. HAHAH big distinction, Joe!!!!

Wilson said he knew all about Niger, the region, and the business, and he was skeptical of Niger selling Iraq stuff before he even went to Niger.

[kristinn]

Koppel asking about Rove. Wilson says he's been told by reporters who spoke to Rove a week after the Novak article. Says a reporter called him and said, "I just got off the phone with Karl Rove. He said your wife is fair game." Doesn't name the reporter(s), but he will tell the FBI.