[BillF]

NBC reporter Andrea Mitchell says that Republican Texas oilmen are involved in the UN Oil for Food scandal.

At end of this morning's Chris Matthews Show, Matthews said to his panel members: "tell me something I don't know."

Panel member and NBC reporter Andrea Mitchell said (I'll paraphrase here): "The French are furious that they were fingered for corruption in the UN Oil for Food program, but Americans who profited off of the program were left out in the report as released. It will come out that Texan oil men were also involved in the program."

Matthews: "An R next to their names or a D?"

Mitchell: "An R."

I have my doubts as to the accuracy of Mitchell's claim. Maybe a few 'Pubs had small or indirect connections to the Oil for Food program, but the Dems had a major involvement and Mitchell is now trying to innoculate Kerry and the Dem Party against Oil for Food corruption charges.

[countess]

I bet the MSM cabal tries to paint Wyatt as a R. He may have supported the first President Bush, but his more recent activities indicate what a RAT he truly is. Thanks for posting this, BillF. I would have thrown something at the TV.

[SierraWasp]

But Grampa... What about these wishy washy wimpy girlie men of NBC? They must now take their sinister turn in the media "lock-step" to bring this awful Texas oily administration to it's knees!!! (dripping sarcasm off)

[piasa]

Oh, look what Andrea Michell's been saying.

Did she ever explain how she obtain those documents she showed Wilson?

[Fedora]

I'd share your skepticism of Mitchell. Of course it's hard to make a definitive judgement until someone names names. Lyndon Johnson's old group at Brown & Root tried to control state politics by spreading corruption into both parties, so there could be some Republicans involved, but if so I'd be surprised if the Democrats didn't have a major piece of it. If NBC is serious about investigating Texas oilmen, they should start by checking if there's a connection to Lloyd Bentsen:

A Most Favored Corporation

American Council for Capital Formation

The Council's goal is to restructure U.S. tax, regulatory, and environmental policies in a manner that is favorable to capital-intensive industries. Ken Lay was a member of the board of directors. Former Treasury chief and Enron lobbyist Lloyd Bentsen and former Sen. William E. Brock, were also on the board. Former Cabinet members Lloyd Bentsen (also an Enron lobbyist), William E. Brock, George P. Shultz, and former Federal Reserve chairman Paul A. Volcker were also on the board.

And Paul Volcker was appointed to run the UN's internal investigation of its Oil for Food scandal--what a coinkidink, huh?

[Texas Songwriter]

I heard the same report on Matthews show. Mitchell is such a schill. The whole panel made me sick except the black gentleman.

[WeddingPlanner]

At end of this morning's Chris Matthews Show, Matthews said to his panel members: "tell me something I don't know."

Panel member and NBC reporter Andrea Mitchell said (I'll paraphrase here): "The French are furious that they were fingered for corruption in the UN Oil for Food program, but Americans who profited off of the program were left out in the report as released. It will come out that Texan oil men were also involved in the program."

Matthews: "An R next to their names or a D?"

Mitchell: "An R."

I haven't read everything on this thread yet, but last week when Terry McAuliffe was screeching to Ed Gillespie on Fox & Friends, in his tirade he hollered something like "Yeah, and names are going to come out connected with the Oil for Food scandal . . ." and went on to try to indicate that they were Republican names.

Was he trying to spin it already because he knew or at that time did he only know that there were 'names' and he didn't know yet which ones, and was trying to direct the flow?

Gillespie just had a kind of chesire cat smile on his face.