Hillary Caves on Ground Zero Allegations

NewsMax ^ | 10/28/03 | Limbacher

[Tumbleweed_Connection]

New York Sen. Hillary Clinton has dropped her plans to block the nomination of former Utah Gov. Mike Leavitt to head the Environmental Protection Agency, saying she will no longer hold the nomination hostage to her demands that the White House release the names of individuals she accused of engaging in a massive Ground Zero air quality cover-up.

"We have reached agreement with the White House for additional testing to verify that residences [at Ground Zero] that have been cleaned have not been recontaminated," Mrs. Clinton told reporters yesterday, saying she'll allow the Leavitt nomination to go to the Senate floor for a vote on that basis.

As reported in the Washington Times, the agreement is a far cry from what the former first lady was demanding just weeks ago, based on a report by a Clinton-Gore appointee at the EPA who alleged the White House tampered with air quality warnings in the immediate aftermath of the 9/11 attacks.

On Sept. 11 of this year, Sen. Clinton told NBC's "Today Show," "I'm going to keep pushing this. As you know, I've put a hold on the nominee for the new EPA administration until I do get answers and actions."

A few weeks before that, the former first lady complained, "This is a very big issue. It not only has to do with the health and safety of the people I represent. It has to do with the credibility and trust of this entire government."

The former first lady went so far as to accuse the Bush White House of a criminal cover-up, insisting in overwrought tones:

"I know a bit about how the White House works. Somebody picked up the phone, somebody got on a computer, somebody sent an email, somebody called for a meeting, somebody in that White House probably under instructions from somebody further up the chain told the EPA, 'Don't tell the people of New York the truth. And I want to know who that is!"

"[The EPA] knew and they didn't tell us the truth and the White House told them not to tell us the truth," Clinton fumed. "Maybe in the immediate aftermath, the first couple of days, nobody could know [about the allegedly dangerous air]. But a week later, two weeks later, two months later, six months later - give me a break."

Clinton agreed to withdraw her opposition because she had been outmaneuvered, the Times said. "The Senate had been prepared yesterday to vote for cloture, a parliamentary procedure to get around blocks and force a final up-or-down vote on a nomination or bill. Republicans were confident of winning the vote. Faced with that prospect, Democrats gave in."

But Mrs. Clinton's cave-in likely got an extra push from former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, who had publicly challenged her claims that the Bush White House deliberately downplayed air quality risks at Ground Zero.

During the same Sept. 11 broadcast Giuliani told the "Today Show" that air quality information coming from the administration was "not consistent with all the other reports that we had."

"There's no question that there were problems right in the pit and that people had to wear their masks there - and should have," he explained. "And obviously not everybody did. And when they were caught they were told to do it."

But the man dubbed "America's Mayor" after the 9/11 attacks contended, "As you got beyond it, the reports that we got from EPA, which are now being reviewed, were consistent with all the reports that we got from the state and the city environmental agencies - and the private ones that have been commissioned by the unions and the contractors."

"I'm talking about the other seven or eight [reports] that don't say [what Sen. Clinton alleges] and are pretty much consistent."

In what sounded like a direct rebuke to the former first lady, Giuliani told "Today," "Before this becomes a major political issue, which in a way it kind of has, somebody should look at the substance of it - because those reports were pretty darned consistent, as I recall it, with maybe seven other agencies unconnected to the EPA."

[ladyinred]

Hillary caves?

Or Hillary comes out of her cave?

[NYC GOP Chick]

The former first lady went so far as to accuse the Bush White House of a criminal cover-up, insisting in overwrought tones:

"I know a bit about how the White House works. Somebody picked up the phone, somebody got on a computer, somebody sent an email, somebody called for a meeting, somebody in that White House probably under instructions from somebody further up the chain told the EPA, 'Don't tell the people of New York the truth. And I want to know who that is!"

"...and why they're not toes up in Fort Marcy Park, with most of their blood drained out elsewhere and a gun in their non-dominant hand!"

This bitch needs to stop pretending that she's one of us and that she actually gives a crap about anything other than her desperate ambitions.

More proof that after 50, we get the face we deserve...

[GrandmaPatriot]

Maybe President Bush used her own tactics against her. After all he must have some pretty damaging papers on the previous administration that he hasn't released.

[ken5050]

Actually, Hillary realized that she was been strongly supported by Sen Lautenberg..who was last seen eating strained peas while wearing Depends, on the Senate floor...

[NYC GOP Chick]

You know, as far as senility goes, I'm *almost* sorry that Walter "I'll Tax Their Asses Off" Mondale didn't make it back to the Senate, after he was hastily exhumed just about a year ago. My favorite line from his debate with Norm Coleman was when he said: "Don't worry about me and terrorism, I'm opposed to it." On the positive side, he didn't drool all over himself.

Laut is just a nasty old bastard. Nasty for the sake of being a prick.

[SwinneySwitch]

"...'Don't tell the people of New York the truth. And I want to know who that is!"

That would be you, Your Hindness, and your compulsive lying perverted husband!

[whereasandsoforth]

Hillary knows how HER White House worked. Being a typical self-centered lefty makes her believe that such coruption and dishonesty must be the norm. President Bush is not cut from that mold, thank God. Pres. Bush may well have the ability to shove some of Senator Clinton's crap back in her own face, but I doubt he would. I don't doubt, however, that a few examples of the possibilities were pointed out to her. Sorry, Mrs. Clinton. Patricia Ireland will not be the next EPA director.

[ken5050]

Lauty hates himself for being back in the senate...he's useless...and the late nights are killing him...

[just me]

What the heck do the Clintons know about truth??
Holloween is almost here shouldn't she be more worried about her broom?

[NYC GOP Chick]

The best part about him getting into the race -- aside from the fact that he and Da Torch hate each other's guts (didn't Da Torch threaten to castrate him?) -- is that he was doing to to try to keep the majority in evil (leftist) hands

When he last left the Senate, it was because he was relegated to the minority (and the dustbin of history) and "wasn't fun anymore" -- and now he's back in the minority, and older! ROFLCO! :)

[jjm2111]

So harsh, so cold, and so true.

[ken5050]

Did you hear him backing Boxer last week....he's in his dotage....f'sure...

[jjm2111]

"Laut is just a nasty old bastard. Nasty for the sake of being a prick.

I've heard this, any examples?

[al baby]

hillary cafes as in give birth

[NYC GOP Chick]

Nothing that particularly stands out -- just the overall reputation as a snarly, nasty old crank.

[TheCrusader]

The liberals have nothing left of any substance to offer America, so they have to settle for attacking conservatives and trying to destroy their initiatives. Like that perennial last place baseball team that has nothing to do in late September but try to knock off a playoff contender, playing the spoiler is what liberals live for. Their party died long ago, and exists only in the sense that a leech exists, off the blood of others.

[princess leah]

So the wicked witch of the east got some nasty fluid spilled on her huh? I REALLY hope Guiliani challenges the witch in '06 and knocks her off her broom and sweeps her out of the senate and government!

[Tumbleweed_Connection]

Utah Governor Confirmed As EPA Chief
By JOHN HEILPRIN
Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Utah Gov. Mike Leavitt easily won Senate confirmation Tuesday to become head of the Environmental Protection Agency after Senate Democrats sharply critical of the Bush administration backed down in the face of an overwhelming Republican show of force.

The Senate voted 88-8 to hand Leavitt the reins of the 18,000-employee agency. President Bush's nomination of Leavitt was helped by the Utah Republican's three terms as governor, during which he forged personal relationships with many Democrats who also were governors...

[CFC__VRWC]

But Mrs. Clinton's cave-in likely got an extra push from former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, who had publicly challenged her claims that the Bush White House deliberately downplayed air quality risks at Ground Zero.

You gotta figure Rudy's name went up a whole bunch of places on Hillary's "People who really need Arkanciding" list if this is true. I'm surprised the Perky One didn't "accidentally" unplug Rudy's microphone when he made that statement on Today.