Posted on 11/07/2003 11:22:53 AM PST by Tumbleweed_Connection
Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Ut., said Thursday that Sen. Zell Miller, D-Ga, was right to charge this week that a memo outlining plans by Senate Intelligence Committee Democrats to politicize Iraq war intelligence borders on "treason." But the Utah Republican defended the committee's ranking Democrat, Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-WV, saying he shouldn't have to resign as the committee's vice chairman even if he's found have authorized staffers to prepare the bombshell document. Asked about Sen. Miller's comment on Wednesday that the memo was "treason's first cousin" and that "heads should roll" over the episode," Sen. Hatch told radio host Sean Hannity, "I happen to love Zell Miller and I do agree with that because bad intelligence results in the deaths of Democrats and Republicans - in other words, our people." But Hatch refused to call for disciplinary action against ranking Democrat Rockefeller, recommending instead that Republicans "publicly ask the Democrats how they reconcile [preparing such a memo] with the critical need for non-partisanship." When Hannity said that his sources had identified Rockefeller as being responsible for the memo, Sen. Hatch turned defensive. Noting that the West Virginia Democrat "has worked pretty well with [Committee Chairman] Pat Roberts," the Utah Republican said, "I really doubt that Sen. Rockefeller would have anything to do with trying to make [the Committee's investigation] that partisan." Asked what would happen if it turned out that Rockefeller was implicated in the memo scandal, Hatch replied, "Well, it's a serious issue. I mean, it would be, you know - he would be seriously criticized if that were the case." "I like Sen. Rockefeller very much but, I mean, that wouldn't be right," he added. Despite the national security breach, Hatch said it would be unwise for the White House to stop cooperating with committee Democrats, saying he feared that the press wouldn't permit it. "The can't [stop cooperating] because the major media in this country . . . is always on [the Democrats'] side and they don't ever get called to account," he complained. "If [Republicans] did something like that it would be front page headlines all over the country. You know that."
Oh boy, he is going to be Seriously Critisized, I am Rockepunk is sooooooooooo scared. Gimme a break
A "serious talking to" for Rockefeller will certainly satisfy him as well as the pious editorial board of the NY Times.
You really have to be kidding me, Senator!!!!
Senator Hatch, you need to pull yor head out of your arse. You people up there better freakin' wake up. You are an embarassment to serious thinking people everywhere.
I fear there's no hope for some fools.
In the words of the great philosopher, Struther Martin, "What we have heah, is a failuah to commmunicate!"
I hope before this thread gets a hundred posts calling the Republicans spineless and cowards, that we all take a moment to realize that the Republicans have already won on this issue, and nothing further (in public) needs to be done.
I don’t particularly care whether the Republicans “have already won,” whatever that means.
The Democrats have shown that they can not be trusted with classified intelligence during war time.
The people trying to win this war, in both the military and our intelligence services, are the victims here. It is their welfare that concerns me.
Collegiality taken to extremes.
The memo issue is looking more and more like a trap, and Republican Senators would do well to remove the issue from the media, and put it back where it belongs. Every day that the Intelligence Committee is the focus of the media, is a day that you and I should be nervous.
Republicans should just use the memo as a reason to not cooperate with the Democrats and leave it at that. They should not overreach on this.
Don't waste your time. Hillary is not coming over.
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