AP: Assorted Reactions from US leaders

[ticapnews]

http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/1028CIAleakQuotes28-ON.html

Reaction to the indictment Friday of I. Lewis ``Scooter'' Libby Jr., aide to Vice President Dick Cheney, on charges of obstruction of justice, making a false statement and perjury in the CIA leak case:

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``Scooter has worked tirelessly on behalf of the American people and sacrificed much in the service to this country. He served the Vice President and me through extraordinary times in our nation's history.'' - President George Bush.

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``I have accepted his decision with deep regret.'' - Vice President Dick Cheney, in a statement accepting Libby's resignation following the indictment.

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``When a vice president's chief of staff is charged with perjury and obstruction of justice, it does show the world that this is a country that takes its law seriously; that all citizens are bound by the law.'' - Special prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald.

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``Today is a sad day for America. When an indictment is delivered to the front door of the White House, the office of the president is defiled. No citizen can take pleasure from that.'' - Former Ambassador Joseph Wilson, in a statement read by attorney Christopher Wolfe.

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``Today's indictments represent the beginning, but not the end, of the process of finally holding the Bush administration accountable for its conduct in foisting a pre-emptive war on this country.'' - Rep. John Conyers of Michigan, ranking Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee.

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``These are very serious charges against Mr. Libby. I believe in the rule of law and the strength and integrity of our justice system and it shall prevail.'' - Sen. Conrad Burns, R-Mont.

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``They suggest that a senior White House aide put politics ahead of our national security and the rule of law.'' - Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid of Nevada.

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``Scooter Libby did the right thing by resigning.'' - Sen. John Thune, R-S.D.

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``It appears to be a case of revenge run amok.'' - Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, on allegations that the CIA leak was an effort to undermine a critic of the Iraq war.

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``As so often happens with Washington scandals, it isn't the original scandal that gets people in the most trouble - it's the attempted cover-up.'' - Rep. Tom Petri, R-Wis.

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``Today's events only confirm that we need to know answers to the larger question: Did this administration deliberately lie to Congress in order to obtain its authorization to go to war?'' - Rep. Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y.

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``If he did something wrong, he did something wrong. What I know of him is a very good and decent person.'' - Former Rep. Vin Weber, R-Minn., Washington lobbyist with close ties to the White House.

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``This administration owes our CIA agents around the world a promise that their identities will never be jeopardized. And it owes the American people direct answers and responsible action.'' - Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y.

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``There are many of us that are frustrated about Mr. Wilson. We are frustrated about the whole Valerie Plame thing, but none of that excuses the behavior that led to the types of charges you see today.'' - House Intelligence Chairman Peter Hoekstra, R-Mich.

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"Today's events only confirm that we need to know answers to the larger question: Did this administration deliberately lie to Congress in order to obtain its authorization to go to war?" - Rep. Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y.

[blm]

1. You missed Kerry's "White House corruption at highest levels"

John Kerry issued the following statement on the indictment of Scooter Libby on 5 counts (one count of obstruction of justice, two counts of making false statements and two counts of perjury in the CIA leak probe) today:

“Today’s indictment of the Vice President’s top aide and the continuing investigation of Karl Rove are evidence of White House corruption at the very highest levels, far from the ‘honor and dignity’ the president pledged to restore to Washington just five years ago.

“A chief architect of the war in Iraq, Scooter Libby, sworn to protect this country, used access to national security information not as weapons against our nation’s enemies, but as weapons against someone who dared to ask tough questions of a dishonest policy. Then they tried to cover it up rather than come clean with the American people, even as the President falsely claimed his Administration was cooperating with investigators. Not only was America misled into war, but a Nixonian effort to silence dissent has now left Americans wondering whether they can trust anything this Administration has to say.

[ticapnews]

2. Not me, the AP

:P

I just took this from the AP story...they didn't include Kerry, Kennedy, Dean...

[blm]

3. heh....isn't that telling? They're certainly still working for BushInc.

.

[ticapnews]

4. Notice that they did include Hillary's statement...

No other potential Democratic candidate got quoted.
No prominent Republicans either (aside from the Pres and VP, of course)

[blm]

6. Really interesting....and so transparent.

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[Liberal Dose]

5. Nixonian. My new favorite word. I LOVE IT! n/t