Poll: Many Doubt White House Cooperation in CIA Leak Probe /ABC

[Rose Siding]

July 18, 2005 — Just a quarter of Americans think the White House is fully cooperating in the federal investigation of the leak of a CIA operative's identity, a number that's declined sharply since the investigation began. And three-quarters say that if presidential adviser Karl Rove was responsible for leaking classified information, it should cost him his job.

Skepticism about the administration's cooperation has jumped. As the initial investigation began in September 2003, nearly half the public, 47 percent, believed the White House was fully cooperating. That fell to 39 percent a few weeks later, and it's lower still, 25 percent, in this new ABC News poll.

This view is highly partisan; barely over a tenth of Democrats and just a quarter of independents think the White House is fully cooperating. That grows to 47 percent of Republicans — much higher, but still under half in the president's own party. And doubt about the administration's cooperation has grown as much among Republicans — by 22 points since September 2003 — as it has among others.

There's less division on consequences: 75 percent say Rove should lose his job if the investigation finds he leaked classified information. That includes sizable majorities of Republicans, independents and Democrats alike — 71, 74 and 83 percent, respectively.

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/PollVault/story?id=949950

[yardwork]

1. Rove already admitted he leaked classified information!

This country is so full of dingbats sometimes I despair. I swot.

[peace frog]

3. It's hard to stay fully informed...

when they get their news from CNN or their local newsrag. I find most people are not interested in having to hunt down their news... we here at DU are exceptions that prove that rule.

[damntexdem]

10. But over 70% of Republicans say Rove should lose his job ...

if he leaked classified info. Will they hold to that as it sinks in that he did, indeed, leak classified info? Will they be influenced by Dubya's flip flop, from 'I'll fire anyone involved' to 'I'll fire anyone who committed a crime'? Will it hold if Dubya says 'I'll fire anyone convicted of a crime'? What about 'I'll fire anyone convicted of a crime whom I haven't pardoned for doing it'? ;-)

[peace frog]

13. LOL

[54anickel]

15. Do you suppose the WH has this poll result when Dumbya decided

to come out with that "I'll fire anyone..." line?

[wallwriter]

2. Bringing honesty and integrity back to the White House...

:sarcasm:

[JuniperLea]

5. i love that!!!

wish i had a sound bite of that

[UpInArms]

4. what kind of freaking spin is this?

25 percent, in this new ABC News poll.

This view is highly partisan; barely over a tenth of Democrats and just a quarter of independents think the White House is fully cooperating

25 percent is not partisan, you ABC morons!

That is widespread across the board opinion.

:banghead:

[aquart]

7. More than half the Republicans think Georgie

is obstructing justice.

Where's the follow up question: Is this okay by you?

[UpInArms]

9. "winning" is everything to these cretins

even if all they win is a sack of shit.

[architect359]

11. Not the 25 percent

ABC is saying that within that 25 percent - the break down is partisan due to an obviously higher number of republicans supporting the administration. Please stop banging your head - that's gotta hurt. :-)

[dissent1977]

28. I noticed that too

It also says that 47% of Republicans believe that the White House is not cooperating. That is not "highly partisan", rather it shows that most people believe that the White House is stonewalling no matter what party they are in.

[goforit]

6. Yep...I think some repugs are becoming disgusted.

[damntexdem]

8. The longer Dubya hangs on to Rove ...

the tighter the noose that he hangs by. But he dare not give up Rove.

Remember the story of the monkey caught in the trap by the hand -- all he had to do was turn loose of the food grasped in the hand, but he can't bring himself to let go, so he stays trapped?

Or, as Randi Rhodes says: Dubya can't fire Rove; Rove could fire Dubya. LOL!

[belle]

14. No, Rove depends on Bush, now, too. Whose strings would he pull?

Who else would be as stupid and vain and politically convenient, all at once? Who else would submit to Rove's stage-managing so completely?

healthy little symbiotic relationship they got going there, boy.

[AmBlue]

21. Uh, yeah, it's hard to fire your brain

Truly.... The idiot son would be a puppet without a hand, if he did the right thing. He's probably still asking KKKarl what he should do about this. :nopity:

[Beetwasher]

12. Gotta Love The Downplaying Of This By the ABC Whores

These numbers are DEVASTATING.

Headline should be "LARGE MAJORITY Doubt WH Cooperation", instead we get "Many Doubt...".

Whores.

[TahitiNut]

16. If it were a liberal Democrat, it'd be "A TSUNAMI of Public Skepticism ...

... Covers the White House" :shrug:

[OnBackground]

17. Can this happen?

Although I have my doubts about whether Bush will divest himself of a key player in his rise (and undoubtedly someone who knows a lot of inside stuff on W and his team), the numbers are prety unambiguous. Could happen after all.

[deadparrot]

18. Good news.

Always encouraging to hear...especially the numbers concerning Republicans.

[pinto]

19. Bring on the 2006 elections!

It's Admin referendum time in the midterm elections.

[krkaufman]

20. The final numbers offer some hope...

... that even Republicans think there should be consequences should it be shown that Rove leaked classified info -- a bar far higher than "conviction" or "named a covert CIA operative."

[Moxygirl]

23. Highly partisan my ass. n/t

[krkaufman]

24. I was thinking of this passage....

There's less division on consequences: 75 percent say Rove should lose his job if the investigation finds he leaked classified information. That includes sizable majorities of Republicans, independents and Democrats alike — 71, 74 and 83 percent, respectively.

[progressivebydesign]

22. I smell Watergate. Or perhaps it's the scent of the tide turning. n/t

[Rainscents]

25. I have feeling, in 2006 election, Republicans is going to stay home

and not vote at all.

[No DUplicitous DUpe]

26. Cooperation?? Check out the Monday pm rope-a-dope with Scott...

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2005/07/20050718-2.html

I like this exchange:

Go ahead.

Q What is his problem? Two years, and he can't call Rove in and find out what the hell is going on? I mean, why is it so difficult to find out the facts? It costs thousands, millions of dollars, two years, it tied up how many lawyers? All he's got to do is call him in.

MR. McCLELLAN: You just heard from the President. He said he doesn't know all the facts. I don't know all the facts.

Q Why?

MR. McCLELLAN: We want to know what the facts are. Because --

Q Why doesn't he ask him?

MR. McCLELLAN: I'll tell you why, because there's an investigation that is continuing at this point, and the appropriate people to handle these issues are the ones who are overseeing that investigation. There is a special prosecutor that has been appointed. And it's important that we let all the facts come out. And then at that point, we'll be glad to talk about it, but we shouldn't be getting into --

Q You talked about it to reporters.

MR. McCLELLAN: We shouldn't be getting into prejudging the outcome.

Go ahead.

Q Scott, we don't know all the facts, but we know some of the facts. For example, Matt Cooper says he did speak to Karl Rove and Lewis Libby about these issues. So given the fact that you have previously stood at that podium and said these men did not discuss Valerie Plame or a CIA agent's identity in any way, does the White House have a credibility problem?

MR. McCLELLAN: No. You just answered your own question. You said we don't know all the facts. And I would encourage everyone not to prejudge the outcome of the investigation.

Q But on the specifics -- on the specifics, you made statements that have proven to be untrue.

[reprobate]

27. Judging by KKKarl's past actions, Mad George may have BIG problems.

If Rove is fired because of public opinion, and I find that distinctly possible as bush's numbers continue to plummet, I think it quite possible that Rove will turn on bush and reveal all the past criminal and unethical activities.

The one thing that Rove has proved in the past is that 'don't get mad, get even' is his raisen d'etre. He thrives on destroying others, and while Mad George might be known for loyatly, Rove certainly isn't.

[dArKeR]

29. "Did Bush tell Rove Plames name?" POLL I want to see on MSWHORE and

CNNWHORE!