With her credibility at risk, Rice striking back at critics

The Baltimore Sun ^ | 3/28/04 | Mark Matthews

[Jewels1091]

WASHINGTON - For three years at the pinnacle of power, Condoleezza Rice has been a picture of steely self-confidence and a symbol of what brains, grit and poise can achieve in a country where her African-American ancestors, as she has said, were considered "three-fifths of a man."

Now, having served as President Bush's close friend, confidante and adviser through two wars, while leading a revamping of U.S. foreign policy, Rice, 49, finds her credibility and competence under fire in a politically charged public duel with a former White House counterterrorism chief.

For a few moments last week, flashes of anger pierced Rice's famously cool demeanor. She was responding to accusations by the former aide, Richard A. Clarke, that she and Bush largely ignored the al-Qaida threat before Sept. 11 and that Rice had once even appeared not to have heard of al-Qaida.

"I find it peculiar that Dick Clarke is sitting there reading my body language," she told TV network correspondents. "I didn't know he was good at that, too."

Tonight, she will appear on the same TV venue that first aired Clarke's attack - CBS' 60 Minutes - to tell the story that White House lawyers have barred her from giving publicly under oath to the commission investigating the Sept. 11 attacks.

Rice's high-profile response reflects the White House's fear that Clarke's blistering charges, some of them buttressed by the commission staff reports, have struck at the heart of Bush's re-election campaign. Most polls now show him dead even with his Democratic challenger, Sen. John Kerry.

Campaigning as a self-described "war president," Bush is trying to capitalize on the one area where he consistently outpolls Kerry: his leadership in combating global terrorism.

[Jewels1091]

Poor Condi...I don't think she knew democrats were crazed animals that would turn to strike her down to get to the President!

[Az Joe]

Funny how if your a black conservative the Left can't tolerate ya. ( Justice Thomas, Rice)

Bush knows that no matter what the Rats want when they get it they'll want more.

I'm glad he's telling them to shove it concerning having Rice testify.

[jwalburg]

Don't you just hate it when journalists stuff their editorialed best guesses into stories?

reflects the White House's fear

Bush is trying to capitalize on

Just give us the story. This is why we distrust media and why newspapers are tanking.

[jwalburg]

Rice excelled at figure skating and as a pianist

And we all know that anyone who figure skates and plays piano must be lousy at diplomacy.

[airedale]

She should remember the penalty for running away from the plantation system. You have to be severely punished to warn others not to desert the proper party and become a Republican.

[Jewels1091]

Wouldn't this be a better world if we could ship all the democrat to some island...maybe castro's? I have no respect for a one of them! Well maybe Zell Miller, but most of them aren't worth a plug nickle!!!

[freebilly]

She should remember the penalty for running away from the plantation system

Only those willing to play the race card move up in the plantation system....

[Jewels1091]

Maxzine Waters comes to mind....

[Frank_2001]

Give 'em hell, Condi!!!

[bolobaby]

Preemptive 2008 strike by the demonrats?

[jwalburg]

My thoughts exactly. Just who do the Republicans have for 2008 that haven't already been given this treatment?

[Ronin]

I'll have my money on Condi for this match.

[reed_inthe_wind]

Dick Clark's real effect is less of a problem for the President, as it is for the Republicans newest and hottest star - Ms. Rice. That's why I say Dick Clark needs to be dismantled.

[Theo]

Me too. She's an extremely capable woman. I have nothing but respect for her -- very smart, very wise, well-spoken....

[Rightwing Conspiratr1]

WASHINGTON - For three years at the pinnacle of power, Condoleezza Rice has been a picture of steely self-confidence and a symbol of what brains, grit and poise can achieve in a country where her African-American ancestors, as she has said, were considered "three-fifths of a man."

The racist media strikes again. Did you know Condi Rice is a negro? Yeah she is black. Colored she be. From Africa she is. Really she is dark. I'm not kidding. I saw her. She's got a tan. She's not pink or white nor any shade of ecru. Not a caucasian, no she ain't. This is important and relevant so says the racist media.

Go figure.

[Sacajaweau]

Credibility at risk...according to the "UNBIASED" media??

[Jewels1091]

maybe they were trying to remind the balcks democrats that Condi really lived the jim crow south....that she is a black woman even if she is a republican.

[section9]

Funny how if your a black conservative the Left can't tolerate ya. ( Justice Thomas, Rice)

Bush knows that no matter what the Rats want when they get it they'll want more.

I'm glad he's telling them to shove it concerning having Rice testify.

But he's not. Bush has a history of stringing a problem out to the boiling point, and then pulling a surprise move that totally confounds the opposition. Few people remember the Medicare bill of 2001 because it was before the attacks. Dingell Norwood, remember? Well, at the last moment, Bush pulled off an agreement with Norwood on trial lawyer fees that made Dingell pull out and drove the trial lawyers nuts.

What is happening here is that the WH has judged that it's early enough in March to let the media have their fun. Methinks that Karl Rove is waiting for Kerry to wade in a little deeper. The damn pompous fool is already calling for Condi to testify, and he'll increase his yammering in the coming days.

You can already visualize Rand Beers, Kerry, and Clarke on a conference call, slapping each other on the back and encouraging Kerry to pour on the pressure on Rice.

None of them expect Rice to testify in public. That's what Bush is counting on.

I am convinced that this is the way it will go.

Be Seeing You,

Chris

[Rightwing Conspiratr1]

I got the impression that the author of this piece thinks that "steely self-confidence and a symbol of what brains, grit and poise..." are rather unusual characteristics of someone of her racial characteristics. Otherwise they wouldn't have remarked on them and her race in the same sentence would they?

Yeah these are the same leftist media pricks who take great joy in picking apart and parsing a statement by conservatives.

[beaversmom]