An earlier post -
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=1923463&mesg_id=1923463 - captures Mehlman's "talking points". Here is the counter, straight from the DNC. Looks like Lakoff's lessons are being absorbed!
====================================
Subject: DNC latest on Karl Rove
To: ()
For Immediate Release
July 12, 2005
Contact: Karen Finney - 202-863-8148
Empty Rhetoric: The White House and the CIA Leak
George Bush campaigned as someone who would "restore honor and integrity" to the office of the Presidency.As President, George Bush told his senior staff that they must "avoid even the appearance" of ethical violations. Recently it has become clear that this was all empty rhetoric. Karl Rove, one of Bush's closest friends and Senior Advisor potentially violated the law when he disclosed the identity of an undercover CIA agent. Ever since the leak was announced in 2003, the White House has defended Karl Rove. They have called the claims Rove was the leak "ridiculous." At the same time George Bush was saying that if there were a leak, the leak would be "taken care of" and criminal charges would be filed. Now, President Bush has a tough choice to make: does he protect the man who constructed his rise to power, or does he keep his promise to the American people?
Bush Pledged To Restore "Honor and Integrity" to the Presidency When Bush Came Into Office He Pledged to Restore Honor and Integrity to the Presidency. George W. Bush, upon being elected, promised to "restore honor and integrity to the office to which I have been elected."
When Rove Was Sworn In Bush Stressed That His Administration Must Avoid Even The Appearance Of Ethical Problems. Bush at Senior Staff Swearing in Ceremony: "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, double-checking that the rules have been obeyed. This means never compromising those rules. No one in the White House should be afraid to confront the people they work for, for ethical concerns. And no one should hesitate to confront me, as well." Presidents, 1/29/01]
Bush Said Rove Would Bring Good Judgment and Advice to The White House.
President Bush: "Karl Rove has agreed to serve as the senior Adviser and assistant to the president. Karl has got a fantastic mind. He is one of the reasons why I was elected governor, and one of the reasons why I was elected the president. He comes to Washington with a wonderful sense of history, a great understanding of the presidency as an institution in America. He will bring good judgment, good humor and good advice to the White House."
From The Beginning The White House Defended Karl Rove McClellan Said It Was Ridiculous To Think Rove Was To Blame for Leak.
"'There's been nothing, absolutely nothing, brought to our attention to suggest any White House involvement ,' said White House spokesman Scott McClellan... McClellan dismissed the suggestion and said the White House would cooperate with a Justice Department probe. But he said it was 'ridiculous' to blame Rove."
McClellan Said He Spoke With Rove Personally, And That Rove Denied Being the Leak.
Press Secretary Scott McClellan said political Advisor Karl Rove, Vice Presidential Chief of Staff Lewis Libby, and National Security Council member Elliott Abrams have each denied being the source of the leak. Said McClellan, "I've spoken with each of them individually. They said they were not involved in leaking classified information, nor did they condone it."
McClellan Said It Would Be Absurd To Suggest Anyone In The White House Would Punish Someone Speaking Out With A Different View.
"It is absurd to suggest that this White House would seek to punish someone for speaking out with a different view," McClellan said, adding: "It's perfectly acceptable when someone makes statements that aren't based on the facts to correct that information."
Bush Promised to "Take Care Of" Criminal Responsible for Leak If They Were Ever Found Bush Said That If There Was A Leak In His Administration They Would Be "Taken Care Of."
President Bush: "if there's a leak out of the administration, I want to know who it is. And if a person has violated law, the person will be taken care of...And so I welcome the investigation...I have told our administration people in my administration to be fully cooperative. I want to know the truth."
Bush Said If They Find The Leak They Will Be Punished.
President Bush: "I don't know of anybody in my administration who leaked classified information. If somebody did leak classified information, I'd like to know it. And we'll take the appropriate action. And this investigation is a good thing."
Bush Threatened Criminal Action If CIA Leak Came From His Administration.
When asked about the severity of the CIA Leak George Bush Said,"this is a serious charge, by the way. We're talking about a criminal action."
Bush Believed That We Would Never Find Out Who the Leak Was Because Reporters Would Not Reveal Leaks.
Asked today if he believes the DOJ investigation will uncover the leaker who identified a CIA operative, President Bush replied, "You tell me. How many sources have you had that's leaked information that you've exposed or had been exposed? Probably none... And I don't know if we're going to find out the senior administration official... I have no idea whether we'll find out who the leaker is, partially because, in all due respect to your profession, you do a very good job of protecting the leakers. But we'll find out."
###
**********
Paid for and authorized by the Democratic National Committee,
www.democrats.org. This communication is not authorized by any
candidate or candidate's committee.
Edited formatting.
Printer-friendly format
Email this thread to a friend
Bookmark this thread
(1000+ posts)
Send PM |
Profile |
Ignore
:rofl: 
