Posted on 04/16/2004 3:40:35 PM PDT by swilhelm73
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."
Let's think about this. If they throw her off the controvery will be over. If they keep her there will be all kinds of articles that will keep the drip, drip, drip going. By July the commission will be COMPLETELY discredited and the dems won't be able to sreams about the findings. Yes, they will try but it won't work.
I apologize in advance for my foul language, but Tom Kean and Slade Gorton should both go f#ck themselves. And I don't say that very often, either.
Well, given what we have seen thus far; we can imagine that they have already written 'their findings'.
If Gorelick is thrown off and - made to testify; there can be an upside/downside here too; but more importantly; she does not belong there. She lied! The Demrats survive ad nauseum because they get away with it; every time.
If she stays, they will count on that 'drip/drip' being drowned out by some other excitement that they will drum up to take media attention or the Media will make it's own.
In the end, we will hear their diatribes; the Demrats screaming that the Repubs damaged this important Commission with their partisanship and Gorelick will sign off on her scathing report on how the Bush team dropped the ball; and how Bill Clinton should have received a Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts combating terrorism.
. . .and no one will remember 'the memo/s'.
Good note to include in e-mails, for sure!
Amazing how these Demrats fly through the radar screen; hardly making a blip. . .
If only it was the truth they were after. . .
Indeed they did! And there was the 'terrorism' of Micrsoft as well - and let's not forget one of the prouder moments of protecting America from foreign threats when they finally wrestled little Elian Gonzales from his Florida home. Yes, Janet/Bill/Jamie et al; America owes you!
Re OKC; the cage is really getting rattled here. Way past time, but do wonder how far will they go?
The truth of 'Clinton Inc.' may be our best protection from a future with Hillary and maybe the rest of the Demrats. But that is probably too much to hope for; or maybe not.
Just sent them another e-mail and included that as well :^)
The Democrat spelling of "Truth" is: "Blame Bush"
LOL -and the not-so-funny truth as well.
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