Bushies Bail in Mid-Radio Interview at Mention of Rubin Charges

NewsMax.com ^ | 8/13/02 | Carl Limbacher and Crew

[NormsRevenge]

Tuesday, Aug. 13, 2002 5:03 p.m. EDT

Bushies Bail in Mid-Radio Interview at Mention of Rubin Charges

White House Chief of Staff Andrew Card and Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neill ran afoul of President Bush's "new tone" policy Tuesday afternoon, forcing them to bail out midway through a national radio interview rather than criticize former Treasury Secretary Robert Rubin for possible Enrongate influence peddling.

Card and O'Neill were being interviewed simultaneously by nationally syndicated radio host Sean Hannity, who reached the two administration officials at President Bush's economic summit in Waco, Texas.

The exchange went like this:

HANNITY: Let me ask you one last question before you go. Robert Rubin, one of your predecessors, made a call to Peter Fischer, who works for you, and asked Fischer to intervene with the independent credit rating agencies to help Enron's credit rating stay artificially high.

Do you know anything else about this call - and whether Rubin or one of his associates made any other calls to your department? And what do you think of Joe Lieberman and Carl Levin refusing to call Rubin to testify and explain his call to your department?

O'NEILL: Sean, I've got to go do another interview.

HANNITY: You can't answer that question?

O'NEILL: Talk to you again. Thanks. Bye.

HANNITY: You want to answer that, Andy?

CARD: Well, you know, it's a great tendency in politics to want to go back and play the blame game. And that's not what this president's about. He's looking for ... (line goes dead)

HANNITY: Yeah, you there? I guess we just got cut off. (To producer) Did you hit the wrong line? You did? I guess we just lost them. Alright, well. Just when I'm getting to the good stuff. Don't you hate that. It's driving me nuts. Maybe if we can get them back, we'll try. (End of Excerpt)

O'Neill and Card, needless to say, never called back.

Read more on this subject in related Hot Topics:
Bush Administration
Clinton Scandals

[monday]

Because they want to move the country forward. It would take Bush's full 8 years of office just to prosecute the Clinton Administration's crimes and misdeeds...

It would be better if they just left the country alone instead of trying to move it forward. We would have much less bonehead legislation being passed.

If Bush doesn't want to prosecute Clinton and his gang of thieves then he should just go fishing like Calvin Coolidge used to. Now that was an effective president!

[End The Hypocrisy]

But it took NO time to get Worldcon execs indicted. The same can be said for corrupt execs from other corporations. And yet you're advocating that we continue to take our time with the Enron crew. How many have actually been indicted yet? Doesn't there seem to be something more going on behind the scenes?

[SunStar]

But didn't Bush publicly say a few days ago that he "inherited" the recession? That's not particularly "forward" looking...

No, that's just the truth.

[End The Hypocrisy]

>>>Pick up a copy (if you haven't already read it) of Shephen Covey's "The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People" and you will get a keen insight into George Bush the person and the President.<<<


Perhaps you could please list those 7 here for those of us who are too busy to find the book and read it when we could instead be loafing here? :-)

[Fracas]

Ping!

The 'new tone' is becomming so obvious that it's OBVIOUS it's a 'new tone' instead of the truth. LOL.

Everytime this happens, I'm reminded of the 'speak no evil' admonition... staffers with mouths zipped shut, but wanting soooo much to talk.

[pgkdan]

Cowards. Oh well, what else is new?

Indeed. The yellow streak that runs through this administration is appalling. The toon's minimons played hardball every day, day in and day out and we were on the receiving end for 8 yrs, telling ourselves that once we had the opportunity to set the record straight we would. Once we had the bully pulpit we'd see America get the message. WHAT A JOKE!

[pgkdan]

Cowards. Oh well, what else is new?

Indeed. The yellow streak that runs through this administration is appalling. The toon's minions played hardball every day, day in and day out and we were on the receiving end for 8 yrs, telling ourselves that once we had the opportunity to set the record straight we would. Once we had the bully pulpit we'd see America get the message. WHAT A JOKE!

[gov_bean_ counter]

The habits in and of themselves mean very little outside of the context of the book which compares and contrasts behaviors of individuals driven by a "character ethic" as I feel President Bush is versus those who are driven by things other than the desire to "do the right thing".

Be Proactive
Begin with the end in mind
put first things first
Think win, win
Seek first to understand, thin be understood
Synergize
Sharpen the saw.

I think the book is an excellent read, FWIW.

[terilyn]

It is becoming painfully obvious isn't it. Hopefully it isn't as obvious to those that don't follow this stuff every day like we do.

I would be thrilled if the Senate and House would take care of this kind of stuff. Be the "bad cop" if you will, and let GWB keep winning over the people working behind the scenes.

[William Terrell]

I heard that. It was hilarious. They both obviously lied and Andrew Card's lie was double header, that he was going to answer the question, but got cut off in midsentence.

Doesn't that give anybody, usually innocent of cynicism, the least bit of a glimpse into to the reality of our elderly system and the kind of men it attracts?

For the sin of setting up that little drama that so exposed the character of the Machine, I expect Hannity's 1) head is going to roll, or 2) his neck is going to require stitches.

[uncbob]

THe democrats have the gonads to use lies to ATTACK ATTACK the GOP

And the GOP doesn't even had the nads to attack with the truth

They think they can be Mr Nice Guy and win

UNLESS they think they can let the internet and talk shows do the fighting for them while they stay above the fray

[LanaTurnerOverdrive]

There is definitely more to this. You're not going to walk out on an interview with what is certainly one of your only friends in the media (Hannity) when you could just as easily, and, more effectively, respond with "Sorry Sean, we're trying to change the tone" or "no comment" and then continue with your free airtime. Hannity must have been told beforehand not to ask about Rubin. Which raises even more questions....

LanaTurnerOverdrive signed up on 2002-07-02

[PhiKapMom]

Think this is funny -- now the press are left with what did they want to say and what do they know!

But then so are Clinton and Rubin! Clinton and his cronies may not be having such a good night because they don't know what lies around the corner like Congressman Foley from Florida or something else the way these guys bailed out!

[LarryLied]

One of Goldman Sach's Russian friends was kicked loose today:

Goldovsky Set Free for $630,000

[Kaslin]

Because they want to move the country forward.

It would take Bush's full 8 years of office just to prosecute the Clinton Administration's crimes and misdeeds...

This is proof to me that President Bush is very smart indeed

[Notforprophet]

Well said

[Moby Grape]

And the LP gaggle of honking geese (small band as they are) come out firing with the name calling ..."Bushies"....please get a new script. You guys sound like cultist...get something original.

[Notforprophet]

LOL - Nader was right. All pols are crooks, and there's not a lick of difference twixt 'Rat or Pubbie when it comes to big business and accountability.

But the Republicans will always have the Democrats licked in terms of foreign policy, defense, and fiscal policy. Not to mention morals. LOL!

[End The Hypocrisy]

I agree with you on nearly all counts, but not even the GOP has solved the problem of our record high $6 trillion dollar national debt (http://www.publicdebt.treas.gov/opd/opdpenny.htm). Post-baby boomers will be in for some rude awakenings if we don't demand some changes.

[Miss Marple]

By the way, the House committee subpoenaed Citigroup today over issues involving their IOP's.

Just thought everyone would want to know.

I will go get the story and post it here in a sec.