Kerry Camp Accuses White House of Berger Leak ....

[annxburns]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20040721/ts_nm/security_berger_dc&cid=564&ncid=1963&sid=96378800


WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Democrat John Kerry (news - web sites)'s presidential campaign accused the Bush White House on Wednesday of disclosing the existence of a criminal investigation against former national security adviser Sandy Berger for political advantage.

The objective of such a leak, the Kerry campaign said in a political memo distributed by email, was to take attention away from a report to be issued on Thursday by the commission investigating the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.


Kick some ass, Kerry.

[lancdem]

1. Good!

Time to put the WH on the defensive.

[fearnobush]

23. Give it a 5.

Looks like we got some proof that Bu$h team leaked it. And the Senate Intel distort on Wilson only proves that the Neo-Con Republicans DON'T CARE ABOUT THE PEOPLE THEY REPRESENT.

[Jane Austin]

30. I have found myself yelling at least five times in the past day

to Patient Husband, "These people care NOTHING for this country! They only care about their power."

Now the difference between that and what I used to think is that I used to think that holding onto power merely INFORMED everything they do and that they are as patriotic in their own way as the rest of us.

I no longer feel that way.

If they cared one whit about this country, they would not make it impossible to govern.

Two days in a row, I have awakened to C-Span showing the House of Representatives with Republicans saying the most extreme and outrageous things Really over the top stuff.

Now it's been a long time since I've liked any Republicans, but last night when I saw tape of DeLay, Hastert and Blunt approaching a mike to Yap about Sandy Berger, followed by tape of Santorum, Cornyn and some other senator, I thought it was the sorriest sextet of human beings I'd ever seen on one television screen.

I pray to God that more of our fellow citizens start to see it that way, too.

These people are bringing down our country.

[GainesT1958]

2. Good "turn-around time" on this one!

Here's hoping the Kerry camp stays on a tight "rapid-response" schedule the way the Clinton campaign did in '92!:D

B-)

[Fovea]

7. Very good point

and let's hope this establishes a new M.O. for Kerry's Campaign.
They really could have twisted the knife by asking Howard Dean to make the statement for them...

[RobertSeattle]

3. Don't miss a few paragraphs below

(Non-denial denial)
I'm not aware of how this story came about. I know of no one in the White House that is aware of how this story came about," McClellan said.

He said officials in the White House legal counsel's office were made aware of the Berger investigation some time ago because they were in charge of putting together documents for the Sept. 11 commission to see.

(Huh?)

[LiviaOlivia]

5. Hey Scotty, why does it smell like the docks at low tide?

eom

[Viking12]

11. Scotty's shifting stories

This was on the AP today (June 21)

"President Bush's spokesman, Scott McClellan, disclosed Wednesday that the Justice Department notified the office of White House legal counsel Alberto Gonzalez about the probe before news of it leaked to the media Monday.


"My understanding is that this investigation has been going on for several months and that some officials in our counsel's office were contacted as part of the investigation," McClellan told reporters. "The counsel's office is the one that is coordinating with the Sept. 11 commission the production of documents and since this relates to some documents, the counsel's office was contacted as part of that investigation." "


This was on the AP wires yesterday (June 20) ...

"Scott McClellan, Bush's spokesperson, said no one there was aware of the Berger affair until they read it in some newspapers yesterday. "

[MaineDem]

4. Kerry campaign must have proof

More indication of desperation at the White House.

[reprobate]

27. Proof is not necessary. this is a war of words.

[tom_paine]

6. Hoorah! Fight HARD, John!

[VolcanoJen]

8. Bring it on!

Thank you, John Kerry. I was hoping ya had the fight in ya!

[nolabels]

9. What ever their taking it must be strong :v)

White House spokesman Scott McClellan said the White House had nothing to do with the disclosure that Berger, who was national security adviser under former President Bill Clinton (news - web sites), was under investigation for removing copies of highly classified documents from the National Archives.

Hmmmn, must of been Red China that leaked it out :crazy:


http://www.sterling-graphics.co.uk/cartoonpage2.htm

On edit: syntax

[Beetwasher]

10. This Is Good!

Now it can't be mentioned w/out the political aspects of the timing of the leak...Ha Ha!!

[lancdem]

12. Yes

That was already out there, but having the Kerry campaign make a direct charge elevates it even more. This also goes hand in hand with McAuliffe filing that FOA request. Good to see a coordinated strategy.

[Democat]

13. Connect the dots - Plame and Berger leaks - Bush's political leaks pattern

Kerry needs to use the Berger issue to attack Bush on a pattern of various issues - don't just focus on Berger, use this issue to get Wilson in the news and find a way to talk about "a pattern of lies and crimes" or something like that.

Connect it in a way that the American people will easily understand - show a pattern in Bush's actions.

[RobertSeattle]

14. What's the most common two phrases heard at the Bush White House?

{cough} "Pardon Me?"

"I'm going to go take a leak..."

[wryter2000]

15. Well done!

Taking the fight to them! Awesome.

[DaveClearwater99]

16. Nice

I like the counter punch. Now maybe they can follow up with a Plame to the mid section.

[dolstein]

17. They need to tie this to the Valerie Plame leak

The Kerry campaign should make the following argument:

This administration has already demonsrated that it is willing to leak the name of an undercover CIA agent in order to punish its critics. Therefore, it should come as no surprise that the administration would leak confidential information about a pending criminal investigation to serve its own political ends. The timing of this disclosure, right before the release of the report of the 9/11 commision, makes it clear that once again, this administration is playing politicals with our national security.

[Democat]

19. They are making a mistake if they don't use this to bring in Plame

It's so obvious, yet not mentioned in the above linked article.

I hope Kerry doesn't drop the ball - it is so obvious, so easy for people to understand, and much more powerful to point out the "pattern of politically motivated leaks" coming from the White House.

[lancdem]

21. We'll have to see how this develops

What we have is a good start.

[lancdem]

20. Great summary

You should email it to the campaign. Seriously. I think you nailed it perfectly.

[kodi]

32. kerry needs to file a suit against the busheviks under the rico statutes

systematic, concerted efforts that illegally leak confidential government information to cause harm to others is a conspiracy.

[Cocoa]

18. Kerry will win any battle of credibility

Bush's credibility numbers are in the tank.

Upshot of this story: people will see the Bushies as being afraid of the Sept. 11 Commission's report.

[LittleApple81]

22. Who rates this articles low? Are they freeped? I rated it 5 but is only

a little above 3.

[tkmorris]

24. Yep

That's why I despise that rating system for articles they have. Any major political story inevitably ends up with a rating in the 3's because there are concerted efforts by both sides to either bump a story to the top or make it disappear. Thus it ends up with a whole fleet of 1's and 5's, giving it an average rating of about 3.

If Yahoo reported having hard DNA evidence that Bush was actually a remarkably animated rubber tree plant the story would end up with a 3 overall.

[Wednesdays]

28. Well...

>>If Yahoo reported having hard DNA evidence that Bush was actually a remarkably animated rubber tree plant the story would end up with a 3 overall.

Well, in that instance I would cut them a little slack, because that particular story wouldn't surprise many people. :D

[spinbaby]

25. Forget rating it

What gets it up on the yahoo "most popular" page is if it gets emailed a lot. Use the button to email this article to everyone you know.

[dave29]

26. Rove Rove Rove Rove Rove Rove

Rove?

[Triana]

29. WooHoo

...Call 'em on their crap - excellent...

[wicket]

31. AWESOME!!!

Go Kerry Go! :kick:

[Kahuna]

33. With each passing day I am very grateful that Kerry is our candidate...

I was fiercely against Kerry because I didn't think he could win. Kerry is waging a very smart campaign. He's helped though by bushco's own avarice and self induced implosion. Hail Kerry/Edwards!!! :bounce: