CNN: Conservatives Will Be 'Angry' Over Commutation, GOP Double Standard re: Clinton

http://newsbusters.org/ ^ | July 2, 2007 | Brent Baker

[lowbridge]

CNN: Conservatives Will Be 'Angry' Over Commutation, GOP Double Standard re: Clinton

Posted by Brent Baker on July 2, 2007 - 21:44.

With “Angry Reaction” on screen, CNN's Suzanne Malveaux opened the 7pm EDT hour of The Situation Room by asking if on the Libby commutation: “Are conservatives as angry as Democrats?” Toward the end of the hour, Malveaux, filling in for Wolf Blitzer, cued up ex-Clinton operative Paul Begala: “President Clinton was impeached for lying before a grand jury. What do you think? What do you make of this? Does this smack of a double standard?” Malveaux announced at the top of the program: “Spared from prison, President Bush commutes the sentence of former White House aide Lewis 'Scooter' Libby. Tonight, the breaking news and the reaction. Are conservatives as angry as Democrats?”

Analyst Bill Schneider soon echoed her theme: “There's going to be a lot of anger out there. I don't think it's going to be restricted simply to Democrats. Independents and some Republicans are going to be angry and it's going to feed into the anger at Washington that seems to be poisoning the mood of the country.” As for the idea “this would be popular with the base,” Schneider opined: “I'm dubious about that.” Referring to a CNN poll, Schneider argued that “when you have only 19 percent who would support a pardon...I'm not sure that I would say that this could have any positive repercussions for the President.” Malveaux, who seconds earlier cued up Begala with a liberal talking point about a Republican double standard, confronted Republican strategist John Feehery: “Does it cut two ways here? We've heard Bill Schneider saying he doesn't really think this is going to play out much in a partisan way. He believes that there are going to be a lot of Republicans who see it the same way as Democrats and say, you know, this is just preferential treatment.”

Transcripts of some segments from the 7pm EDT hour of the July 2 The Situation Room on CNN:

About 20 minutes into the hour:

BILL SCHNEIDER: There's going to be a lot of anger out there. I don't think it's going to be restricted simply to Democrats. Independents and some Republicans are going to be angry and it's going to feed into the anger at Washington that seems to be poisoning the mood of the country and informing everything happening in the campaign so far. Americans are very resentful over the fact that someone who was convicted of a serious crime for which many, many other people are in jail right now, had his sentence commuted and will not go to jail. That's the important thing. Will not go to jail, because he has friends in high places. That's exactly what enrages people about business in Washington.

MALVEAUX: So what's the political calculus here? The fact that he's got approval ratings that are under 30 percent now, below the freezing level that it doesn't make any difference at all what he does? He might as well just go for it and commute the sentence?

SCHNEIDER: Well, it may be a calculation that conservatives want this to happen. There's been a lot of pressure on the White House from conservatives in Washington. Some of the presidential candidates said they favor the pardon. And that, therefore, the President could solidify his support in his base, that this would be popular with the base. Maybe it will be. I'm dubious about that. I don't know. But when you have only 19 percent who would support a pardon, that's not a commutation, it's a pardon, but I'm not sure many people will see a big difference. The important thing is staying out of jail. I'm not sure that I would say that this could have any positive repercussions for the President.
Approximately 54 minutes into the hour:

MALVEAUX TO PAUL BEGALA (on phone): President Bush was impeached for lying before -- before -- I'm sorry, President Clinton was impeached for lying before a grand jury. What do you think? What do you make of this? Does this smack of a double standard?

BEGALA: “Well, of course it's a double standard. President Clinton was found not guilty by a Republican-controlled Senate. Not guilty. Mr. Libby was found guilty, in a case brought by a Republican prosecutor and heard before a Republican judge. Mr. Libby was found guilty. He was found guilty of four felonies. Now, the President has an untrammeled right to commute that sentence, well within his power to do so. But I think he's gonna pay an enormous price in terms of his credibility and his legacy. The notion that is going to take hold I think out there in the country is that there's a double standard that some of the other commentators referred to. That George Bush is only compassionate when it comes to conservatives.

MALVEAUX TO REPUBLICAN STRATEGIST JOHN FEEHERY (on phone): John, does it cut two ways here? We've heard Bill Schneider saying he doesn't really think this is going to play out much in a partisan way. He believes that there are going to be a lot of Republicans who see it the same way as Democrats and say, you know, this is just preferential treatment.

[cripplecreek]

I’m not thrilledf that Ramos and Compean don’t get the same treatment but Libby has nothing to do with that.

[franksolich]

Hmmmm.

I’m not aware of a single conservative or Republican who’s angry over this; in fact, they tended to be angry because Libby was convicted of a non-crime.

One wonders where the “mainstream” news media gets this idea.

[Rocko]

Lots of conservative anger. Early last week. About something else.

[A.Hun]

Dear CNN:

[BenLurkin]

Why would anyone be angry?

[rlmorel]

"...One wonders where the “mainstream” news media gets this idea...."

They just make it up.

I went to his site and donated money, I was that happy for him. He will get his name cleared, I have no doubt whatsoever. What was done to him was every bit as despicable as what was done to the Duke lacrosse players.

[lowbridge]

Why would anyone be angry?

Sentence commutaion instead of full pardon. Damn that makes me angry.

[A.Hun]

Sentence commutaion instead of full pardon.

It gives Libby the chance to clear his name on appeal. The President can still pardon him.

[wolfinator]

I love President Bush and I love the way he’s rubbing their nose in it.

CNN’s idea of fairness: As I type, they’ve had on Jeff Toobin and Joe Wilson whining about this. But I’m sure they’ll have a pro-Bush spokesperson on any moment.

[claudiustg]

What would make me angry is turning on the TV and seeing Begala on it.

[Doctor Raoul]

CNN = Caca del Toro

[highlander_UW]

Toward the end of the hour, Malveaux, filling in for Wolf Blitzer, cued up ex-Clinton operative Paul Begala: “President Clinton was impeached for lying before a grand jury. What do you think?

What do I think? Thanks for asking. As I recall, Clinton retained his job, so perhaps the Bush admin should rehire Libby in keeping with the Clinton precedent.

[ken21]

the typical tv-moron has a 3-5 second memory.

that’s why stuff like this plays well with them.

they don’t remember marc rich and bill clinton.

[unspun]

It was very unfortunate that Valerie Plame was exposed.

To Joe Wilson, that is.

[Redbob]

"One wonders where the “mainstream” news media gets this idea."

I'll give you a hint:
Keith Odorman was reportedly seen coming out of the men's room, fastening his pants up, just before this aired...

[A.Hun]

But I’m sure they’ll have a pro-Bush spokesperson on any moment.

With CNN, you can count on it....it will probably be Michael Moore! LOL

This means that Fitzmas was a total bust for the moonbats!!! Poor moonbats...

[A.Hun]

But I’m sure they’ll have a pro-Bush spokesperson on any moment.

With CNN, you can count on it....it will probably be Michael Moore! LOL

This means that Fitzmas was a total bust for the moonbats!!! Poor moonbats...

[HisKingdomWillAbolishSinDeath]

With one of the biggest thieves and liars in the world, George Soros, is one of your parties chief supporters, you know the day of reaping of the wicked is at hand. America is about to be cleansed of all traces of evil, right down to the soil, by the Sons of God. Are you ready for real change, or do embrace this evil, dark world?

[A.Hun]

Sorry about the double post!