NOVAK: 'NOBODY IN THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION CALLED ME TO LEAK THIS'

Drudge Report ^ | 09/29/03

[Pokey78]

In July I was interviewing a senior administration official on Ambassador Wilson's report when he told the trip was inspired by his wife, a CIA employee working on weapons of mass destruction. Another senior official told me the same thing. As a professional journalist with 46 years experience in Washington I do not reveal confidential sources. When I called the CIA in July to confirm Mrs. Wilson's involvement in the mission for her husband -- he is a former Clitnon administration official -- they asked me not to use her name, but never indicated it would endanger her or anybody else. According to a confidential source at the CIA, Mrs. Wilson was an analyst, not a spy, not a covert operator, and not in charge of an undercover operatives...

[HostileTerritory]

Novak has admitted to being a registered Democrat because in the jurisdiction where he lives (D.C. or Chicago, I forget) all the important offices are determined in the Democratic primary. It's kind of a joke to him. He's a conservative and a Republican in spirit.

[Dog]

Mort pointed out how a senior administration offical was quoted in the second Post story on this matter that ran this morning....... who told of this story being shopped around to 6 different reporters before Novak ran with it. Now today we have Novak coming out and saying no one in the Administration leaked the story to him.

The Compost is lieing!

[Timesink]

If Plame were not a covert operator, would the CIA have made the referral to the Justice Department?

Yes. The referral is a standard procedural move, and has already happened more than FIFTY times this year alone, an average of one every four or five days. The only difference about this one is that the Bush-Haters in the Democratic Party and the "mainstream" media thought they were going to be able to pin this one on Karl Rove. Oops!

[woodyinscc]

Mara's trying very hard to keep this "scandal" alive.

This woman's rise in journalism is the prime example of the "Peter Principle." She has never had an original thought!!

[Shermy]

I read, and re-read Novak's paragraph.

Gotta admit, I'm still confused. :)

[Sacajaweau]

I'll have to go to the library tomorrow or search the web.

[Grampa Dave]

Your comments are another example of why I prefer my so called breaking news on Free Republic.

Even the good guys in the media seem to be about 12 to 24 hours behind the Free Republic learning curve on an issue like this one.

[Dog]

What are you searching for Sac??

[Maria S]

I haven't read all of the posts yet. Has anyone mentioned that Wilson was the Clinton lackey who made all of the preparations for the now-famous African trip...you remember, the one wherein Clinton and 600 (or more) of his newbestfriends went to Africa.

[arasina]

What do you mean? Who is covering up what?

[cwb]

Appearantly, the Post first reported that "two senior WH officials called 6 journalist to tell the story." Today, it was not "senior" officals and the 6 journalist was changed to "select" journalist. The story is shrinking.

[Sacajaweau]

Wilson's biography or a HISTORY on him.

[Grampa Dave]

You posted, "A Freeper on another Wilson thread today said that Wilson has an autobiography and in it makes mention of his wife's profession."

I'm positive that autobio was on both the Yahoo and Google searches on Wilson when the yellowcake scam broke this past summer.

Today, I couldn't find them.

Which is another reason why we need to post the whole story on Free Republic and not just a link.

[Peach]

Sac is searching for back-up to another Freeper's comment on another thread that Wilson's autobiography details his wife's profession.

[Timesink]

I disagree that the public will keep this in mind. As quickly as they're able to be swayed by false accusations, they're just as quickly made to forget about it as soon as something more interesting comes along. Nobody's going to remember this fourteen months from now ... except for the angry left, who already hate Bush anyway, and us, who will be even more energized to vote against Democrats across the board.

[Peach]

BTW, I freepmailed that Freeper and asked for more information about Wilson's autobiography.

[CaptainK]

Why didn't Wilson just come out and say so? He can't seem to get his face on camera enough, and then gets all evasive and coy. If he wants the truth to come out just state the facts.

[Ann Archy]

The last line of Clifford May's article hints at the problem....George Tenet is Bush's WEAKEST LINK!!!!

[Peach]

I agree. I've freepmailed that Freeper to ask if they have more information regarding Wilson's autobiography.

My sense was they had read the book and seemed to know that Wilson detailed his wife's profession in the book.

If I find out more, I'll ping you.

[Pukin Dog]

What is missing is the word current, as in current White House, or current administration.