[Elathan]

Reading it literally sounds like Rove knew the reporter ALREADY had her name and everything else for his article...I'm betting the reporter asked Rove to comment on her actions or something.

[jimboster]

Reading it literally sounds like Rove knew the reporter ALREADY had her name and everything else for his article...I'm betting the reporter asked Rove to comment on her actions or something.

You, sir, have hit the nose right on the nostril! There was a story in the Washington Post about reporters calling politicians and telling them Plame worked for the CIA. Kos from the Daily Kos was so worried about this he went out of his way on his site to say not to attribute too much importance to these rumors. Rove has maintained all along he discussed Plame with reporters after she was outed.

[cyncooper]

Reading it literally sounds like Rove knew the reporter ALREADY had her name and everything else for his article...I'm betting the reporter asked Rove to comment on her actions or something.

Exactly.

And I would add that before Wilson's op-ed, he was giving his story out to reporters anonymously. The story was written (see New York Times and the WaPo starting in May into June) referring to a "former diplomat" traveling to Niger. You just know that Wilson sought to bolster what he was telling reporters by pointing to his CIA wife...by way of giving himself credibility. Then when he decided to go public and out himself with his op-ed in the NY Times, the rest followed, complete with the "they're out to get me" spin a complicit media helped him foment.