Plame outing v. Bank record snooping outing -- Double Standard?

[JDPriestly]

So, Plame was illegally outed several years ago. The criminal who outed her still hasn't been identified or prosecuted. Nor has Novak or the news media that outed her been prosecuted (or even sued) for publishing her name.

But, let the NYT out information about the snooping by the Bush White House on our bank records, and Bush gets out there, wags his finger and threatens to prosecute.

Isn't that a double standard? If the news media were not prosecuted for outing Plame, why should they be prosecuted for outing this bank snooping scheme? Is one violation of secrecy worse than the other? And if so, which is the worst?

[rodeodance]

1. I heard Bush's little lecture today. I just laughed. He is such a hippo

crit!!

[lyonn]

2. bush, one mean, evil, arrogant, sob

I thought he was going to have a coronary while ranting and wagging his fingers at the press. You're right, he was barely concerned with the outing of an undercover CIA agent that probably was working on WMD's in Iran. Go figure?

[tn-guy]

3. Good question - is there a double standard?

JDPriestsly raises a very good point. Does a double standard exist?

As Al Smith used to say, "Let's look at the record."

1. In the Plame case there were quite a few calls for a serious, criminal investigation. Many of these calls came from editorials in the news media, including the NY Times, as well as many everyday people. In the bank records case many everyday people are calling for a serious, criminal investigation. We'll have to wait to see if the NY Times and Washington Post will add their voices to that call.

2. In the Plame case, the government actually launched a serious, criminal investigation. You may recall that Mr. Fitzgerald has been named as a special counsel and has been pursuing the case for quite a few months. In the bank records case we have no criminal investigation at present. We'll have to wait to see if one develops.

3. In the Plame case there were countless voices at DU crying for the head of Mr. Rove, Mr. Cheney, or whoever was responsible for the leak. In the bank records case I haven't noticed any such calls as of yet, but it is still early.

In summary, it is a little too early to tell if people have a double standard regarding the two leaks, but time will certainly tell.

However; people at DU can prove that they don't have a double standard right now. Join me now in calling for the prosecution of those in the government and at the NY Times responsible for leaking and publishing this story. Let's show the world that we stand for the rule of law and protecting national security secrets as a matter of principle, not just when it serves our political interests. What say you?

[arcane1]

5. do you believe everything Bush says?

the NYT story was about government exceeding its constitutional powers by snooping through financial records it has no business snooping through

and you would prosecute the paper for that?

why do you hate the Constitution?

[tn-guy]

6. I don't hate the Constitution

I was addressing the question of whether people are using a double standard regarding the Plame case leak and the SWIFT bank transactions leak.

I'm a little confused how obtaining international interbank transfer data, subject to an administrative subpoena, from SWIFT (headquartered in Belgium) is unconstitutional when current U.S. law requires financial institutions to report all transactions of $10,000 or greater. Perhaps you can enlighten me on this.

It seems to me that if leaking Ms. Plame's name endangered national security and was worthy of prosecution then certainly leaking the details of the SWIFT transactions operation would also endanger national security and justify prosecution. This goes right to the heart of the original post: Do people have a double standard?

As far as I'm concerned, those who condemn the Plame leak and applaud the bank records leak clearly demonstrate a double standard.

[arcane1]

7. you can't use a double standard on 2 entirely different issues

apples & oranges

try a little harder to discredit "the left" next time

[tn-guy]

8. Not trying to discredit the left.

I'm trying to address the question raised in the original post which started this thread. I didn't link the Plame case and the bank records case, the original poster (JDPriestly) did that. I merely addressed the question raised in that post.

If one thinks the Plame case warranted investigation but the NY Times bank record case did not (or vice versa) I think it demonstrates a double standard regarding the disclosure of national security related secrets. If others think not, OK.

[serryjw]

9. NYT did not leak anything that

was not already known. Plane was NOT known by anyone outside of those that did not have TOP secret clearance

[SoFlaJet]

4. WHAT ARE TALKING ABOUT!!!????

why just last night on Hardball some woman radio personality(who SAID she was journalist)told me it was NOT the same and that Plame was NOT an undercover agent and Matthews sort of smiled-then went to a commercial-get your FACTS straight...sheesh ;)