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.

[Ed_in_NJ]

This is ALL about trying to 'get even' for the idea that anyone tried to hold i42 accountable for his crimes.

It's all b.s. and the rats all know it. This is just more media outreach/exploitation by Chuckie "Methane" Schmucker.

[MEG33]

I am concerned that a member of the CIA in a sensitive position has a mate who has said on TV and in print and on the lecture circuit that he recommends MoveOn,com(CPUSA had them linked on their site until it was causing an uproar by the Republicans who found it).

He also belongs to Win Without War and says his politics are left of center.He is actively campaigning against the current admistration.

I want anyone in any position punished if they endangered a life or national security.I want the CIA free of political taint.

[rmgatto]

The two parties have irreconcilable differences of values at the core: the role of government, the nature of abortion, secular vs. spiritual influences in education and daily life, the meaning of the Constitution, to name a few. These will always inform the debate between most democrats and republicans and will naturally cause proponents on both sides to argue with passion (and lack of reason) about minor but sensational details.

You might as well ask why there has always been war.

[governsleastgovernsbest]

I'd like to think that if you continue to monitor our boards, after a few months at least a kernel of doubt about liberal dogma will be implanted in your mind, and who knows, in a year you might turn up here with a new screen name: "GoBush04"!

[Ed_in_NJ]

I have no issue with your posting well thought out and civilly-expressed opinions that differ from mine.

I also understand that there are regulars here who might disagree with me on this.

[AD from SpringBay]

Sort of like 6,000 FBI files, Mr. Senator? Does that make you angry?

[snooker]

"Schumer is obviously extremely confident of his electoral base in NY ... "

Unless Guilianni runs against him, then he would loose according to the latest Marist data.

[Khaibit]

Oi!

News just breaking... the Justice Department has upgraded this to a full criminal probe and directed the FBI to investigate the source of the leaks. They are contacting the CIA to find out who had access to the info.

[governsleastgovernsbest]

I respect your opinion on the issue, and feel slightly uncomfortable in suggesting that liberals, even ones expressing themselves civilly, should be discouraged from posting at FR.

But, upon reflection, I conclude that FR was created, and remains, a place for conservatives to debate among themselves, rather than to debate with liberals. There are other forums for that. We need and are entitled to our place.

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Right. But all indications are that if Rudy runs, it will be against The Beast in '06. And wouldn't that be delicious?

For purposes of his national ambitions, Rudy will get much more credit for "making his bones" against Hillary than for taking out Chuckie.

[MEG33]

It will be better to get it all out and over.

[maryz]

The two parties have irreconcilable differences of values at the core: the role of government, the nature of abortion, secular vs. spiritual influences in education and daily life, the meaning of the Constitution, to name a few.

The differences between the parties, as such, are a lot blurrier than the differences between conservatives and liberals (without getting into shades of fiscal/social conservativism/liberalism). Personally, I'd like to see both major parties disband and have everyone realign along lines of what their convictions actually are, with new names to avoid the baggage of connotations no longer applicable.

[snooker]

Yep defeating Hillary would be best for all.

May just end the Clinturds future prospects if that happens.

[Just mythoughts]

Strange things are going on, and Mr. Wilson sure didn't help his case.

Now he seems to be after Rove and Ashcroft. Now for what purpose would that be his desire?

Rove is seen as the player that got President Bush elected and Mr. Wilson had no evidence that Rove had anything to do with leaking anything.

Now Mr. Ashcroft has been the "bullseye" target for the past couple of months, from ACLU to the commies in Congress and the dimwitts running for president.

Now the main complaint against Ashcroft has been about question of ones patriotism, and falsely accusing of searching libraries.

So we find spies in GITMO and who has been demanding cover for those at GITMO - ACLU and some in Congress.

Clark suddenly decides to run for president, in his general's outfit to save us from ourselves. Looks like Wilson and Clark have connections and the FRENCH.

Hillary's fundraiser pal, who claims to have the goods on her comes back from Brazil, being locked up for 2 years.

Wall Street CEO gets dumped and that mess started being looked into back in May, and there are claims that some of the financials are in bed with the clintons.

Now when the left gets this crazy demanding "independent" investigation of a "leak" there is always more there that what they will say.

Then out of the wild-blue Putin comes for a visit and publicly states that he was in talks with "someone" to oppose us taking out terrorists in Afghanistan. Now we all know that the clintons did nothing to stop the terrorists or take OBL when he was offered.

Maybe President Bush showed Mr. Putin a few connect-the-dots files. Remember that phrase?

So this seems to be about connecting-the-dots!

[hgro]

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.

If you had to stank before a group of clowns like the reporters(?) assigned to the White House it wouldn't be long before you would be comatose too.

[G.Mason]

This is a sham [SHAM, not shame]

It's really about Who didn't know?

[mrtysmm]

What a team for NY. Schumer and Hitlery.......There's no hope for NY. From where I sit, here in NY, I don't see any new promising GOP stars on the way up. This town is hopelessly liberal.

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Fair enough.

Ari Fleischer wasn't exactly Mr. Personality either, IMHO. But at least he occasionally manifested a pulse. McClellan is a flat-liner!

I think it would be useful to have a wittier, more appealing person as Press Secretary. Mike McCurry did the devil's work for Clinton, but he was darn good at it.

For that matter, James Brady, Pres. Reagan's Press Secretary who was injured in the assassination attempt, was very endearing and effective.

[arasina]

Here's Wilson's bio from The Middle East Institute's website, listed under Media Resources. (He's a CONTACT for the MEDIA when they need an EXPERT on the Middle East.

AMBASSADOR JOSEPH C. WILSON, IV
Ambassador Wilson is CEO of JCWilson International Ventures, Corp., a firm specializing in Strategic Management and International Business Development.

Ambassador Wilson served as Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for African Affairs at the National Security Council from June 1997 until July 1998. In that capacity he was responsible for the coordination of U.S. policy to the 48 countries of sub-Saharan Africa. He was one of the principal architects of President Clinton’s historic trip to Africa in March 1998.

Ambassador Wilson was the Political Advisor to the Commander-in-Chief of United States Armed Forces, Europe, 1995-1997. He served as the U.S. Ambassador to the Gabonese Republic and to the Democratic Republic of Sao Tome and Principe from 1992 to 1995. From 1988 to 1991, Ambassador Wilson served in Baghdad, Iraq as Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy. During “Desert Shield” he was the acting Ambassador and was responsible for the negotiations that resulted in the release of several hundred American hostages. He was the last official American to meet with Saddam Hussein before the launching of “Desert Storm.”

Ambassador Wilson was a member of the U.S. Diplomatic Service from 1976 until 1998. His early assignments included Niamey, Niger, 1976-1978; Lome, Togo, 1978-79; the State Department Bureau of African Affairs, 1979-1981; and Pretoria, South Africa, 1981-1982.

In 1982, he was appointed Deputy Chief of Mission in Bujumbura, Burundi. In 1985-1986, he served in the offices of Senator Albert Gore and the House Majority Whip, Representative Thomas Foley, as an American Political Science Association Congressional Fellow. He was Deputy Chief of Mission in Brazzaville, Congo, 1986-88, prior to his assignment to Baghdad.

Ambassador Wilson was raised in California and graduated from the University of California at Santa Barbara in 1972. He is a graduate of the Senior Seminar (1992), the most advanced International Affairs training offered by the U.S. Government. He speaks fluent French.

Ambassador Wilson holds the Department of Defense Distinguished Service Award, the Department of State Superior and Meritorious Honor Awards, the University of California, Santa Barbara Distinguished Alumnus Award, and the American Foreign Service Association William R. Rivkin Award. Additionally, he has been decorated as a Commander in the Order of the Equatorial Star by the Government of Gabon and as an Admiral in the El Paso Navy by the El Paso County Commissioners.

He is married to the former Valerie Plame and has two sons and two daughters.

If you want to see for yourself, here's the link: MEI Media Resources