Kean Interest

According to a Republican staffer on the 9/11 commission, growing public and pundit outrage over commissioner Jamie Gorelick's failure to disclose the existence of a Justice Department memo, had chairman Gov. Tom Kean asking Gorelick yesterday morning if she would think about stepping aside.

"The word is she was asked whether she might consider it and she flat out shut him down," said the staffer. "We're in an extremely difficult spot on this."

Gorelick's conflict of interest came to light on Tuesday afternoon, when a newly declassified 1995 Justice Department memo written by her when she was serving as Deputy Attorney General was presented to the commission by Attorney General John Ashcroft during public testimony. The memo, which mandated policy that, as it turned out, made it almost impossible for counter-terrorism investigators to pursue the 9/11 plot before it unfolded, surprised Gorelick's fellow commissioners and staff because, staffers said, she never disclosed its existence to any of them.

Kean's quiet attempt to press the issue on Gorelick's situation comes at a time when there were mounting calls for the former Clinton political operative to step aside from not only the House Judiciary Committee chairman James Sensenbrenner but families of 9/11 victims concerned that the commission's report would be tainted by her presence.

Those families were also calling for Gorelick to be called before the committee to explain her role in devising a legal impediment that contributed to the intelligence and law enforcement failures to combat and prevent terrorist acts.

But according to former Clinton staffers, it's doubtful Gorelick will budge. "She's on that commission for a reason, and it isn't because of her brilliant legal mind," says a former DNC and Clinton White House staffer. "She's there to make sure Bush and his team look as bad as possible and to protect the Clintons and Reno."

It isn't just Gorelick who is now in hot water. Based on their remarks on Wednesday and Thursday, both Kean and fellow commissioner, former Sen. Slade Gorton are taking heat from 9/11 families for telling critics during TV interviews to stay "out of our business."

Those remarks came in response to questions about Gorelick's conflict of interest.

"We've got to get these guys out of the limelight," says the Republican 9/11 staffer. "Kean has enjoyed the media spotlight a little too much. Remember, most of these guys are has-beens. They haven't experienced this much attention in years. In a matter of two days they have managed to undo six months of good work that was done under the radar screen. A few more days of this and the commission's work will be tainted."

1 posted on 04/15/2004 9:38:59 PM PDT by hope

Jonah Goldberg from National Review Online, made the comment a couple of days that the 9/11 commission has 'jumped the shark.' I tend to agree. Nothing good is going to come out of this commission, it is just finger pointing. No solutions, just politicking. Time to end the charade.
Jump the Shark

2 posted on 04/15/2004 9:42:21 PM PDT by Utah Girl

National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States
301 7th Street, SW
Room 5125
Washington, DC 20407

Washington Office*
Tel: (202) 331-4060
Fax: (202) 296-5545 info@9-11Commission.gov

New York Office
Tel: (212) 264-1505
Fax: (212) 264-1595
info@9-11Commission.gov

Contact info for the 9-11 Comission. Keep the pressure ON! Write a letter or email today! Jamie Gorlick MUST resign!

3 posted on 04/15/2004 9:42:53 PM PDT by MNJohnnie (Vote Bush 2004-We have the solutions, Kerry Democrats? Nothing but slogans)

But according to former Clinton staffers, it's doubtful Gorelick will budge. "She's on that commission for a reason, and it isn't because of her brilliant legal mind," says a former DNC and Clinton White House staffer. "She's there to make sure Bush and his team look as bad as possible and to protect the Clintons and Reno."

Well, there you have it in black and white.

4 posted on 04/15/2004 9:46:16 PM PDT by MamaLucci (Libs, want answers on 911? Ask Clinton why he met with Monica more than with his CIA director.)

Look, an honest former Clinton staffer!

5 posted on 04/15/2004 9:47:30 PM PDT by MamaLucci (Libs, want answers on 911? Ask Clinton why he met with Monica more than with his CIA director.)

That whole friggin' commission ought to go - it's turned into a sound-bite hunt for the DNC, because the Republicans on the panel have zero testicular fortitude, and are just out for face-time on the pundit circuit. It's pathetic.

6 posted on 04/15/2004 9:47:41 PM PDT by Keith in Iowa (Democrats are the real asses of evil.)

To: joinedafterattack; JennieOsborne; /\XABN584; 3D-JOY; 5Madman; <1/1,000,000th%; 11B3; 1Peter2:16

7 posted on 04/15/2004 9:48:11 PM PDT by hope (How far will your passion take you?)

It's just so frustrating. I want the republicans to be better than the Democrats, I just know that if it was a Republican who was in Gorelick's shoes, they would have resigned a long time ago under pressure. The dems just ignore it.It does get tiring.

8 posted on 04/15/2004 9:48:43 PM PDT by Utah Girl

ping for your expert graphics.

9 posted on 04/15/2004 9:49:04 PM PDT by hope (How far will your passion take you?)

I just know that if it was a Republican who was in Gorelick's shoes, they would have resigned a long time ago under pressure

It was a republican telling the public to stay out of their business. They are all a bunch of turds

10 posted on 04/15/2004 9:50:57 PM PDT by paul51

"A few more days of this and the commission's work will be tainted."
______________________________________________

Too late.

11 posted on 04/15/2004 9:52:24 PM PDT by JLS

What kind of chairman "asks" someone if they will resign??
Who is he trying to kid?
He could make it impossible for her to remain if he wanted to.
With the firestorm this has created, all Kean would have to
do is state publicly that she should, for the sake of the 911 families, resign.
He's pathetic, and so is the entire commission.

12 posted on 04/15/2004 9:57:09 PM PDT by MamaLucci (Libs, want answers on 911? Ask Clinton why he met with Monica more than with his CIA director.)

Kean's #1 goal is to further his son's political career in New Jersey. He's going to use the commission any way he can in order to help his son become New Jersey's governor in '05.

13 posted on 04/15/2004 9:57:31 PM PDT by LdSentinal

Thanks! I just sent yet another angry email to that Tom Kean clod.

"She's on that commission for a reason, and it isn't because of her brilliant legal mind," says a former DNC and Clinton White House staffer.

Boy, what I wouldn't pay to know who THAT is!

14 posted on 04/15/2004 9:58:50 PM PDT by Humidston (You heard it here - BUSH/RICE - 2004)

I hope it blows up in his face.

15 posted on 04/15/2004 10:00:58 PM PDT by MamaLucci (Libs, want answers on 911? Ask Clinton why he met with Monica more than with his CIA director.)

If enough of the families of 911 make a big enough stink this might get legs. I think that is the only way that "legs" will happen.

16 posted on 04/15/2004 10:01:00 PM PDT by Atchafalaya

.

Two Words =

MONSOOR IJAZ

Freeper Alert: MONSOOR IJAZ gets PRIVATE 9/11 Testimony, demands IN PUBLIC

http://www.Freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1117043/posts

.

17 posted on 04/15/2004 10:01:29 PM PDT by ALOHA RONNIE (Vet-Battle of IA DRANG-1965 http://www.LZXRAY.com)

The whole damn bunch of trashbags can stay out of my biz. Sure hope that whoever/whatever is the recipient of their final "report" STRONGLY rejects it entirely.

18 posted on 04/15/2004 10:01:42 PM PDT by Waco

Did you see Jamie the other day - brushing his jacket (lint??) as she smiled sweetly and whispered into his ear? Positively sappy!!

And he's so stupid that he probably believes she's a really nice chick. HA!

19 posted on 04/15/2004 10:03:37 PM PDT by Humidston (You heard it here - BUSH/RICE - 2004)

To: ntnychik; devolve; MeekOneGOP; PhilDragoo; onyx; Happy2BMe

[Gorelick] - "She's there to make sure Bush and his team look as bad as possible and to protect the Clintons and Reno."

20 posted on 04/15/2004 10:04:05 PM PDT by potlatch ( Medals do not make a man. Morals do.)

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