Novak really is being cute on this. He gives up Rove because Rove's attorney talked about Rove's conversation with Novak to third parties but Novak won't disclose the name of his original source even though Novak has said that that source did the exact same thing that Rove's attorney did (i.e. talk to third parties about the source's off the record conversation with Novak). I guess the lesson is -- don't take any chances and don't talk to Novak anymore.
Novak is a JOURNALIST. Get it?
what does "off the record" mean now?