Nepotism: Bush apologists claim it as logical motivation for Plame

[ProfessorPlum]

I hear all over the TV apologists for Bush, and even progressives who are talking about this case, that the Bushies were just trying to discredit Wilson by pointing out his trip was "nepotism".

This is the biggest crock of crap I've ever heard. We need to start pointing out that this "explanation" of a terrible act of treason doesn't even begin to make sense.

1. Wilson was the most qualified person to make this trip. He had made several like it. He was extremely experienced in African relations. And his wife was an expert in the area.

2. Nepotism implies doing something nice for your relations. What is "nice" about sending your husband on an extended trip to Niger to talk to nuclear regulatory officials? Hell, even if he was going to the Bahamas to investigate the stories, he would have just been sitting in rooms talking to diplomats and technocrats. He wasn't paid for the trip (he volunteered his time) and he had to prepare a lengthy report on the most important issues of national security, so I'm sure he took his time and made sure he got it right. Hardly sounds like a vacation to me.

3. Even if his wife brought his name up to the folks picking the person to go, WHERE IN THE HELL does the BUSH administration get off lecturing ANYBODY on NEPOTISM!!! W's whole life story is nepotism. Scalia's son was working for a GOP consulting team during the Florida recount while his father was hearing Bush v. Gore. Thomas's wife was working for the Bush transition team while her husband was hearing Bush v. Gore. Colin Powell's son gets a job at the FCC. Who are these arseholes to even mention nepotism? They should be afraid to even show their faces when the word is brought up.

For the media to mention this as if it is some kind of legitimate excuse or strategy only validates this incredibly stupid, illogical strategy. They must stop immediately. So should we all.

[Mist]

1. LOL! This is not a complaint THIS admin. can make credibly!

They're founding a freakin' dynasty, and complaining about nepotism? Oh, right, I forgot about that projection thing.

[ewagner]

2. Nice Job!

I will use your post as talking points loudly and often.

Thanks

[BOSSHOG]

3. Wilson and Plame were acting as two patriotic and competent

Americans doing what they could to assist their country. Something conservatives and the bush administration do not understand. In their bizarro world, if Wilson had returned from Niger and wrote a false report about Iraq's efforts to buy Uranium, he would have been given a medal by bush and his wife's identity would never have been brought up. Yes conservatives you are the number one domestic enemy of the consitution (actually tied with insane religious zealots.)

[Bernardo de La Paz]

4. Cheney's Daughter Mary is Deputy Assistant Secretary of State !

[ProfessorPlum]

7. Thanks for that n/t

[Tamarin]

5. Even if Libby and Rove feel they were justified

in claiming that Wilson was sent to Niger because his wife was CIA (and you know how the CIA is just chomping at the bit to discredit the admin.) wouldn't they still have had a duty to find out if the information they were passing to journalists was classified? How did Novak know she was an operative and that she worked for Brewster-Jennings?

[snippy]

6. Democrats should just link nepotism to the culture of corruption.

Both of Cheney's daughters have government jobs, Senator McConnell's wife is the Secretary of Labor, and Scott McClellan's brother is the Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and before that was head of the FDA. I am sure there are many other examples of republican nepotism and that there are some democrat examples as well. Democrats should admit their own nepotism and make eliminating nepotism a part of reforming the culture of corruption.

[ProfessorPlum]

8. And thank you for those

they make the case even stronger.

What a bunch of horseshite.

[comsymp]

11. And Michael Powell, Virginia Thomas, Janet Rehnquist, Eugene Scalia

Want more?


Besides, VPlame was not in a position to give Wilson the job, she allegedly suggested him to the Head Spooks, who made the decision. Really stretches the definition of nepotism pretty thin, doesn't it?

[cantstandbush]

9. Suggesting that spouse be sent on a mission vs giving spouse and children

permanent, well-paying jobs on the public payroll is not even close to being equal.

[cliss]

10. He who lives in a glass house

should never throw stones.

[butterfly77]

12. So what reporters have relatives in ..

the bush administration on tv news or news papers. They are all liars they give us what they can to make it look good or not lose jobs or ratings.