CNN stands by Robert Novak in Plame probe

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

Journalist Robert Novak's status as a CNN contributor will remain unaffected during a federal probe into the revelation of a CIA officer's identity, executives at the news channel said Sunday.

"I think we're all aware that no one really knows what's going on in the investigation of the Valerie Plame incident," said Jonathan Klein, president of CNN/U.S. "So it would be awfully presumptuous of us to take steps against a guy in his career based on second, third, fourth-hand reporting."

Klein praised Novak as "one of the most outstanding political reporters this country has ever known."

A special prosecutor is investigating the Bush administration's leak of Plame's name. In a July 2003 newspaper column, Novak identified Plame, the wife of administration critic and former U.S. ambassador Joseph Wilson, as a CIA operative.

more: http://www.gainesville.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050717/APE/507170913

[acmavm]

1. And the surprise here is?

.

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

3. LOL... We could have hoped, couldn't we?

[SquireJons]

28. I am surprised

Why? Because they are discussing the issue at all. For what ever reason, Novak has been given a pass by every major media outlet for the duration of this whole episode, despite the overwhelming obviousness of his own culpability in outing a covert CIA agent. He's the one who did it, and so far no major outlet has criticized him in any way. It seems to me that the stink is starting to get closer and closer to Mr. Novak. He's the one who is responsible for writing the article in the first place. And it was obvious to me that it was political payback against Wilson, and that Novak allowed himself to be used to undermine both national security and the CIA for political gain by the bush mis-administration.

I'm all for freedom of the press, but this is manipulation of the press and Novak should be looking at jail time. I'm really starting to warm up to this Fitzgerald fellow. Kind of makes me wonder if Novak really fell in the shower last year or if he was paid a little visit by friends of his friends.

[otohara]

2. Well Then, The Boycott of CNN Continues

outstanding my ass, "douchebag of liberty"

[Rebellious Republican]

7. Yep, he ranks right up there with Benedict Arnold, oops my bad

he said "political reporters". I thought he said Political TRAITORS!

:sarcasm:

[OKthatsIT]

20. so incredibly easy to do

LIES = YAWN

[The Doctor.]

4. No suprise...

Klien will cut him out slowly over a period of months after the facts come to light... if he's smart.

[0007]

13. Jonathan Klein isn't smart, he's a fucking sicko that licks junior's

ass.

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

24. I believe you are correct.

[Dr.Phool]

5. It's not second hand reporting

"So it would be awfully presumptuous of us to take steps against a guy in his career based on second, third, fourth-hand reporting."

Just read the goddamned article he wrote!

Could Ted Turner please buy that network back? I know in the last quarter of 2004, George Soros and Warren Buffet both bought millions of shares in AOL-Time-Warner. Maybe they could take it over.

[Straight Shooter]

6. "One of the most outstanding political reporters"?

That explains a lot about why we're in the mess we're in. I guess Klein thinks Judas Miller is another "outstanding political reporter."

[bushisanidiot]

8. Translation: We will continue to help the WH with the cover up

CNN is nothing but a moutpiece for the repukes. when president clinton was in the white house, they had non-stop "scandal" pieces on him.. white water, white water, white water.. a total NON-STORY that they just WANTED to make into an actual "scandal".

Repuke pussie reporters

[muchacho]

9. Damn dirty liberal media !!!!!!!!

[progressoid]

11. Exactly!

Gaaah! - My M-I-L still believes that crap about a liberal media.

I said, "show me where the liberal media is". So, she went off to make coffee & never answered me. I'll be cut out of the will soon!

[ogradda]

10. O! I guess it's o.k. to be a

treasonous piece of shit then!:sarcasm:

[wallwriter]

12. CNN is a fucking joke. Let 'em keep Novakula

[wookie294]

14. Novak is a "reporter" ???

He writes commentary. He's not a reporter!

[goforit]

18. NOOoooo.......he's the KGBs top mastermind!!!

[Inland]

15. "Nobody knows" because YOU HAVEN'T ASKED HIM! JESUS!

For CNN to shrug it's shoulders and say that nobody knows whether it's guy is a felon or not and it would be presumptive to judge ignores that they can judge from his answer or non-answer to a question! Yoo-hoo! You are a fucking NEWS STATION. FIND A REPORTER WHO CAN'T MAKE IT TO THE HURRICANE SITE AND PUT HIM ON THE CASE.

Taking a page RIGHT out of the Bush handbook? "Gee,he's taking the fifth, well, you can't fire anybody until he VOLUNTEERS that he is guilty"!

If you aren't a rich white republican you would get shitcanned for taking an extra five minutes for a break. For being arrested for weed. For being named in the paper. Or for being anti-Bush.

[daleo]

16. Too funny

Klein praised Novak as "one of the most outstanding political reporters this country has ever known."

This fits Novak better: "...his career based on second, third, fourth-hand reporting."

[goforit]

17. CNN part of the crime too?We shall see...what will the public do???

Hmmmmm........lets see

Jonathan KLIEN chooses fork in road.

Remember these names.

[displacedtexan]

19. "They" used to say the same thing about molesters/rapists.

"This is a man's career we're talking about," was the response my female students got when they reported a lecherous teacher.

[grytpype]

21. This is just prolonging the enjoyment.

Hey, I'm enjoying these days of waiting for the indictments. I really am.

The Bushists are spinning and lying like crazy. But in a few weeks we'll have the indictments. And there is no way to spin that. Impossible.

They will start attacking Fitzgerald as an out of control partisan crazy prosecutor who is probably gay. That is the last resort these people have.

And then we will see how low Bush's numbers are going to go.

Nixon low.

Impeachment low.

[gulfcoastliberal]

22. This is the same Klein who defended their hurricane reporting on that DS

clip, where he said by showing viewers the effects of the hurricane by stationing their reporters outside so the the viewing audience won't go outside? That guy is a joke. Klein obviously has no clue of what real journalism is. CNN continues to suck ass, although I do appreciate the one hour of CNN International - too bad it's only between 12-1PM weekdays.

[Rex]

23. Funny to see Klein give Novakula a PRBJ

I'd never do that for a traitor, but that's just me.

[Supersedeas]

25. standing by the political dirty tricks campaigner...hmmm...Party matters

[guruoo]

26. I know it sucks...

but it's probably best that they took the stand they did.
After all, this isn't really about Novak, it's about the White House.
Take out the head, and the body will follow.

[SuperWonk]

27. Don't get me started on Klein...

But no one should be at all surprised by this move...
Just see some of the reasons above.

[against all enemies]

29. If a reporter "outed" 2 spies would he be twice the reporter Novak

is? How about if a reporter identified an entire CIA working group, would he be the best reporter ever. Christ this Klein guy is a stupid asshole.

[dissent1977]

30. Since when was Novak a "journalist"?

This article not only calls Novak a journalist however it also contains this lovely statement; Klein praised Novak as "one of the most outstanding political reporters this country has ever known."

This is what passes for journalism in this country?:puke: :puke: :puke:

[SuperWonk]

31. What passes for journalism?

Don't ask Klein. The state of CNN can speak to that better than I ever could.

[underpants]

32. Well (puts glasses into mouth) you know all his liberal friends say he is

:bounce: