CNN wants email: Is Rove-gate real scandal or partisan politics?

[dzika]

July 6, 2005

This morning, CNN has asked for emails about Karl Rove's leak of CIA information.

Is this scandal a real controversy or just partisan politics?



Email CNN at [e-mail]

[dzika]

1. CNN just said that the Karl Rove question is...

"lighting up the Inbox"

[NewJeffCT]

2. hopefully, it is not being Freeped!

I'll have to write a letter now.

[KG]

3. it's neither of those chioces - it's a crime and he's a criminal.

CNN - still denying reality.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

6. not at all

not when there is a missing girl in Aruba.

[geckosfeet]

40. the missing girl is in Roves closet.

[B Calm]

4. Crimes against America is not partisan politics!

One of the republican talking points is that Karl Rove didn't use the name of the CIA agent when he outed her.

Even though Karl Rove didn't name Valarie Plame, he did leak her identity as an undercover CIA agent. It wasn't a secret that Valarie Plame was Joe Wilson wife, the secret was she worked for the CIA, and that is what he leaked!

We'll leave the nasty vindictive political smear mongering politics to the republican party!


Williamsport, Indiana

[B Calm]

13. Delivery Status Notification ????

This is an automatically generated Delivery Status Notification.

Delivery to the following recipients failed.

" weekends"@cnn.com

[emulatorloo]

5. neither -- it is a criminal investigation requested by the CIA

because of the exposure of one of their agents by someone in the Whitehouse.

[Why Syzygy]

23. And so it is . Amen n/t

[Lisaben2619]

7. CNN's questions should be:

Why didn't CNN or any other major media give a crap about all the lies that Rove, Bush and Co, have told the American people before one of your own went to jail?
They've been incarcerating innocents all over the world and until now, you could have cared less.

[BlueManDude]

8. bump

[Robbien]

9. This is SOP for CNN

CNN will report that the emails overwhelmingly say it is just politics no matter what the real facts are. CNN just wants to hide behind the email ploy and not appear to be the RNC lapdog that they are.

[Cassandra]

10. My email

In regards to your stupid question about whether the Karl Rove scandal is a real controversy or partisan politics, the evidence is the investigation currently underway by Mr. Fitzgerald. His first job before the grand jury was to establish evidence of a crime. If there had been no crime, the grand jury would have sent him on his way immediately. Notice that the investigation continues. The real question is the level of involvement of Karl Rove in this crime. Will he be charged with treason, espionage, conspiracy, obstruction of justice or perjury or nothing? Time and Mr. Fitzgerald will tell.

[NewJeffCT]

16. good email

thanks for writing.

[rzemanfl]

11. My response:

Hey! Assholes!

You are a news organization! Figure it out!

Hint: it is a major scandal and part of Bush starting a war based on lies.

[dzika]

12. The have aired 2 replies so far...

The first one was from a freeper who said that it was the worst kind of partisan politics "pure and simple". I wasn't able to get a screen-snot of it.

The second email was more reasonable:

[rocktivity]

14. My e-mail (before I finished reading this thread)

Rovegate is a CAPITOL CRIME--an undercover CIA agent was exposed. Any attempt by the media to reduce it to "partisan politics" makes them accessories after the fact.

:headbang:
rocknation

[laureloak]

15. Here is my email to them

The use of classified information by a high ranking administration official to attack a political opponent is the real issue. Those involved are trying to brush the whole thing aside as "partisan politics", but the American people need to draw the line right now as to what is acceptable politics and what violates the high ethical standards we hold our top officals to. A sex-based scandal is human and forgivable - this isn't. It's involuntary treason.

[laureloak]

36. kick

[leesa]

59. Why involuntary treason? I don't understand that term. It was entirely

voluntary as far as I can tell.

[laureloak]

64. I'm thinking his plan was not to commit treason, but to get back

at Wilson. I think he thought he was in the clear when he outed Plame. Someone posted the specifics of the law re outing an undercover agent and it was so stringent it would be almost impossible to break. To me that could be called involuntary.

[Straight Shooter]

17. I threw their "partisan politics" insult back in their face

Dear CNN:

It's been two years since the exposure of Valerie Plame's critical role in tracking WMD, an exposure which occurred right on the heels of Joe Wilson revealing the yellowcake sham. The situation began with partisan politics thanks to Rove, Novak and other unknown party or parties, but it has developed into a genuine controversy with staggering implications.

[zanne]

24. Excellent, Straight Shooter!

The Republicans have been trying to make us forget the REASON for the investigation--political retribution by the administration. How many times have we read politicians and journalists mention this indirectly? These people are big on revenge. They can't take a hit without hitting back.

[SF Bay Area Dem]

18. We need to hit this BIG-TIME!

...I can already see Rove chipping away at this story and trying to turn it against the media... Fuck him. Let's bite back and hard!

[Cocoa]

19. Patrick Fitzgerald is a Republican

that's my email.

[zanne]

20. I told them to stop repeating RNC talking point No. 1 n/t

[Why Syzygy]

21. Hell yes!

It is partisan politics. GOP politics. Same game, different day.

[Eric J in MN]

22. Sent (nt)

nt

[dzika]

25. CNN aired 2 more responses...

[Robbien]

28. Wonder how many crazed freeper-like responses CNN is getting

That one sounds like a besotted cult follower and it is probably one of the sanest ones CNN received.

[geckosfeet]

49. he he he,, liberal elite media,,,,, ho ho ho,,,, President Bush a great

leader,,,,,,, ROTFLMAO,, APATST (and puking at the same time). CNN has to screen these better. Do they think that is a real e-mail ?? If it is its from one of the FOX and CNN shills.

What a sham the MSM has become.

[FormerRepublican]

61. I noticed the signature on the 2nd email was George...

George Bush, perhaps?

[radfringe]

26. done and here's what I wrote

The focus is currently on Karl Rove and what did he say - when did he say it. However, The media is once again missing out on the real story. The big story is not Rove. The big story is why are we in Iraq.

It's been reported Rove's outing of Plame was an attempt to discredit Ambassador Joseph Wilson's statements that there was no connection between Niger-Yellowcake and Iraq/Saddam. This brings us to a larger question - why was it necessary for the White House to discredit Wilson in the first place?

If Wilson was mistaken in his assertion there is no Niger-Iraq connection, then surely the White House had access to information to correct that assertion and would be well served to disclose it to the American people. Instead they chose to smear Wilson's reputation.

Could it be because Wilson was right? If so, wouldn't that question the credibility of Bush's assertion of Saddam, Iraq and WMDs?

In September 2002, the White House began the selling of a new product. Saddam must go, and he must go because he had Weapons of Mass Destruction. Hans Blix led an UN Inspection team into Iraq and found no WMDs. Wilson went to Niger and found no evidence of Iraq trying to buy yellowcake. Yet, Bush insisted we had to invade Iraq because they had WMDs. We know today there were no WMDs even though Rumsfeld had said "..we know exactly were they are...".

We were also told Sadam had connection with Bin-Laden - which later was also found to have no merit.

Next we were told we invaded to liberate the Iraqi people - our troops would be greeted with flowers. It seems the shower of flowers are as elusive as the WMDs.

The latest spin is the "flypaper" strategy - we invaded Iraq to give the terrorists a place to fight so we won't have to fight them at home. Last week's attack in London says otherwise.

Through out this - when a particular excuse has been dispelled - the White House claims it "misspoke", blames someone else and thereby avoids taking responsibility for anything it does.

It's time for investigative journalists to look beyond Rove and start asking the big question - Why are we in Iraq and why is Bush lying about it?

[DemonFighterLives]

31. Great Letter!

You hit on many pertinent points. I'm sure it will be ignored by the Neomedia.

[Auntie Bush]

43. Also...Why hasn't this been investigated by Congress and the Media ?

Why haven't the Media been more aggressive? Were they intimidated by the White House? I really think that needs looking into.

[laura888]

27. email sent n/t

[hellbound-liberal]

29. Thanks for the link. Here's my e-mail

Dear Editors, This is in response to your morning question. The RNC has been furiously obfuscating THE FACTS in order to deflect Karl Rove's responsibility for COMPROMISING THE SECURITY of our nation. It is plain for all to see that HE TOLD A REPORTER that Joe Wilson's wife worked for the CIA on issues of weapons of mass destruction. The mere fact that he said that should be enough to have him lose his security clearances. We are all aware of Karl Rove's history of dirty tricks and his statement that "Joe Wilson's wife is fair game". The results of your poll will only indicate the ability of the White House spin machine and "news" organizations such as yours to create a smokescreen to keep people from focusing on the above stated facts. My only consolation is that people's opinion of the news media is in a downward spiral and that your blatant lack of objectivity will continue to fuel this trend.

[deutsey]

30. My response

The recent revelations that Karl Rove "outted" Valerie Plame as a CIA operative is only the most recent example of Rove's vindictiveness and abuse of political power.

Journalists need to stop isolating this scandal within the narrow "it's only partisan politics" framework; instead they need to place it in the larger pattern of smears, dirty tricks, and ethically questionable tactics Rove has been implicated in since he was involved with Lee Atwater during the Nixon years. Ask his former partner John Weaver, who was basically blacklisted from the GOP when he crossed Rove. Ask Mike Moeller and Pete McRae about Rove's "win at all costs" philosophy--their political careers and personal lives were ruined by Rove. Ask Jim Hightower and Ann Richards. Recall the ugly rumors and lies the Bush campaign spread about John McCain in 2000 and John Kerry last year.

This recent trick of Rove's, in which he retaliated against Joe Wilson by blowing Plame's cover, is nothing new for this guy. You do the public a disservice by not placing it within its proper context.

[dzika]

32. kick

[DemonFighterLives]

33. Here is mine

The morning question about Rove is definitely a controversy. It should not even be questioned as to whether it is partisan. It is treason to reveal an undercover agent. This one in particular was revealed because of partisan politics on the republican side.

All that Rove and whoever else could see was to destroy anyone that was investigating the truth in regards to the push for war. This administration should have cleared this up long ago, but their no mistakes pledge has gotten the best of them. This war was started on fraudulent intelligence that was cooked up by the perpetrators of this treasonous act.

DemonFighter

[blogslut]

34. Here's mine

Forgive the grammar.

RE: Rove Partisan/Not Partisan

There is a saying, "If you want to insure that your message spreads, find the biggest gossip and tell them it's a secret."

Karl Rove has no business in our White House anymore. He abused his position and put countless people in danger. This isn't partisan. This is a case of a man of low character having the ear of the president.

[Mutley]

35. My email

The Plame affair is much more than a scandal; it is a crime of treason commited by a man holding a very high position in the government. A crime about which even the President may have known, and done nothing. It is the duty of CNN as a major media outlet to cover this story to its end as vigilantly as it did the Peterson and Jackson trials. This is news that actually matters. Do the right thing, for once.

[Javaman]

37. My responce....

Do you really need to ask this question????

Rove revealed the name of a federal undercover agent. That is a felony. Cut the crap, do your jobs and report the news, stop playing who can suck roves and bush's dick the most. You people nasuate me.

[deutsey]

38. I bet that gets read on the air.

:evilgrin:

[geckosfeet]

41. In a whispered female voice off mic,,,,,,,,,,,

[otohara]

42. Here's Mine

If enough right-wingers write in whining about how the democrats are smearing poor Karl Rove, will CNN feel comfortable enough to back off this story. By asking this question, it sounds as if CNN is asking for permission. CNN is a pitiful network now - so cowed by Karl Rove and company, it resorts to asking such ridiculous questions.

[geckosfeet]

39. Ha ha ,,, good one. Is that a real screenshot or did you photoshop it?

Either way,,, here is my e-mail !!

Over the last several weeks, we have seen President Bush and his administration continue to defend Karl Rove the, White House Deputy Chief of Staff. Recently Mr. Rove was identified by Time magazine as a source who in July 2003 revealed the identity of a covert CIA agent.

Speculation is that Mr. Rove leaked the identity as retribution against Joe Wilson who is married to the outed agent, for exposing as inaccurate statements that the president made in calling the nation to war in a January 2003 state of the union address.

At the time the identity of the CIA agent was revealed, President Bush gave his word to the American people that if there was a leak out of his administration, he would want to know, and “the person will be taken care of.” Through his spokesperson Scott McClellan, the president also promised the American people that if there was a leak, that person “would no longer work in the administration.”

Rather than fire Mr. Rove, who is now a demonstrable national security risk, the president continues to bestow the confidences of the country with him. While the president enjoys political indulgences the security of the nation is put at risk.

This is an appalling abuse of the trust placed in government officials by the American people. Mr. Rove and the president betray those Americans who secretly labor in harms way and do the real work of protecting our country.

Regardless of any possible justification that Mr. Rove may provide have for exposing the identity of a CIA agent, there are federal laws that prohibit it. If the president was able to find the strength to turn his head from the stench of the inaccurate, inflated intelligence and gratuitous ideology that he shamelessly used to take a nation to war, he should be able to find the strength to have Mr. Rove escorted out the front door of the White House.

Time will tell if Mr. Rove and other White House officials will be the subject of criminal indictments. In the meantime, our nation should demand leadership that does not choose their own political ambitions over the outright betrayal of American people. We deserve no less.

[bunny planet]

44. Here goes......

To Whom it May Concern,
This is an important story to keep before the American public. This administration, specifically Karl Rove (so far) has chosen his party over his country by outing an undercover CIA agent for partisan reasons. In doing so, he and any others involved have jeopardized the national security of our country during a time of war. This is very serious and people trying to help him make excuses for his traitorous behavior are seemingly soft on treason. I would hope that CNN and it's journalists would not be part of the problem by helping to squelch this story, or aid in covering it up. Instead, do what they should do because it's the right thing, report the news truthfully and accurately, without spin or partisanship, and keep this important story before the American people. We deserve nothing less.

Sincerely,
XXXXXXX

[Al-CIAda]

45. My mail-

'It' is much more than what you present or have chosen to name it. It is TREASON and it's a crime and he's a criminal. How can a special prosecutor, who is REPUBLICAN, be 'partisan'? You would not see it any other way unless you are still taking your orders from the White House.

The President was lying in the State of the Union using FORGED documents and was warned not to use phony evidence, and 'sexed-up' intelligence. The Downing Street minutes tie into this as well. Get a clue. The Wilsons were exposed by traitors and trashed because Joseph Wilson exposed the deception. The yellowcake story was FALSE. The claims, much like the 'Aluminum tubes', the 'unmanned aerial vehicles', the weapons labs, etc., were all LIES. Valerie Plame -Wilson was exposed in part for retaliation of this exposure of LIES, and ALSO to STOP the work she was doing in tracking WMD's. Here's a tip for you, look into just what she was working on as well.

Do your job, for ONCE. The country is slipping into a corporatist state where power and 'truth' are controlled by an elite few, to serve their agenda. Much as it may profit you, that agenda is NOT what America stands for. The fourth estate is supposed to be a check on this abuse of power, but you have failed, FAILED.

As our founding fathers stressed, only through an INFORMED populace armed with accurate, TRUTHFUL information, is this American experiment possible.

DO YOUR JOB!

[alfredo]

46. Done

Today our leader of the state Democratic party dropped the word "treason" on a local tv show.

[Stirk]

47. Are they kidding? It's probably the biggest scandal this country has

ever seen.

The Bush Administration was lying the country into a war. Wilson pointed out one of their more ridiculous lies, and they outed his CIA agent wife in retaliation.

Do scandals get any bigger than that?

[Alien8ed]

48. Well, hell!

If we're going to go about this properly, then I want some e-mail, too!

DOES CNN MAKE UP SLANTED POLL QUESTIONS TO RAISE THE QUESTION OF PARTISAN POLITICS WHEN IT HAS NO APPLICATION WHATSOEVER?

[Straight Shooter]

53. LOL.

:thumbsup:

[barb162]

50. just sent three out under different email names

[ethereal]

51. My email to CNN

Dear Sir or Madam,

You ask if the Karl Rove leak question is a real scandal. Of course it is. You know it and the vast majority of America knows it.

It doesn't matter who talked to whom, whether Plame was covert, who sent Wilson to Niger, what Wilson's report said, whether Wilson is a gasbag who loves the camera, or any of those other distracting details.

What matters is that SOMEONE in this administration revealed a CIA front organization during time of war, endangering all those operatives, their sources and any intelligence opportunities resulting from their efforts.

Not only did this thoughtless and possibly vengeful act put lives at risk, but it also took away America's ability to have human intelligence about WMDs in parts of the world where we desperately need to know what is going on.

That, my friends, is TREASON. Someone placed political revenge as a higher priority than our country's security. And our citizens know it. If this is covered up, or glossed over, or rationalized in any way by the media, you can bet that those media outlets that try to justify it will lose what little credibility they still maintain. What is CNN going to do about it?

Thank you for your time.

[barb162]

52. that was excellent

[jsamuel]

54. sent this

Revealing a covert CIA agent who was working on keeping WMD’s out of terrorists hands along with her front company is something I think all Americans who do not want to see a mushroom cloud in our cities can be upset about.

[RagAss]

55. Dear CNN,

If you don't know the damn difference then get out of the damn business....!!....cretins !

[BobbyinPortland]

56. IS THE ROVE CASE OVER?

I've just been told (by a republican) that the case against Rove has been dropped and that it was never anything to begin with. Is that true?

If not, what is going on?

[brettdale]

60. well

According to Freepers and Faux it probably is, what they have to understand, its not up to them, and just because they say it, doesn't make it true.

Wait till Fitzgerald has finished his investigation, then we will see how much hot water Rove is in.

[Straight Shooter]

63. YES. Rove has been taken from the frying pan and DROPPED into the fire.

;)

[tallahasseedem]

57. Just the fact that they are asking this question....

is bullshit. They are trying to plant into people's minds that this could be a partisan attack when it is not.

[leesa]

58. It so pisses me off that these hacks keep pushing "partisan politics"

whenever one of the many crimes of their Fuhrer is exposed.

[CatWoman]

62. and while you're at it, send them this

To: National Desk, Media Reporter

Contact: Dennis Yedwab of Media Matters for America, 202-756-4143 or [e-mail]

WASHINGTON, July 15 /U.S. Newswire/ -- In recent media appearances,
Republican National Committee (RNC) chairman Ken Mehlman has issued numerous distortions and falsehoods regarding allegations of White House senior adviser Karl Rove's involvement in the outing of
CIA operative Valerie Plame. Cable news hosts Wolf Blitzer and Chris Matthews failed to question Mehlman's various falsehoods, allowing him to misinform unchallenged and at length. Media Matters for America offers the following breakdown of Mehlman's lies, and the facts that rebut them.

Mehlman is scheduled to appear on the July 17 editions of NBC's Meet the Press and CNN's Late Edition with Wolf Blitzer.

Lie no. 1: Wilson falsely claimed Cheney sent him to Niger

In an attack on the credibility of former ambassador Joseph C. Wilson IV, Plame's husband, Mehlman twice claimed that it was Vice President
Dick Cheney who sent him to Niger in 2002 to investigate a rumored sale of yellowcake uranium to Iraq.

As Media Matters for America noted, Wilson claimed the CIA -- not Cheney -- sent him to Africa. In his July 6, 2003, New York Times op-ed, and in an August 3, 2003, interview on CNN's Late Edition with Wolf Blitzer, Wilson noted that the CIA sent him to Niger to investigate a question from Cheney's office about the uranium issue. The RNC cropped and twisted quotes from the Times op-ed and the CNN interview to back up this false talking point. From Mehlman's July 12 appearance on CNN's Wolf Blitzer Reports:

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/usnw/20050715/pl_usnw/memo_to_mehlman_interviewers__rnc_chair_tells_the_same_lies_over_and_over_about_rove_controversy209_xml

[Quixote1818]

65. Kick

[ismnotwasm]

66. I simply told them that it was pretty apparent it is a "real controversy"

And if they do their jobs and tell the truth, they won't have to ask dumb questions from a misguided and misinformed public.