(This news item has 5 pages and lots of embedded links at the WP web site)
By Dan Froomkin
Special to washingtonpost.com
Tuesday, July 19, 2005; 1:00 PM
The stonewall's not working so well. Neither is the legalistic parsing. The furor over who leaked a CIA operative's name shows no sign of abating.Two options present themselves to the White House: Go public with all the facts -- or try to change the subject. Signs are pointing toward the latter.
Today's news includes:
· A new poll showing that the public is increasingly skeptical that the White House is cooperating with the federal investigation into who leaked Valerie Plame's identity, and wants Karl Rove fired if it turns out to be him.
· A shifting stance by President Bush over what he considers a firing offense -- one that clashes with his vow to bring back high ethical standards to the White House.
· A new report that the classified State Department memo that may have played a role in the leak made clear that information identifying Plame was sensitive and shouldn't be shared.· Word that President
Bush is expediting his announcement of a Supreme Court nominee to deflect attention from the leak story.
(Clip to Page 3)
...For the RecordHere is the text of Bush's remarks at the swearing-in ceremony for senior members of the White House staff on January 22, 2001.
An excerpt:
"We have all taken an oath, and from this moment on it is our jobs to honor it. . . .
"...(W)e must remember the high standards that come with high office. This begins with careful adherence to the rules. I expect every member of this administration to stay well within the boundaries that define legal and ethical conduct. This means avoiding even the appearance of problems. This means checking and, if need be, doublechecking that the rules have been obeyed. This means never compromising those rules."<
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/blog/2005/07/19/BL2005071900947.html?nav=rss_politics>
(more at the link above, this item has 5 pages)