White House lashes out at Gore "hypocrisy" on domestic spying

[wicket]

http://www.wane.com/Global/story.asp?S=4371681&nav=0RYb

The White House is lashing out at Al Gore for accusing President Bush of breaking the law with warrantless wiretaps.
Press Secretary Scott McClellan says -- quoting here -- Gore's "hypocrisy knows no bounds."

Yesterday, Gore said Bush's approval of the snooping on phone calls and e-mail exchanges with terror suspects abroad was a "direct assault" on the court that Congress set up to monitor domestic spying. The former vice president called it a "threat to the very structure of our government."

Firing back, McClellan notes that when Gore was in office, the F-B-I didn't get a warrant when it searched the home of agent-turned-spy Robert Hanssen -- and a Clinton administration official defended the search.

McClellan adds that if Gore is now the Democratic Party's "voice" on national security -- quoting again -- "We welcome it."


:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[wtmusic]

1. "We welcome it...no, really..."

[deminks]

2. Thanks, McMuffin, for giving Gore free press! Bwahahaha.

Gore was elected by the popular vote. I don't think you want to go there, Scotty. Bwahahahaha.

[rodeodance]

3. see scooty boy's comment.

McClellan adds that if Gore is now the Democratic Party's "voice" on national security -- quoting again -- "We welcome it."

[mvd]

35. Yep - what a laugh

And Bush is supposed to be a good voice?

Let's see:

Bush

1. Manipulated/cherrypicked intelligence on Iraq - and yes, lied

2. Ignored Bin Laden and any real threats

3. Didn't even read reports on Iraq reconstruction

4. Put our trust in Chalabi that we'd be greeted once we got there

5. Said the war would be over quickly; massively underestimated the cost

6. Still doesn't have a pull-out plan; had elections that will likely make Iraq a more fundamentalist state

I'd say I trust Gore.

[qanda]

They must have heard the response on CSPAN this morning

Democrats, many Republicans and Independents were all very positive about Gore's speech.

[EFerrari]

4. Thanks for the belly laugh!

"Press Secretary Scott McClellan says -- quoting here -- Gore's "hypocrisy knows no bounds."'

:rofl:

[wicket]

5. You are very welcome!

I can't stop laughing myself! :rofl: :D

[rodeodance]

6. good laugh--BUT these talking points are what people hear-Gonzalas

said the same thing on cnn and fox last night.

[EFerrari]

9. I know. And no one asks, "How do you know Clinton did that?"

They just nod and go to the next softball.

[rodeodance]

15. wonder if some WH reporter countered Scott. I did nto see it.

[EFerrari]

20. I haven't seen it. I'm waiting to see if Howard thinks Gore

has kooties or if he will concur with him.

[DainBramaged]

7. "We make no comment on on-going investigations"

hmmmmm, did BeamMeUpScottie ever say that? So, why would he comment on Gore's comments?:spray:

I wish there was a "douche bag" smiley for comments like Scottie "good dog" McCatsup's

[mom cat]

8. Scotty is losing it... that is good!

[Sub Atomic]

11. Douche Bag Smiley?

How about this image instead?

[ColonelTom]

10. Wiretapping an agent-turned-spy on the job, wasn't it?

I'm no expert, but how can the Republicans compare Hanssen's story to the wiretapping of thousands of American citizens? You've gotta be kidding me.

The White House is trying to keep the DNC in paralysis mode. Notice how McClellan snapped the leash back on the DNC again - if they back Gore's speech, then he's <b>the</b> voice of the Democratic Party on all national security issues.

[MiniMe]

33. Doesn't mean that they didn't go to the FISA court later nt

[Plaid Adder]

12. Keeeeeep lashing.

The harder you all lash, the nuttier you look.

My favorite is Mehlman's crack about Gore being "desperate for attention." Dude, I *wish* he had been desperate for attention back in 2000. At least he's not dressing up in military uniforms and trotting round the globe pretending to land fighter jets.

Talk about desperate,

The Plaid Adder

[Straight Shooter]

18. And he doesn't wear the same blue shirt over and over.

with the artificial "sweat stains" sprayed on him by his staff.

[eppur_se_muova]

13. White House lashes out at Gore IN "hypocrisy" on domestic spying

You dropped an important preposition there.

[wysiwyg]

14. They repeat the bogus "Clinton did it" argument

"McClellan said the Clinton-Gore administration had engaged in warrantless physical searches, and he cited an FBI search of the home of CIA turncoat Aldrich Ames without permission from a judge."

What isn't mentioned is that FISA didn't originally cover physical searches and was later ammended to do so.

[rodeodance]

16. here is short article to counter the 'clinton did it' crowd.

http://www.thinkprogress.org/
In Desperation, Gonzales Smears Gore

Here’s Attorney General Alberto Gonzales on the Larry King Live show last night:

I would say that with respect to comments by the former vice president it’s my understanding that during the Clinton administration there was activity regarding the physical searches without warrants, Aldrich Ames as an example.

I can also say that it’s my understanding that the deputy attorney general testified before Congress that the president does have the inherent authority under the Constitution to engage in physical searches without a warrant and so those would certainly seem to be inconsistent with what the former vice president was saying today.

The issue with the Bush’s warrantless domestic wiretapping program is that it violates a federal criminal law, the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. Despite what Gonzales is implying, the Clinton administration never violated FISA and never claimed they could violate FISA. Here’s why:

1. Prior to 1995, FISA did not cover physical searches. (With Clinton’s signature, the law was expanded to cover physical searches in 1995.) The search of Aldrich Ames home occurred in 1993. It did not violate FISA.......

[wordpix]

27. lies and more lies from Snotty and the repukes. Go, Pres. Gore!!!

[donkeyotay]

38. Exactly. They never take responsiblity. "Well, Billy got a blow job..."

Well you all go get yerselves one too. And then explain why the points your critics raise are not valid. Go ahead. Make my day.

[Vyan]

41. Correct...

FiSA did not cover physical searches at the time of the Aldridge Ames Case. It wasn't until later that the Clinton Administration lobbied for physical searches to be included within FISA.

Vyan

[Placebo]

17. It's like a "What the hell are they going to say next?" game...

It gets stranger and stranger. They talk as if they have some sort of moral or political high ground!

[wysiwyg]

19. My short email to Nedra Pickler

Dear Ms. Pickler,

In your article "White House Accuses Gore of Hypocrisy" it was written:

"McClellan said the Clinton-Gore administration had engaged in warrantless physical searches, and he cited an FBI search of the home of CIA turncoat Aldrich Ames without permission from a judge."

The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance act originally only authorized electronic surveillance. President Clinton authorized physical searches until FISA was amended in 1994. It was the Clinton administration that proposed extending FISA to include physical searches.

The actual amendment was in section 709 of H.R. 4299, the "Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1995". Please note that the changes did not become effective until 1995.

Aldrich Ames was arrested in February 1994. The Republican statement about this being "hyprocrisy" is, to be generous, inaccurate.

In my opinion the Clinton administration recognized that it had to act on the President's authority as FISA did not cover physical searches. Furthermore they recognized the potential for abuse due to a lack of oversight and successfully moved to amend FISA to avoid such potential problems. The Clinton administration did so by actually giving up assumed authority. This is quite a different situation that that described by Mr. McClennan.

Bill Faulk

I could have note that I discovered the relevent information after about 5 minutes on Google but that would be rude. :-)

(Edited to include more information that I always remember after posting somewhere.)

[merwin]

21. Uh, THERE WAS A WARRANT ISSUED on Feb 16, 2001 for the search of his house

http://www.cicentre.com/Documents/DOC_Hanssen_Search_Warrants.htm

"4. On February 16, 2001, United States Magistrate Judge T. Rawles Jones, Jr., of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, issued a criminal complaint charging ROBERT PHILIP HANSSEN with conspiracy to commit espionage (18 U.S.C. §794(c)) and espionage (18 U.S.C. §794(a)). He also authorized the issuance of search warrants for HANSSEN's residence in Virginia, and for three automobiles located at that residence. The probable cause for the complaint and search warrants was set forth in the attached and incorporated Affidavit which were subscribed and sworn to by me on February 16, 2001."

[wicket]

23. WTF- in Feb 2001 Clinton wasn't even in office

Bush was!

[merwin]

26. Very true. I can't find anything about Clinton searching his house with or

without a warrant.

[Yoda Yada]

22. Use the same word "hypocrisy" against THEM....

Ex: "No,...

hypocrisy is saying you are a "uniter" when actually you ar a divider"...

hypocracy is saying you will "find the leak" and then do everything to impede the investigation...

hypocrisy is implying that Saddaam Hussein was responsible for 9/11, when you knew he wasn't...

hypocrisy is saying that diplomacy is important to you, when you are constantly bullying other nations to get your way...

hypocracy is taking an oath to defend the Constitution and then reneging on your promise...."

(you get the idea... reframe their words against them)

[wordpix]

28. also use "liars,'"culture of corruption," "incompetence," and "impeachment

[thinkingwoman]

31. "Liars" is my favorite

I prefer direct and dumbed down. All those other words have too many letters. :evilgrin:

[Yoda Yada]

36. If they use the word "liars"...

..they had better have a quick comeback to the next inevitable question....

"Are you calling President Bush a liar?" .......then (sigh) begins the "Democratic dance" around the question. Of course, they could develope a backbone and say:

"Yes, a person who tells lies is a liar. President Bush is a liar." That statement alone will make headlines around the world for the next three days!

[thinkingwoman]

37. ITA...if only...nt

[The_Casual_Observer]

24. That was the best that jr could do?

[warrens]

25. Opus Dei and Scalia/Novak/Tenet buddy Hanssen is still a sore point...

Neocon traitorboy.

[wordpix]

29. this is GOOD---Snotty and WH keep Pres. Gore & his speech in spotlight

[grasswire]

30. I heard the answer on Larry King Monday night

The law at the time allowed the AG Janet Reno to authorize the physical search of Hanssen's house without a warrant.

It's very simple. The law was changed. Clinton complied with the law before and after it was changed.

Gonzalez and other members of the administration are spreading disinformation. Impeach them now.

[mvd]

32. mvd accuses white house of lying again

Lie #7,333,432,789

[Maggie_May]

34. Scott we do welcome the truth

and we finally heard it from Al Gore.

[wysiwyg]

39. Story updated to note FISA timing

The story has been updated to add:

But at the time that of the Ames search in 1993 and when Gorelick testified a year later, the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act required warrants for electronic surveillance for intelligence purposes, but did not cover physical searches. The law was changed to cover physical searches in 1995 under legislation that Clinton supported and signed.

White House Accuses Gore of Hypocrisy hosted at AP.

That pretty much deflates the administrations argument. I'm sure when Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, and company talk about this issue they'll "forget" that.

[rodeodance]

40. details such as this are not important to that crowd.