Posted on 02/13/2006 10:28:23 AM PST by SmithL
WASHINGTON -- Democratic Party Chairman Howard Dean said Monday that Vice President Cheney should resign if he ordered a top aide to leak classified information to the media to defend the invasion of Iraq.
On CNN's "American Morning" program, Dean repeated calls he first made Sunday, saying Cheney may have broken the law if he ordered his former chief of staff, I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby, to share secret information with reporters in 2003.
"If Vice President Cheney has, in fact, ordered the leaking of political information of intelligence information, that means he has to step aside," Dean said on CNN. "We don't know if it's true, but he has been accused of it. If it's true, he has to step aside."
On Sunday, Democratic and Republican senators said Special Counsel Patrick Fitzgerald should investigate Cheney and others in the CIA leak probe if they authorized Libby to give secret information to reporters.
Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I., called the leak of intelligence information "inappropriate" if it is true, and said, "I think he (Fitzgerald) has to look closely at their behavior."
Sen. George Allen, R-Va., said a full investigation is necessary. "I don't think anybody should be releasing classified information, period, whether in the Congress, executive branch or some underling in some bureaucracy," said Allen, who appeared with Reed on "Fox News Sunday."
According to published reports last week, Libby told a federal grand jury that he disclosed in July 2003 the contents of a classified National Intelligence Estimate as part of the Bush administration's defense of intelligence used to justify invading Iraq.
Fitzgerald said in the documents it was his understanding that "Mr. Libby testified that he was authorized to disclose information about the NIE to the press by his superiors."
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
This could swing open the door to all kinds of fun, right Sen. Rockefeller?
I thought that at the time, Plame's status was not classified. In fact, it was on her kids' contact info at school? Why can't the MSM get that straight.
Dean has no credibility. I could care less what he says. Dean is a raving lunatic.
Dean has no credibility. I could care less what he says. Dean is a raving lunatic.
The entire Democrat Party, and most of the Republicans, should resign for subverting the Constitution. So what else is new?
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Have Allen completely missed that Libby's attorney has vehemently denied that Libby has or will claim that Cheney told him to out Plame.
But we've all read the report. The Executive branch declassifies stuff all the time, and releases it.
Congress has urged the white house to declassify stuff all the time. In this case Cheney authorized the declasssification of some information to be given to reporters to help them understand how we went to war.
Dick's got a load of double-aught buckshot with Howard's name on it.
Dr. FrankenDean violates the Clean Air Act everytime he opens his big fat mouth! The EPA should shut him down for emitting toxic waste!
Vermont's lovely this time of year, Mr. Vice President...
And at the very least, should another "hunting accident"
occur, Dean can shout out, "Don't worry! I'm a doctor!
Scalpel, please!"
"Why can't the MSM get that straight".
And why can't dean and the rest of the liberals check their stories(i.e. facts), before running off without a clue?
He's claiming something has been claimed, assumed Cheney is the superior, claims the information wasn't declassified, blah, blah. Huge number of assumptions to try to score political points.
The media apparently have.
"If Vice President Cheney has, in fact, ordered the leaking of political information of intelligence information, that means he has to step aside," Since when did releasing political information become illegal? Any moron with a MINIMAL amount of critical thinking must realize that leaking Plame's name was not against the law. If it was, Fitz would absolutely have to indict Scooter Libby on this count. Dean is just demonstrating his lack of understanding. It's really an eye opener to find a medical doctor that cannot reason properly. I pity his patients. |
Nope, Plame was in fact working covertly. The contact information was to a fictitious corporation made up so that she (and by extension her husband who was investigating the claims) had a reason to be in Niger.
I really can't quite see what the backlash here is for, "If Cheney ordered the disclosure of Plame's identity he should resign"
Yes, I'd say that someone working with the CIA being outed is reason to resign.
"If Vice President Cheney has, in fact, ordered the leaking of political information of intelligence information, that means he has to step aside,"
Since when did releasing political information become illegal? Any moron with a MINIMAL amount of critical thinking must realize that leaking Plame's name was not against the law. If it was, Fitz would absolutely have to indict Scooter Libby on this count."
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I believe he meant to say, 'leak intelligence information for political purposes.' Which is a valid point, if only it could make it out of Dean's mouth without getting mangled in poor public speaking skills.
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