White House defends political briefings

[rodeodance]

Source: ap



White House defends political briefings

By DEB RIECHMANN, Associated Press Writer 32 minutes ago

WASHINGTON - The White House said Tuesday that there was nothing improper about Bush administration political advisers briefing top diplomats about key congressional and gubernatorial races and President Bush's re-election goals.
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"You've got political appointees getting political briefings," White House press secretary Tony Snow said Tuesday with a dose of sarcasm. "I'm shocked. Shocked."

Snow was asked about political briefings requested by six envoys — all political appointees, who were rewarded with coveted ambassadorial positions in western Europe for their long-standing ties to Bush and the Republican Party.

At the State Department, spokesman Sean McCormack said the briefings had not violated either the Hatch Act or the department's own "very strict guidelines" that bar partisan political activity by diplomats.


Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070724/ap_on_re_us/white_house_politics;_ylt=Ak8FHrp_av_BXE8CaK2kf8Ws0NUE

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Gonzo did not know-about this----will look into it.
was asked in hearing today.

[yardwork]

1. IT'S AGAINST THE LAW.

[aquart]

2. But the law does not apply to the executive branch. Bush says so.

Pay attention.

[yardwork]

3. I refuse to comply! lol!

[Supersedeas]

15. Snow admits a violation of the law, then dares the wimps in the media to print a word

[Gman]

4. Political appointees that became federal employees,

that is, starting drawing a paycheck from the US government. That made them Hatched. If they never drew a check they were never federal employees. But they did and they were Hatched. That's real simple.

[damntexdem]

5. Hey, the Hatch Act, and laws in general, apply to Democrats. These are Republicans!

Stop trying to misapply the law to those who are above it. ;-)

[Gman]

6. Oh... sorry. Nevermind...

[Kagemusha]

8. Yes, this part about ambassadors not being diplomats confuses me.

And I can't seriously believe it is so, for the reasons you elucidated.

[Gman]

12. The way I understand it is that the Hatch Act applies to Civil Service employees

I don't know if the diplomatic corps is considered Civil Service.

[Kagemusha]

13. I'm pretty darned sure the diplomatic corps is considered civil service.

It's certainly not military service.

[gratuitous]

7. Would it shock Tony Snow to know?

The Executive branch is not a political subsidiary of the Republican party; it belongs to all the people of the United States. Would this be earth-shattering news to Tony Snow?

[Kagemusha]

9. Yes.

(simple answers to simple questions etc etc...)

[gratuitous]

11. Yeah

I'm just concerned that it might aggravate his cancer and hasten his demise. Darn my bleeding liberal heart!

[Uncle Joe]

10. Thanks for the thread rodeodance.

Kicked and recommended.

[blogslut]

14. Nothing Improper

I am so damned sick of hearing that damned phrase. Ambiguous, run-around, obfuscating bullshit. They use it because they can't come out and say WE DID NOTHING ILLEGAL.