9/11 Commissioner Lehman Rips Clarke Over Book Deal

NewsMax.com ^ | 3/24/04 | Carl Limbacher and NewsMax.com Staff

[kattracks]

9/11 Commission member, former Navy Secretary John Lehman ripped ex-terrorism czar Richard Clarke Wednesday afternoon for cashing in on this week's public hearings into America's worst disaster by using the forum to peddle his book.

"When you and I first served together [in the Reagan administration] I had been a fan of yours," Lehman began when his turn to question Clarke came. "When you agreed to spend this much time with us, as you say, 15 hours, I was very hopeful."

Of Clarke's private testimony before the Commission, Lehman said, "I thought you let the chips fall where they may . . . Certainly the greater weight of [your criticism of the U.S. war on terrorism] fell during the Clinton years."

The 'Selling' of Clarke's Commission Appearance

Then the former Navy Secretary unloaded on Clarke with both barrels.

"But now we have the book," Lehman noted. "I've published books before and I must must say that I am green with envy at the promotion department of your publisher."

Continued Lehman: "I never got [Commission member] Jim Thompson to stand before 50 photographers reading your book. And I certainly never got '60 Minutes' to coordinate the showing of its interview with you with 15 network news broadcasts, the selling of the movie rights and your appearance here today."

Clarke has 'Credibility Problem'

Lehman said that when he started to read press accounts of Clarke's book, "I said to myself, this can't be the same Dick Clarke that testified before us, because all of the promotional material and all of the spin in the networks was that this is a roundly, devastating attack - this book - on President Bush.

"That's not what I heard in the [private Commission] interviews.

"And I hope you're going to tell me, as you apologize to all the families for all of us who were involved in national security, that this tremendous difference - and not just in nuance but in the stories you choose to tell - is really the result of your editors and your promoters rather than your studied judgment."

Lehman then blasted:

[Your book] is so different from the whole thrust of your testimony to us. And similarly, when you add to it, the inconsistencies between what your promoters are putting out and what you yourself said as late as [last] August 5, you've got a real credibility problem."

Lehman concluded:

"Because of my real, genuine, longtime admiration for you, I hope you'll resolve that credibility problem because I'd hate to see you become totally shoved to one side during the presidential campaign as an active partisan selling a book."

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

This is the fundamental difference between the people that Reagan had working for him and the peckerheads that Klinton appointed. Reagan had his problems with some of his people, but the sliminess of the Klinton appointees is unprecedented (and most of these flaming asses are still "serving" in government).

[Republican Red]

In 1998 I could not name my Senators or Congressman. Thanks to Clinton I got mad and got involved in the Republican party.

Things you can do include phone, email, fax and write media outlets.

http://www.fair.org/media-contact-list.html

I called the 911 commission today and ranted to the woman on the other end of the phone. She said she had been inundated with angry callers.

phone #202-331-4060

I contacted my Senators and complained.

I even rant at the bus stop with the neighbors in the morning.

All this might be a big waste of time but it at least gives you an outlet to vent and feel like you're doing something productive.

[sarasota]

And you know what else? Conservatives have a unique gift for not going down into the mud with liberals. Let them mud wrestle with themselves while we keep our cool.

[aculeus]

Because of my real, genuine, longtime admiration for you, I hope you'll resolve that credibility problem ...

... by returning your advance, and requesting the publisher to recall all books and scrap them ... at your expense.

Nah. That's something a patriot would do.

[Khurkris]

Good post. Thank you. Now lets see if this gets any legs.

Somebody mentioned former Director Woolsey, he was on one of the talk radio shows today; he did not have nice things to say re:Clark, Clarks book or Clarks non-action during his terms of service.

Also the gentleman who wrote Stolen Valor, BG Burket, I believe was on Michael Medved with about the same opinions of Kerry.

[savedbygrace]

Angle later explained that it was the NSC (I might have the wrong alphabet combo) that told the 5 or 6 reporters on the conference call that the statements and interview were on background.

Angle found the audio tape, called the NSC and after much hand-wringing NSC decided it was OK to remove the restriction and source it from Clarke. The NSC informed the other 4 or 5 reporters the background restriction was removed from the material. Angle is the only one of all those reporters who reported this.

[vrwconspiracist]

On Hannity earlier, Dick Morris (toesucker but nervertheless) espoused the theory that any time the country is talking about terrorism/war/taxes things are good for Bush - even if the media is trying to criticize Bush. Correspondingly, any time they're talking about homelessness/protecting the children/etc that's good for the dems...Interesting notion

[imintrouble]

Strangely enough Clarke has had more than his allotted "15 minutes' of fame or infamy".

The weight of what he has done in the past week will be with him all the rest of his days.

Terrible stress he has just settled upon for the last half of his life.

Poor man. I hardly think his "Et Tu Brutus?" will keep him in good health. He is marked from now on. Who will ever trust him again? Even his friends will be cautious.

(If he has any friends).

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Thompson nailed him even better just before Lehman.

[af_vet_1981]

Awesome !

[montag813]

Where are you getting these headlines?

Lol! The last few are imagined, although the fact that you thought they might be real shows that they are not so far off indeed.

[suzyq5558]

the remarks made by Mr.Lehman were quite justified.but will the average American citizen ever hear the words that were spoken in the MSM?? I dont believe that they ever will and thats disgusting to me.

[Bonaparte]

Should have seen the Charlie Rose interview of Clarke. Rose's disdain for him was palpable and so was Clarke unease. At he end, he told him he'd be having Richard Perle on the following night for "the other side."

[4MORE-YEARS]

Here is how librul rag Slate spun the Lehman knockout punches -

John Lehman, Navy secretary under Ronald Reagan and a former colleague of Clarke's, came out not just swaggering but swinging. The 16 hours of classified testimony that Clarke gave to the commission—and the six hours he testified before the joint congressional inquiry on 9/11—were nothing like what's in the book. There is, Lehman said, "a tremendous difference, and not just in nuance," adding, "You've got a real credibility problem!" You look like "an active partisan selling a book."

Clarke began with a playful shuffle. "Thank you, John," he said, to laughter. First, he denied that he's campaigning for John Kerry and swore, under oath, that he would not take a job in a Kerry administration if there is one. Then he admitted there was a difference between his earlier testimony and his book. "There's a very good reason for that," he went on. "In the 15 hours of testimony, nobody asked me what I thought of the president's invasion of Iraq." The heart of his book's attacks surrounds the war. "By invading Iraq," he said, taking full advantage of Lehman's opening, "the president of the United States has greatly undermined the war on terror." End of response. Lehman said nothing.

In the second round of questioning, Thompson returned to the August 2002 press briefing. "You intended to mislead the press?" he asked, perhaps hoping to pound a wedge between the media and their new superstar.

"There's a very fine line that anyone who's been in the White House, in any administration, can tell you about," Clarke replied. Someone in his position had three choices. He could have resigned, but he had important work yet to do. He could have lied, but nobody told him to do that, and he wouldn't have in any case. "The third choice," he said, "is to put the best face you can for the administration on the facts. That's what I did."

Well, Thompson asked in a bruised tone, is there one set of moral rules for special assistants to the White House and another set for everybody else?

"It's not a question of morality at all," Clarke replied. "It's a question of politics." The crowd applauded fiercely. To invoke another sports metaphor: Game, set, and match.

One has to wonder if Libruls have the same brain system as the rest of us.

[hershey]

I saw this clip on Fox yesterday afternoon, but no mention of this scathing indictment of Clarke by our CBS TV affiliate this morning -- I typed BS first and should have left it at that. Bush is coming to Boston today. The CBS affiliate called this: "Bush fundraising machine" coming to town), right after Clarke's appearance before the senate committee mention, put along the lines of 'Former Bush terrorism expert tells committee Bush didn't care about terrorism before 9/11.' The newscaster did say Condi Rice had appeared on TV last night to 'rebut' these charges, but no mention anywhere of Clarke's utter and complete lack of credibility, the many lies and misstatements in his book, his and the RATs clear agenda, etc.. They didn't mention CBS is pushing the book because they're tied to it financially. More dishonesty and now Kerrytheliar is back on the campaign trail today, as well. Wear your waders, guys.

[cantfindagoodscreenname]

That is the entire "counter". They think we can't fricking read.

LOL!

[imintrouble]

I admire Condoleeza Rice for her dedication and ascent to the powerful position she holds in the Bush cabinet. She is a force of intellectual and rational thought.

When she is interviewed, she also commands the respect of the interviewer and that is something a few other personalities in Washington could develop to their advantage.

I have one criticism, and it has nothing to do with her delivery, her straightforward-in-your-face responses to tough questions, BUT...

She nods her head from side to side (probably without knowing it), in a NEGATIVE signal thus giving some of those "jury watchers" a cause for concern.

No matter the honesty and intent of the words delivered, a negative body language habit will indicate some conflict within. Dr. Rice - check with a professional about this.

It is something I have always found distracting in her interviews and I wish some kind soul would tell her to learn to adopt a more relaxed manner - it will not have an affect on her credibility whatsoever - whereas the negative "no" head movement does.

Regardless: my admiration for her abounds.

[cynicom]

Lehman is short sighted. Scum does not appear overnight. Clarke was ALWAYS scum, a burrowcrat that had aspirations. Lehman is admitting that he did not see the man for what he was and is, scum. Patting Clarke on the back is rather disingenuous,especially after he admits to falsifying stories.

[ConservativeMan55]

bttt

[The Raven]

Let me get this straight.....the guy is putting the greed for money above his country?

And he was the guy in charge of anti-terrorism?