White House: No, Obama Is Not Nixon

[ProSense]

White House: No, Obama Is Not Nixon

White House spokesman Jay Carney balked when asked by a reporter Tuesday how President Obama feels about being compared to Richard Nixon.

"I don't have a reaction from President Obama," Carney said. "I can tell you that people who make those kind of comparisons need to check their history."

He called it "a reflection of the sort of rapid politicization of everything that you have that kind of commentary."

The White House is fending off questions about conduct at the IRS and Justice Department, as well as ongoing questions from Republicans about Benghazi.

"What we have here with one issue in Benghazi that is so clearly, as we're learning more and more, a political sideshow and a political effort to exploit a tragedy," Carney said. "The president feels strongly about that. You heard him address that yesterday. On these other issues, these are things that we are finding out about and we need to wait appropriately for independent action to be completed before he can in any way take action or comment specifically on it."

http://livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/entry/carney-no-obama-is-not-nixon

I thought Nixon was a "liberal"?

Carney: ‘Wholly Inappropriate’ To Comment On Ongoing DOJ Investigation

White House press secretary Jay Carney on Tuesday again referred questions about the collection of Associated Press phone records to the Department of Justice, stating that President Barack Obama remained a "strong defender of the First Amendment."

"The president is a strong defender of the first amendment," Carney told reporters at a White House press conference. "And a firm believer in the need for the press to be unfettered in its ability to conduct investigative reporting and facilitate a free flow of information. He also of course recognizes the need for the Justice Department to investigate alleged criminal activity without undue influence."

"I cannot and he cannot comment on an ongoing Department of Justice investigation, it would be wholly inappropriate," Carney added.

http://livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/entry/carney-obama-is-strong-defender-of-first-amendment

Michael Isikoff:

<...>

What`s not clear is Holder`s own role, because Holder testified shortly thereafter that he himself had been interviewed for this investigation, as that FBI Director Bob Muller and as we`ve since learned, CIA Director John Brennan, because they all had prior knowledge of this -- of the matter that was -- the information that had been leaked.

So it would be highly unusual for the attorney general to have been interviewed in investigation and then play an active role. Earlier tonight, I had -- earlier today, I had a Justice Department official tell me that Holder had been recused in this investigation -- recused himself.

I`ve been trying to confirm that all night with the Justice Department and have not gotten a clear answer. I was told I would get one by the tile the show has aired. I have not gotten it yet.

So, it`s very unclear who exactly approved this. If Holder was recused, the U.S. attorney could have approved this subpoena without consulting the attorney general, or could have been another high-level official, the acting deputy attorney general, head of the criminal division. We don`t know yet who exactly approved it and we haven`t gotten clear answers from the Justice Department tonight.

http://www.nbcnews.com/id/51878006/ns/msnbc-rachel_maddow_show/

Hypocrisy: "Republicans accused the administration of deliberately leaking classified information"
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022840983

[msongs]

1. nixon was not a "moderate" republican nt

[BeyondGeography]

2. I smell an odor

These little "crises" all pop up simultaneously, starting with the GOP's revival of Benghazi. It stinks.

[SidDithers]

3. But I've been told by countless dumbasses that Nixon is more liberal than Obama...nt

Sid

[Enrique]

4. I called it

I predicted that if a reporter asked the WH spokesman if Obama is Nixon, the spokesman would answer "No".

by the way, of course Obama is not Nixon.

[kona808]

5. Of course Obama isn't Nixon

Nixon had few defenders and many already thought of him as a shifty eyed crook. There really weren't any lofty expectations of him.

Quite frankly very few people at the time were surprised to learn that he was a corrupt, paranoid, power hungry, terribly flawed person.

Nobody mourned, most just wanted an end to it all. There was relief when he abdicated.

Keep in mind he was known as Tricky Dick even in the '50's.