NBC: Dean, Kerry Wrong on Cheney CIA Charge

NewsMax ^ | 1/30/04 | Limbacher

[Tumbleweed_Connection]

Allegations leveled during last night's debate by Gov. Howard Dean and Sen. John Kerry that Vice President Dick Cheney "berated" CIA analysts to get them to exaggerate Iraq war intelligence are false, NBC's Washington correspondent Andrea Mitchell said Friday.

"It's absolutely not true," Mitchell told radio host Don Imus. "The vice president went over to the CIA on a couple of Saturdays, you know, more than once . . but he did not, by anybody's account, berate the analysts."

Mitchell noted that former CIA analysts Ray McGovern and Larry Johnson, who were not present during the Cheney meetings, have said mid-level employees may have felt "pressured" by Cheney's presence.

But she quickly added, "For outsiders to say that anonymous people felt pressured is a far cry from . . Howard Dean saying in the debate that they, quote, berated the analysts."

In response to a question from debate moderator Tom Brokaw about chief weapons inspector David Kay's contention that there was no pressure from the White House on Iraq war intelligence, Dean complained:

"What we now find out is that Vice President Dick Cheney went to the CIA on at least one occasion, and maybe more, sat with middle-level CIA operatives and berated them because he didn't like their intelligence reports."

In the next breath number two Democrat in the presidential race continued:

"It seems to me that the vice president of the United States therefore influenced the very reports that the president then used to decide to go to war and to ask Congress for permission to go to war."

Asked by Brokaw about Dean's charge that Cheney had "berated" CIA analysts, Democratic presidential front-runner John Kerry lent credence to the wild-eyed allegation, saying, "There is a very legitimate question, Tom, about what the vice president of the United States was doing at the CIA. There's an enormous question about the exaggeration by this administration."

[January24th]

"There is a very legitimate question, Tom, about what the vice president of the United States was doing at the CIA. There's an enormous question about the exaggeration by this administration."

Questions are evidence? This isn't October is it?

[NetValue]

Democrats are skilled but blatant liars.

[rhombus]

Democrats are skilled but blatant liars

They are blatent liars but I'm not sure how skilled they are at it. It's just that the lamestream media doesn't challenge them on their lies. However repetitition does usually increase one's skill so I'm sure they'll keep doing it until they get it right.

[ladtx]

"There is a very legitimate question, Tom, about what the vice president of the United States was doing at the CIA."

There is a very legitimate answer, John. He's the number 2 man in this administration, he has considerable experience in the field, (evidenced by GWI). Do I need to draw you a picture, John??

[Solson]

I thought Kerry was gaining traction with his two-faced approach to the war on Iraq by saying "I voted for the use of force but Bush did this the wrong way."

Now, Kerry has taken a strong turn to the left and has publicly stated it was "lies" and "purposely misleading" by Bush and Co. on the War. THAT will backfire on Kerry as most moderates don't view that to be the case.

I think this will hurt Kerry. Dean is forcing him to the left. That will help us.

[sphinx]

But she quickly added, "For outsiders to say that anonymous people felt pressured is a far cry from . . Howard Dean saying in the debate that they, quote, berated the analysts."

There may be a grain of truth in the report that an anonymous someone at the CIA once upon a time told a reporter that he felt "pressured." But what this probably means is that mid-level government munchkins, accustomed to laboring in anonymity in a no-accountability atmosphere, suddenly found themselves in the spotlight on a high priority issue. That's pressure, but it's not the same thing as being asked to skew the analysis.

I have the luxury of working fairly independently and everything is cool as long as everything gets done. I too would feel "pressured" if my boss started to pay much closer attention -- probably have to stop freeping for awhile, among other things ....

[Dahoser]

"There is a very legitimate question, Tom, about what the vice president of the United States was doing at that Buddhist Temple. There is a very legitimate question what the President was obstructing in that grand jury testimony and that Arkansas courtroom testimony. There's an enormous question about the exaggeration by this administration."

Would have been nice if Kerry had recognized real exaggeration when it smacked him between his botoxed eyes.

[Condor51]

I'm shocked! Shocked that Andrea Mitchell would stand up for Cheney.

And in doing so, poor Andrea just got axed from this years DNC May Day picnic.

[MattinNJ]

I heard Mitchell leaping to Cheney's defense. Further evidence that the Clintonista's are going to destroy the dem nominee paving the way for Hillary in '08.

[cookcounty]

Senator Kerry, was Mrs. Albright under the thumb of Dick Cheney and Karl Rove when she made her estimate of Iraqi WMD? What about Bill Clinton. Did Cheney berate and intimidate him as well?

[eyespysomething]

Where I work, we have a retired General who is president. If he, or the retired Col. under him, were to start hanging around me a lot, I too would feel pressured. Not necessarily in a bad way, but anyone would.

[Arpege92]

Can these idiots possibly sink any lower? They should be held liable for making false accusations about Cheney.

[steve50]

Since she claims people who weren't there have no substance behind their claims, why is she making claims when she wasn't there?

[ken5050]

When they prove he's used Botox...it could well finish him as a candidate..

[right wing]

I cannot wait until one of these dimwits debates Bush.

[LongsforReagan]

I agree. W will blow these guys away. How can anyone not laugh when Kerry speaks, he sounds so ridiculous!

[LiteKeeper]

INTREP - CIA and the demoRATS

[bandleader]

Boy,for a Lefty like Andrea Mitchell to come to the defense of Dick Cheney is breathtaking!Maybe she really is a "Journalist"after all?

[bandleader]

Yes they are!I seem to remember a certain Senator from Nebraska who(when asked about BeelzeBubba during an interview for Esquire magazine)opined that he thought "Bill Clinton Is A Very Skilled Liar"!!!!!!!Did I get ir right?