NPR Ties the Right & Limbaugh to Death Threats Against Gorelick (TOTENBERG TRANSCRIPT)

MRC ^ | 12:05pm EDT, Wednesday April 21, 2004 | BRENT BAKER, KEN SHEPHERD

[fight_truth_decay]

Conservatives in general, and conservative radio talk show hosts in particular, are responsible for causing death threats against 9-11 Commission member Jamie Gorelick?

NPR's Nina Totenberg sure seemed to imply so in a Monday Morning Edition story, which Rush Limbaugh highlighted on his radio show on Tuesday.

CUT

NPR Legal Affairs correspondent Nina Totenberg reports."

Totenberg began: "Jamie Gorelick served for three years as Deputy Attorney General in the first term of the Clinton administration. In Washington, she has a reputation as a smart administrator with a cool head. But she admits she lost some of that cool last Friday."

Jamie Gorelick, 9/11 Commission member: "Someone called the house and threatened to blow it up, and blow me up."

Totenberg: "FBI agents were soon swarming over Gorelick's house and office. She had received hate mail at the office, she says, as have other commissioners, but it had suddenly intensified."

Gorelick: "After John Ashcroft testified, there was an escalation."

Totenberg: "Ashcroft, himself under fire from the 9/11 Commission, in prepared testimony blamed a policy of the Clinton administration for 9/11."

Attorney General John Ashcroft at hearing: "The single greatest structural cause for the September 11th problem was the wall that segregated, or separated, criminal investigators and intelligence agents."

Totenberg: "The wall, he said, had been created in a Clinton Era-memorandum."

Ashcroft: "Full disclosure compels me to inform you that the author of this memorandum is a member of the Commission."

Totenberg: "The member, of course, was Jamie Gorelick. Within 48 hours, House GOP leader Tom DeLay and House Judiciary Chairman James Sensenbrenner were calling for Gorelick's resignation. And conservative talk shows were taking up the battle cry."

Rush Limbaugh on his radio show: "Who are the Clinton people, who were they, Jamie Gorelick, Clinton, Gore, all these people? They are '60s relics. These are people who grew up hating the FBI. These are the people who gave law enforcement the name pigs. And they now are in charge of it when Clinton assumes office. Now what's the first thing they do? Handcuff the FBI."

Totenberg: "In fact, however, by all independent accounts, the wall was not created during the Clinton administration but by the Reagan and first Bush administrations in the 1980s in response to court rulings. Those court rulings sought to ensure that wiretaps justified as necessary to gather intelligence were not used to circumvent the Constitution's demand for a tougher standard in prosecuting a criminal case. David Kris, a career Justice Department prosecutor who served as Associate Deputy Attorney General for three years under John Ashcroft says the Department struggled with the wall for decades, and indeed the Bush Administration, when it came to office, reexamined and reaffirmed Gorelick's memo."

David Kris: "You have to live with the law as you find it, unless you are able to change it."

Totenberg: "Ironically, says Kris, Gorelick's memo sought in some respects, to bridge the wall."

Kris: "You have somebody at least straddling the wall."

Totenberg: "The Gorelick memo came in response to a particular problem. The prosecutors in the first World Trade Center bombing case thought they could not pass on information to the intelligence investigators looking for more plots. Jamie Gorelick."

Gorelick: "And so the, the goal was to preserve the conviction, to make sure the terrorists didn't go free, and at the same time make sure that the intelligence information got from the criminal side of the house to the intelligence side of the house. I told the intel side of the house, you can wiretap criminal defendants."

Totenberg: "Even after 9/11 and the passage of the Patriot Act, the Bush administration was unable to tear down the wall until it appealed to a special appeals court that had been authorized by law in 1978, but never before convened. In 2002, that court said that the Justice Department and the lower courts had been wrong since the early 1980s in erecting the law. As for Jamie Gorelick, she says she has no more conflict of interest on the 9/11 Commission than any other member, most of whom, she notes, were chosen precisely because of their experience in the intelligence field."

Gorelick: "I'm recused from anything that occurred during my tenure."

Totenberg: "On the question of the wall, she says, she has in fact been a witness and been interviewed. Her fellow commissioners, including the Republican Chairman Tom Kean, have forcefully defended her. And privately some believe she's been targeted because she's the work horse of the commission. Indeed, when the White House told the commissioners only one of them could review the President's Daily Briefings, the commissioners, Republicans and Democrats alike, chose Gorelick. Gorelick admits the last few days have been rough."

Gorelick: "The notion that someone would blow me up, blow up my children, blow up my house, that's scary to any human being."

Totenberg: "But she says she will not quit."

Gorelick: "I don't think the Commission should be intimidated. Then it would be a mistake for any one of us to be forced off the Commission. I think it would be terrible."

Totenberg: "Nina Totenberg, NPR News, Washington."

Of course, faithful CyberAlert readers will recall that Totenberg issued a death threat of her own a few years ago against Senator Jesse Helms.

[syriacus]

Totenberg's name means something like
"dead mountain"
in German.

[Doctor Raoul]

Nina Totenberg, NPR's "ANGEL OF DEATH", could give lessons on how to make a death threat. She does it regularly on TV and radio.

[WorkingClassFilth]

Last time I witnessed this much licking was when my retriever had a skin condition.

[dalebert]

Its always someone else's fault to a liberal.

[Tuxedo]

She actually said that? What a freaking bitch!

[Doctor Raoul]

They also had Rumsfeld's home address in DC.

Can we get a little concern outta NPR's Angel of Death about that?

[mabelkitty]

Now we know who and why were with the Queen Clinton in Jamaica last week.

[Doctor Raoul]

Delicious Dish on NPR

Margaret Jo McCullen: Hello. I'm Margaret Jo McCullen.

Teri Rialto: And I'm Teri Rialto.

Margaret Jo McCullen: And you're listening to ...

Together: The Delicious Dish, on National Public Radio.

Margeret Jo McCullen: Now, Teri, it's Christmas season again, our favorite time of the year.

Teri Rialto: Actually, Margaret Jo, holiday time is when the most culinary wishes can come true. Now, what's on your list this holiday season, Margaret Jo?

Margeret Jo McCullen: Well, Teri, I got real freaky this year. I'm asking Kris Kringle for a wooden bowl, some oversized index cards, and a funnel.

Teri Rialto: Ooooh, a funnel! That'll be great for funneling!

Margeret Jo McCullen: I know. I feel like a glutton! What's on your list, Teri?

Teri Rialto: Well, I'm only asking Santa for one thing - a big box of glue traps to help me with my excessive rat problem? Are you, Margaret Jo, gonna leave any treats out for Santa this year?

Margeret Jo McCullen: Oh, absolutely, I always do! I like to leave Santa some tap water and rice. If Santa's anything like me, Christmas foods really reek havoc on the ol' digestive system. What are you going to leave, Teri?

Teri Rialto: Uh, I can't ever leave food out in my apartment, because I have an excessive rat problem.

Margeret Jo McCullen: Makes sense. Neat.

Teri Rialto: Good times.

Margeret Jo McCullen: Good times.

Teri Rialto: Well, Christmas is a time for traditional foods and bite-size treats, and we have a very special guest today.

Margeret Jo McCullen: That's right, Teri. He's the owner of his own holiday bakery, with a very, very cleaver name - Season's Eatings.

Teri Rialto: [laughs] That's really funny!

Margeret Jo McCullen: I know, it rhymes with Season's Greetings!

Teri Rialto: Please welcome the owner of Season's Eatings - Pete Schweddy.

[Pete pulls up to his mike]

Margeret Jo McCullen: Well, Pete, Teri and I have been looking forward to having you on the show, 'cause we know you're the master of all kinds of Christmas goodies. Tell us about them.

Pete Schweddy: Well, there are lots of great treats this time of year - Zucchini Bread, Fruitcake ... but the thing that I most like to bring out this time of year are my Balls.

Teri Rialto: Mmm ... Balls ... Tell us about your Balls, Pete.

Pete Schweddy: Well, over at Season's Eatings, we have Balls for every taste. Popcorn Balls, Cheese Balls, Rum Balls ... you name it.

Margeret Jo McCullen: Wow! My mouth's watering just thinking about those Balls!

Teri Rialto: It's been years since I've seen any Balls.

Pete Schweddy: Would you like to see my Balls now?

Margeret Jo McCullen: Yeah. Whip them out.

[Pete places a tray of Balls on the control board]

Teri Rialto: Mmm ... wow ... you have some beautiful Balls ...

Margeret Jo McCullen: They're bigger than I expected.

Pete Schweddy: A lot of people tell me that.

Margeret Jo McCullen: Look at that, Teri - the way they glisten.

Pete Schweddy: That's because make sure that each one of my Balls gets plenty of oil.

Margeret Jo McCullen: I can't help but, notice, Pete - your Balls are a little misshapen.

Pete Schweddy: That's because I rested them on a hot stove too long.

Teri Rialto: Can I touch your Balls.

Pete Schweddy: Go ahead. But be careful, they're very delicate.

Margeret Jo McCullen: Wow. I can't wait to get my mouth around his Balls.

Teri Rialto: [sniffing] Ooh ... I like the way your Balls smell ...

Pete Schweddy: Do whatever you want to, ladies. My Balls are here for your pleasure.

Margeret Jo McCullen: [chewing] Wow, Pete ... I have to say - your Balls are so tender.

Pete Schweddy: Well, there's no beating my Balls. They're made from a secret Schweddy Family recipe. No one can resist my Schweddy Balls.

Margeret Jo McCullen: Wow ... Schweddy Balls. Nothing like a Schweddy Ball.

Teri Rialto: Good Balls.

Margeret Jo McCullen: Mmm ... good times.

Teri Rialto: Good times ... Mmm. Our producer is telling us it's time to wrap it up.

Margeret Jo McCullen: That's all the time we have today, Teri. So, join us next week, when our topic will be that other holiday favorite ...

Margaret Jo & Teri: ... Fragrant, Flavored Nuts.

Pete Schweddy: A quick plug! If you order from Season's Eatings now, you can still send out a special Schweddy Ball Sack in time.

Margeret Jo McCullen: Great idea. My niece would love a Sack of Schweddy Balls ...

[fade out]

[Doctor Raoul]

The genesis is Senator Frank Church and the Church Commission - and his bootlicker Ted Kennedy.

I thought I was the only one who felt that way. Yes, it started in all seriousness with Frank Church and Otis Pike. They started the ball rolling and others kept tyhe monemtum going.

[mo]

as always, with liberals, you have to turn around what they say to find the truth...what I CAN beleive may well have happened here is that she DID receive a threatening phone call stating what could expect to happen to her IF she DID happen to step down and do the right thing...probably from her Highness herself.

[adam_az]

"I thought I was the only one who felt that way. Yes, it started in all seriousness with Frank Church and Otis Pike. They started the ball rolling and others kept tyhe monemtum going."

I got a bug up my bum recently and went to the library to read some old NY Times microfilm contemporary with the Church Commission hearings... shameful stuff. Too bad the 9/11 commission will ignore it. What a bunch of losers, their report won't be worth a pile of crap.

[calcowgirl]

.

"On the question of the wall, she says, she has in fact been a witness and been interviewed.

Gorelick testified as a witness??? Anybody have info/links?

.

[Morgan's Raider]

This would make a great "South Park" script. Of course it wouldn't be complete without a guest appearance by Chef and his Salty Chocolate Balls.

[nuconvert]

"After John Ashcroft testified, there was an escalation."

She means after Ashcroft testified truthfully and let the country in on what's been going on behind the scenes.
Yeah, well I guess that ticked-off some folks, Jamie.

[wingster]

Gorelick: "I don't think the Commission should be intimidated. Then it would be a mistake for any one of us to be forced off the Commission. I think it would be terrible."

Ya don't say...

These people are getting more and more hilarious by the day. My stomach outta be in sheer pain by November if things keep up at this rate. You can't pay for this type of entertainment and amusement as we're now getting from the DimLib left! I mean really....

[fight_truth_decay]

Years ago..I assume she is referring:

"Ms. Gorelick appeared in October 1995 before the Senate Intelligence Committee, where she testified that many people wondered why the government doesn't merge law enforcement and counterintelligence agencies.""I mean, they have a lot of resources. You have a lot of resources, you have all got the same enemies, why don't you just merge to achieve greater efficiency?" she said to the assembled senators, including Sen. Bob Kerrey, Nebraska Democrat, who has since left the Senate and now sits with Ms. Gorelick on the 9/11 commission.

"I think on both sides of the river, if you will, we think this would be a serious mistake," she said. "There are ample reasons, both in history and in constitutional principles, to maintain a clear demarcation between the missions of the two communities."

http://washingtontimes.com/national/20040419-124039-3448r.htm

[Springman]

Thanks for the ping.

[evad]

I'm convinced that if she were a reporter for a TV or radio station other than NPR, that she'd have been shown the door a long time ago.

You just answered your original question.

[PointRight]

Unfortunately, yes. This includes a dear friend of mine who is quite conservative, Christian as well (and I can attest to her faith). Went to college with her, even introduced her to her husband (also quite conservative, in a NE sort of way).
She listens, so she says (no joke), because she wants, "an unbiased news source." I'm certain when I busted out laughing in her face I hurt her feelings, but how can you NOT laugh at that?

Still I love her dealy and pray for her ;-)

[AD from SpringBay]

What if Gorelick didn't receive a threat but felt like she needed to be a victim and invented the whole thing? Would that be a hoot or what?