Hatch ‘Corrects’ Lam Error By Disparaging Another U.S. Attorney — Will Russert Repeat It?

[babylonsister]

http://thinkprogress.org/2007/04/06/hatch-correction-mtp/

Hatch ‘Corrects’ Lam Error By Disparaging Another U.S. Attorney — Will Russert Repeat It?

hatch.jpgLast week on Meet the Press, Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT) tried to disparage the record of U.S. Attorney Carol Lam:

HATCH: She was a former law professor, no prosecutorial experience, and the former campaign manager in Southern California for Clinton, and they’re trying to say that this administration appoints people politically? Of course they do. That’s what these positions are.

In fact, as Rachel Maddow found, Lam had more than 14 years experience as a prosecutor, and was neither a law professor nor a former campaign manager.

In response, Hatch sent a letter to Meet the Press host Tim Russert asking him to correct the record. Hatch said that his attack was meant not for Lam but her predecessor, Clinton-appointed U.S. Attorney Alan Bersin.

I would appreciate your help in correcting a mistake I made on your show last Sunday, April 1, 2007.

My comments about Carol Lam’s record as a U.S. Attorney were accurate, but I misspoke when making the point of discussing politically connected U.S. Attorneys. I accidentally used her name, instead of her predecessor, Alan Bersin, who was appointed by President Bill Clinton.

Hatch’s “point” is that Bersin was an unqualified, “politically connected” appointee. In fact, Bersin was arguably well-qualified for the position:

– Graduated magna cum laude from Harvard University
– Served as a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford University
– Received his J.D. degree from Yale Law School
– Served as a senior partner for 17 years at a Los Angeles law firm Munger, Tolles & Olson, where he “specialized in complex RICO, securities, commercial and insurance litigation before state and federal trial and appellate courts”
– Special Counsel to the Los Angeles Police Commission

After stepping down as U.S. Attorney, Bersin served as Superintendent of Public Education in San Diego City Schools, the nation’s eighth largest urban school district, and was named California’s Secretary of Education in 2005.

Now, the question is: this Sunday, will Tim Russert simply read Hatch’s statement disparaging Bersin’s qualifications? Or will he state the full facts about Bersin’s record? You can email Meet the Press HERE to encourage them.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

1. It bothers me when such excellent posts slip through the DU cracks. This thread should

have had many responses and recommendations.

Thank you babylonsister of posting this!

[plusfiftyfive]

2. I agree

This is an important issue. On the Meet the Press website, you will see a link to the short letter to Russert. It really is a misleading letter, IMO. Russert should focus on this on his show, and review the records of BOTH US Atty's I think. But he didn't, Russert just mentioned the letter on the website and left it there.

Thanks for this thread!

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

3. I have MTP on now, and he just mentioned the letter but never went into where Hatch was WRONG!

As you said, he just guided people to the website. This stinks but what else is new???

[pinkpops]

6. Excerpt from Hatch's comments:

"
Take Carol Lam, for instance. Carol Lam was raised on your program, Tim, by Schumer. Carol Lam, it’s amazing to me she wasn’t fired earlier because for three years members of the Congress had complained that there had been all kinds of border patrol capture of these people but hardly any prosecutions. She was a former law professor, no prosecutorial experience, and the former campaign manager in Southern California for Clinton,...
"

and link to youtube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cvtDAKPrTCs

[wordpix]

7. russert did say the Hatch statement is on the MTP website. Again, I must ask:

WTF is Whorin Hatch up to? He is serving as BushCo's latest Hatch-et Man, IMO. I think he is hoping to be the latest repuke to enter the pres. race and to have BushCo's money backing him up--- in return for keeping the judicial wolves at bay from BushCo. This is the best I can surmise at this point.

I'm also wondering what skeletons are in Hatch's closet that these AG's might open up. Delay and Cunningham scandals, maybe?

:puke:

[pretzel4gore]

4. here's their mailbox

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6872152/

mygod but they hate this country, their loathing is beyond belief...

[Oilwellian]

5. So much for setting the record straight

And exposing Hatch for the liar he's proven to be time and again. "Press the Meat" indeed. :kick:

[wordpix]

8. here's the statement on MTP

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032608/

snip from transcript: MR. RUSSERT: Last week on this program, Senator Orrin Hatch made a mistake in describing the background of Carol Lam, a U.S. attorney in Southern California. Senator Hatch has written a letter to MEET THE PRESS and to Carol Lam correcting the record. It’s posted on our Web site, and our viewers should be aware of that. snip

However,I could not find the letter on the website