ABC Nightline 3/24: Richard Clarke vs The White House

[Bozita]

 
Nightline Daily E-Mail
March 24, 2004


TONIGHT'S FOCUS: "You've got a real credibility problem... I hope you'll resolve that," former Secretary of the Navy John Lehman told Richard Clarke, the administration's former top counter-terrorism chief, in hearings today in front of the 9/11 Commission. "Credibility" is the word of the day, as Clark levels strong criticism against the Bush administration this week. In a new book, he charges that the administration didn't do enough in response to repeated warnings about Al-Qaeda before 9/11, and asserts that the war in Iraq has hampered efforts against Al-Qaeda since then. The credibility battle that has unfolded is quite extraordinary.

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Washington is used to fights. One could argue that the nation's capital is the main arena for partisan debates over issues from Social Security to Medicare to Gay Rights. So when a top-level former terrorism official in the White House levels serious charges about the way the administration has handled the threat of terrorism before and since 9/11 -- a central theme in President Bush's re-election campaign -- the counterattack is nothing short of furious and massive. But even this town doesn't see fights this intense very often.

Richard Clarke has been all over the airwaves for the last four days. A very savvy marketing campaign of Mr. Clarke's book and his criticism of the Bush White House has pushed the President and his top officials to respond, defending their record but also lambasting Mr. Clarke's assertions and his own character. Is Clarke vying for a position with Democratic presidential hopeful John Kerry? Is he just being partisan? He says he requested a Republican ballot the last time he voted. Top administration officials went on the record on this one: The President, Vice President, National Security Adviser and the White House Communications Director all had something to say.

We'll take a look at Mr. Clarke's allegations and three days of counterattack by the White House. Chris Bury anchors and will lead a discussion looking at how things got so furious so fast.

We hope you'll join us.

Gerry Holmes and the Nightline Staff
ABCNEWS Washington D.C. bureau

[Bozita]

1. coming up right after the Daily Show

[belle]

2. Okay, now there are stories about the story. That usually means legs.

Nothing the media doesn't like more than a big ol' dramatic showdown. I think this one's here to stay, at least for a while.

[Lex]

3. Tuning in now!

Thanks for the heads up!

[revcarol]

4. Snarky write-up. I will NOT watch.

"Credibility problem"
"A very savvy marketing campaign of Mr. Clarke's book"

Yeah, this will be a GREAT show<sarcasm>

I used to respect this show and watch regularly. No more.

[Octafish]

13. Hey, revcarol! It started out that way...

... then they said the crazy moron's side is sounding desparate. It looks like the media may be actually forced to confront the BFEE for the turds they are.

It's about time.

[linazelle]

5. Condi in the intro clip: "Richard Clarke doesn't know what he's talking

about, he wasn't involved in most of the meetings." And her voice is shaky to boot. Now SHE'S credible. Not.

[buycitgo]

6. so far, it's almost ALL about his credibility

they're talking about the TIMING of the BOOK, for god's sake!

quoting Lehman's "you've got a credibility problem"

NO, ABC has a HUGE credibility problem!!!!!

why didn't you play his response, which left him gobsmacked?

you FUCKHEADS!!!!!!!!

sorry

[buycitgo]

9. now, they;re off that.....it's MOTIVES now!

clarke on, now taking accusatory questions from that little ho Michell McQueen Martin

Terry Moran talking about the "fever pitch" from the WH

STILL giving it to him!

NOT a WORD about substance

amazing

go to CRAWFORD, ABC

STILL talking about it......

ten minutes straight of Clarke bashing

[Cleita]

7. So far from what I have seen, it seems like

a move to discredit Clarke. However, as some of those in showbusiness say press is press. In other words as long as it's up on top of the news eventually the truth will come out.

[Blue_Tires]

8. these people

make me sick...

[linazelle]

11. Maybe the truth will come out...It's incredible the way the media keeps

repeating how what the Whitehouse is doing to "attack" Clarke' assertions. That's OK? Attacking from the Whitehouse is OK? :shrug: I hope people can see through this coverup attempt.

[Must_B_Free]

33. it's so transparent

this must be the rope we've all been waiting for. They finally got it... enough rope.

[Octafish]

10. "These are mean and nasty people, when it comes right down to it."

Richard Clarke, Nightline, March 24, 2004.

Bush is toast, folks.

[Mari333]

12. We still have 7 months til the election

but Bush trying to run on 9/11 isnt going to do much good now eh?
I can only pray the US public wakes up now.

[Octafish]

21. It's like hearing the first bird of spring.

The Jail Bird.



Courtesy of the Bartcop Collection.

[rumguy]

14. Clarke just said that?

[Octafish]

18. Yeah! He was talking about Condescenda and Sneer.

The reporter asked Clark for his thoughts about Rice and Nazimancheenie's characterizations of Clarke as an out-of-the-loop liar. I kid you not! I'm taping the show and will rewind after the show and I'll get the precise quote. As it is, it's about 95-percent accurate.

[Vadem]

28. You got it verbatim, Octafish!...nt

[Blue_Tires]

15. now asking

if bush's goose is cooked come election time

[Lisa0825]

16. Sure, I am biased, but I think it is showing Clarke in a very good light.

He is responding in such a respectful and calm demeanor... whereas Condi looks like she's going to pop a vein... Clarke is looking very credible, despite the protest from the right.

[takeitback]

17. Matthews....

As compared to Nightline....

Saw Hardball tonight, and I was actually surprised at how hard
Matthews went at Terry Moran. Basically mocked him. I know
there's a lot of Matthews-bashing on this board, and but I
don't see it. Compared to what's on FAUX and Scarborough,
etc., I find him annoying but not all that biased. Am I
missing something? 

[buycitgo]

19. uh........that would be Terry Holt, bushswine

Terry Moran is one of the lesser meida hoes, who occasionally goes after Bush, via Scotty M, for ABC

Chris Bury can EAT me, btw

he was just talking about "Clarke singing another tune," vis a vis his 2002 press briefing

this hatchet job is almost as bad as the one with Wolf/King this afternoon

EAT me, Chris, eat me

[Sticky]

24. It's sad and predictible

that all the coverage happens to be on the credibility issue and the Whitehouse response. Very little is being discussed about the book's content.

The 9/11 Hearings at least gave Clarke a forum to get his message out.


Welcome to DU takeitback! :hi:

[Robb]

35. Hi takeitback!

Welcome to DU! :hi:

Heck, compared to Scarborough, my grandpa's progressive. :)

[John_H]

20. They're doing their best to spin it for Chimp

sooner or later the it will dawn on the Dem message people to popint out that either O'Niel, Clarke, Shinseki, et. al are all lying or Bush is.

[Octafish]

25. To no avail. It just shows them to be the liars they are.

Monsters, too.

Murdering monsters.

[buycitgo]

27. yes.....never lose sight of that

never

did you see that ASSchimp making FUN of WMDs at the press dinner?

how COULD he?

[buycitgo]

29. this was classic

classic case of killing the messenger, vitiated only slightly by a couple forays into the truth

always slanted towards impugning his motives and credibility

NO MORE ABC for me

that was utter TRASH

GARBAGE

EFFLUENT

EXCRESCENCE

[buycitgo]

30. Wait....my cable signal got scrambled!

I must've been watching Faux!

yeah

that's the ticket!

[Octafish]

31. What did the Little Turd from Crawford say, buycitgo?

I'd love for a commercial to be made with the "Trifecta" speech. This sounds like it could be the beginning of a nice series with which to sink the turd.

[buycitgo]

34. haven't watched it.......taped

don't know if I can do it

would be like watching Himmler at a roast for, well, uh, nevermind

stomach not strong enough right now....will check for some compazine

there's a thread about it, I think

[Cush]

22. Gergen: Condi should testify

[buycitgo]

26. finally, some honesty, but not much

Bury, EAT me

he's asking why we should believe Clarke now.

eat me!

why not PLAY the TAPE of Clarke explaining it?

instead of TELLING PEOPLE what to think?????????

[linazelle]

23. The sincerity of Clarke's apology is his most effective defense

They are slinging mud and I don't think it's really sticking. You can't fake sincerity. When he apologized, I FELT IT TOO. Gulp.

[swag]

32. Remember: Brit Hume once worked on Desales St. n/t

He used to give people nasty looks when he was crossing Connecticut Ave. What a pack of freakin' leaches.

[Manix]

36. you said it

[judgegina]

37. I watched

the whole show and thought it was good. I don't think it did anything to help the Bush gang. It made their onslaught of criticism of Clarke look completely over the top. They're running scared and I think Nightline emphasized that point.