Well, I don't think that is the acid test. I refuse to use the "Clinton" administration as the yardstick to compare any administration too.
The fact that the person who wrote the story, Robert Novak, said he didn't get the name from administration officials. The CIA acknowledge the woman's employment, first and the administration officials knew that Mr. Wilson's wife worked for the CIA...THAT'S IT!
That is the extent of the acknowlegement by anyone in the admininstration...that they knew Wilson's wife worked for the CIA. Novak didn't get the name from the administration officials, but, rather, that they knew she worked at CIA.
Well, having Schumer say that the Attorney General cannot be trusted with this is a howler. During the last administration Freepers were very busy having strokes over Janet Reno's refusal to name a special counsel over things like People's Liberation Army funding of and influence over the President, not to mention Carville, Blumenthal, the Pentagon and even Larry Flynt smearing everyone in sight. Would a leak about a CIA employee register even a 3.5 on the Freeper scale? Hard to know. But the motive for this alleged disclosure is so vague and confused. One never had to scratch one's head with Clinton outings. "Destroy this individual now" was the clear message. Who the heck cares about this Bozo's wife, anyway? How did it destroy him? He's a bigger windbag than ever. As a deterrent? It makes no logical sense. Her status has risen immeasurably in their circle of friends.