Bush: New Formula for Keeping his Word?; Statement from the DNC

maddezmom

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Mon Jul-18-05 03:32 PM
Original message

Bush: New Formula for Keeping his Word?; Statement from the DNC

Edited on Mon Jul-18-05 03:46 PM by maddezmom

To: National Desk, Political Reporter

Contact: Karen Finney of the Democratic National Committee, 202-863-8148

WASHINGTON, July 18 /U.S. Newswire/ -- Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean issued the following statement today:

Faced with a question about whether or not he will keep his promise to fire those involved in leaking the identity of an undercover CIA agent while we are at war, President Bush backed away from his initial pledge and lowered the ethics bar. With several sources now citing Rove and Libby as two sources of the leaks, Bush should be prepared to keep his word, and to enforce a high standard of ethics in the White House as he promised from the beginning of his administration.

THEN:

McClellan: "If anyone in this administration was involved in it (the improper disclosure of an undercover CIA operative's identity), they would no longer be in this administration." (White House Press Briefing, 9/29/2003)

Bush: "If somebody did leak classified information, I'd like to know it, and we'll take the appropriate action." (President Bush, Chicago, Ill, 9/30/2003)

NOW:

"If someone committed a crime, they will no longer work in my administration." (President Bush, 7/18/05)

------

http://www.usnewswire.com/

http://news.yahoo.com/s/usnw/20050718/pl_usnw/bush__new_formula_for_keeping_his_word___statement_from_the_democratic_national_committee206_xml;_

White House Denials in CIA Leak Probe

By The Associated Press
Sun Jul 17, 3:25 PM ET

Previous denials by White House spokesman Scott McClellan that Vice President Dick Cheney's chief of staff, Lewis "Scooter" Libby, and presidential political adviser Karl Rove were involved in leaking the identity of covert CIA officer Valerie Plame. Reporters posed the questions during White House briefings.

Oct. 7, 2003

Q. Scott, you have said that you personally went to Scooter Libby, Karl Rove and Elliott Abrams to ask them if they were the leakers. Is that what happened? Why did you do that? And can you describe the conversations you had with them? What was the question you asked?

McClellan: Unfortunately, in Washington, D.C., at a time like this there are a lot of rumors and innuendo. There are unsubstantiated accusations that are made. And that's exactly what happened in the case of these three individuals. They are good individuals. They are important members of our White House team. And that's why I spoke with them, so that I could come back to you and say that they were not involved. I had no doubt with that in the beginning, but I like to check my information to make sure it's accurate before I report back to you, and that's exactly what I did.

more: http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20050717/ap_on_go_pr_wh/cia_leak_white_house_1