Schumer Misled Reporters on Port Security Experts

Chickenhawk Express ^ | 3/20/06 | Chickenhawk Warmonger

[Chickenhawk Warmonger]

Not only did Sen. Chuck Schumer stir up the political firestorm against DP World at the behest of Eller & Co, but Schumer’s staff sent reporters on a wild goose chase for experts to back up his claims.

According to “Dubai or Not Dubai: Chuck on Killed Deal”, by Ben Smith and published by the New York Observer, Joe Muldoon III, a lobbyist for Eller & Co, “put together a white paper arguing that the deal could compromise US security”. In LATE JANUARY, a copy of the white paper was given to Schumer aide, Josh Vlasto. When Ted Bridis from the Associated Press contacted his office on Feb. 10, Schumer conveyed a “cautious, critical note.”

Adam Davidson of National Public Radio was unable to find any port-security experts that agreed with Schumer’s assertion about the negative impact of DP World on port security. Schumer’s office provided Davidson with names of two experts who they said agreed with the security threat theory. Davidson contacted both experts and both stated that there was NO security threat. Risa Heller, Schumer’s press secretary, stated they thought the two experts agreed with Schumer’s security concerns.

Meanwhile, Schumer “pressed the Senate to vote on the issue immediately before the White House could tamp down the furor.” The next day, DP World agreed to turn the US ports over to a US entity.

How does Schumer feel about the results of the ports deal? He stated “This gives Democrats a window that opens on other security issues.”

So let's review - no experts could be produced by Schumer that agreed with the security threat posed by DP World. Schumer knew about the ports deal in late January. Plus he viewed the uproar as a political antidote to the Democrats' lack of national security history. Despite this, the Republicans in Congress claim 'victory'.

[buckeye49]

My thinking all through this mess was that Schumer was playing this just like the mullah played the cartoons. Americans didn't riot or kill people over it, but were foolish, nonetheless, not stopping to think that this came to light at the hands of a Democrat.

[Liberator]

"The reaction was manufactured artificially. The hysteria was whipped up on purpose by political operatives. That matters."

You still don't understand the dynamics of the post 9/11 American psyche.

It doesn't matter that Schumer, Savage, etal. blew the whistle; what mattered was that the American people's "hysteria" is based on gut emotion and mistrust of anything Muslim.

Moreover, why the undue urgency to push through the deal with the threat of an unprecedented veto by the President especially after the vociferous objection from the Pubbie side of the aisle?

[TigersEye]

This was my introduction to Duncan Hunter. It won't be forgotten. I'm actually rather glad about that. He has a strong conservative profile politically. It's good to know ahead of time that he will jump at the chance to pander to the lowest common demoninator. That makes him risky to support even when he's on the same side of an issue as oneself.

[onyx]

He's a beaut, isn't he?