Snarling Schumer Demands Special Counsel on Leak of CIA Agent Identity (Today Show Alert)

The Today Show

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Even when levelling the most serious of charges for the most partisan of reasons, Senators are wont to adopt a measured, respectful, "more in sorrow than in anger" mien.

Not so NY Sen. Chuck Schumer in his just-completed interview with The Today Show's Matt Lauer.

This thread's headline refers to a "snarling" Schumer, and even that does not do justice to the vehemence and vitriol with which Schumer made his case that a Special Counsel should be appointed to investigate the leak of the name of a CIA agent.

According to Schumer, the name was leaked to punish the agent's husband, former Clinton administration Ambassador Joe Wilson, for having stated that the White House was using false grounds to justify the invasion of Iraq.

By the way, I did a Google search, and it turns out that Wilson was Clinton's ambassador to . . . the Gabonese Republic and Democratic Republic of Sao Tome and Principe from 1992 to 1995. Not exactly the Court of St. James!

My Today Show threads regularly bash the show and its hosts for its liberal bias. Fairness requires me to state that Matt Lauer, who interviewed Schumer, consistently took a skeptical line on Schumer's appearance, the allegations, etc.

Q. The White House and Republican senators declined to appear, citing the fact that there is now a Justice Dept. investigation underway. Why are you talking about an ongoing investigation? Why not let Justice Dept. carry out a thorough investigation before commenting on it?

A. This is a very serious crime. There are indications this goes to high levels in White House. The Justice Dept. chain of command goes up to John Ashcroft, who is close to the President. There would be at the least an appearance of conflict. This goes to "very, very high levels" in the White House. Only a Special Counsel can do a proper investigation. We need someone of the stature of former Senators Rudman or Danforth.

A. But why jump the gun? The Special Counsel law calls for a S.C. to be appointed by the Attorney General once all the facts are in. Clearly AG Ashcroft doesn't have all facts yet.

A. The facts are clear. There was a leak at the highest levels. I don't think anybody has faith the faith Justice Dept. will do a fair investigation.

Q. Even Ambassador Wilson is now backing away from some of his allegations, stating he has no evidence that Rove either leaked the information or told someone else to do so.

A. I've been in Washington 22 years, and I've never seen anything like this. They're angry at Wilson so they "out" his wife? That is "knee-capping." We don't know who did it. I'm not pointing a finger at Rove, VP Cheney or anyone else. But we know it was a high official and we want to get to the bottom of this.

A. How do you get to the bottom if there is shield law for reporters?

Q. There were at least 6 phone calls made. We can get phone logs. Surely there are White House officials who know what happened. We don't need to interrogate reporters.

Q. How do you react to the charge that this is pure politics with the presidential campaign coming on?

A. Whatever the motivation, this is the right thing to do. If there were a murder, and someone demanded an investigation, it would be the right thing to do whether or not politics are involved.

[governsleastgovernsbest]

The angriest, most blatantly partisan appearance by a US Senator I've ever seen.

Schumer is obviously extremely confident of his electoral base in NY. No need to even attempt to hide the fact that he is motivated by partisan politics.

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Today Show ping.

[MEG33]

I saw his call for an independent investigation yesterday.He is forevermore a shameless drama queen.Rolaids,please.

[mewzilla]

Chuckles should be careful what he wishes for...

[sauropod]

Yep.

Tri-state Chapter, you have work to do! Schumer needs to be defeated at the polls.

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Schumer mentioned that he had immediately called for an investigation back on July 22nd, when the first report of the matter appeared.

He also mentioned that he was "very angry" about it, which seemed a rather gratuitous observation, given the foam he was regularly obliged to swipe from his mouth.

[governsleastgovernsbest]

"Schumer need to be defeated at the polls."

As the saying goes, you can't beat someone with no one. Looks like the NYS GOP isn't even trying to recruit a serious opponent. The only candidate for the time being is a young businessman with no political experience, a real "tomato can" of an "opponent" in boxing parlance.

[MEG33]

If anyone did something illegal..I want them found,prosecuted and out on their ear immediately but this is a new ploy to defeat the President and tie Karl Rove up in hearings.

[Just mythoughts]

Just finished a while ago watching Mr. Wilson huff and puff about a "LAW" being broken, yet he would not say exactly what his wife was. Mr. Wilson was on Fox and Friends.

Called his wife a "VICTIM".

He gave KERRY campaign $2000.00 and has given another one of the dismal dims money but did not volunteer whom.

So exactly what did Mr. Wilson do prior to being an ambassador?

What has he done prior to all this that gives him qualification to go and find out if an African country was selling nuke material to anyone?

Mr. Wilson has an agenda, hates Ashcroft and Rove and is playing a role for the dimwitts.

[Pan_Yans Wife]

Wilson was the architect of Clinton's trips to Africa, while Clinton was president.

[governsleastgovernsbest]

White House press secretary Scott McClellan stated that if anyone in the administration did this, they would no longer be in the administration.

Speaking of McClellan, I suppose it's good for WH press secretaries to remain calm, but at times he appears virtually comatose. Not exactly a forceful spokesman for the Bush administration.

[mewzilla]

I think Chuckie's got his dates screwed up. Click Here for a link to his letter. There were ten days between when the story broke and Chuckie's letter was written.

[governsleastgovernsbest]

If anyone is in a time zone where The Today Show hasn't come on yet, I'd encourage them to catch the interview just to witness with their own eyes Schumer's astounding display of pure political hatred.

[LeftiesBinWhinin]

"I don't think anybody has faith the Justice Dept. will do a fair investigation."

Hey, Chuckie!

Now you know how we feel after 8 years of Clinton!

[Neets]

Awwwww, you remembered me!!

I am "touched"

[Just mythoughts]

Thanks, so prior to being a clinton flunkie what did he do?

Where is he from? Has he worked in "government", or how did he and the clintons get connected.

What qualifications did he have to go to Africa to find out anything about nuke material?

Somehow this man is being presented as being credible because he has ambassador before his name.

[Dane]

I was surprised at Matt Lauer's skeptical questioning. If katie had done the interview it would have been a chuck schumer pep rally.

Lauer still didn't state that Novak said yesterday that no one in the Bush administration leaked Ms. Plame's name.

[Pan_Yans Wife]

On Fox they said no one in the Bush Admin. leaked her name.

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Yes, Lauer's skeptical tone about Schumer and his motivations was shocking.

Good point about Lauer's failure to cite Novak's unequivocal statement that no one in the Bush administration had leaked the information. Here's a link to an article on that:

http://www.cnn.com/2003/ALLPOLITICS/09/29/novak.cia/

[hapy]

Bend and stretch reach for the sky stand on tippy toes....

Yawn... I think this is no big deal. Let the dems have their fun in the sun. It will soon be old news. Unless, of course the judge tells more lies