Republican talking points on Plame (via Limbaugh)....what is the truth?

[CoffeeCat]

I know that Rush Limbaugh is a propagandist for the BushCo thugs. I don't believe a damn word he says.

However, he's saying some incredibly outrageous things about the Plame investigation, and I am hoping that someone can help me to clear the mud.

Rush gets his talking points from the White House. Rush's words indicate how the Republicans will attempt to spin their crimes. I think it's important to blow their propagandist horse manure out of the water.

Unfortunately, I do not know how to counter the claims I heard on Limbaugh today. I plan on doing some extensive reading, after my kids go down for their naps. I was wondering if anyone could counter any of these Limbaugh talking points?

#1--Outing Valerie Plame was not a crime.
Plame was not a deep covert CIA spy. She was semi-covert. The law that protects CIA personnel from being outed--only covers these deep undercover CIA spies.

#2--Under the 1982 law---which makes it a crime to out an undercover CIA operative--the spy in question must have worked overseas within the last 5 years. According to Limbaugh, Joe Wilson and Valerie Plame lived and worked in DC for 6 years. Therefore Rove (or anyone else) could not be prosecuted for blowing her cover, because she does not fit the legal criteria.

#3 Joe Wilson says that Dick Cheney sent him to Niger. Cheney and others in the WH say that Cheney never sent Wilson. In addition, Cheney says that Wilson never filed a report with the VP--after Wilson returned. Limbaugh insists--through Cheney--that Cheney never sent Wilson.

#4. Valerie Plame outed herself by marrying a high-profile government official. Her undercover status was very hard to maintain after her marriage--and therefore--she was not that concerned about her undercover status.

I understand these talking points are more lies. However, I'm unclear about the facts and how to dispute them. I want to be armed with the truth, when I speak to Junior sympathizers.

Anyone care to shed some light? I'll post info as I find it, too.

[teach1st]

1. This oughta help

http://www.theleftcoaster.com/archives/004870.php

And this:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=103&topic_id=139106

And this:

http://www.americanprogressaction.org/site/pp.asp?c=klLWJcP7H&b=100480

On edit: I didn't read Limbaugh's points before I posted. They are really blatent lies.

[skip fox]

3. leftcoaster is the bookmarkable!

great site for us

[Walt Starr]

2. Some pithy responses

#1 What is "semi-covert"? Isn't that tanamount to being a "little pregnant"?

#2 Beside the point. This violates the Espionage Act of 1917. Plame may have also been acting out of country within five years, so a violation under the Intelligence Identities and Protection Act of 1982 woulds simply be another felony to add on top of a blatant felony of espionage.

#3 Wilson said nothing of the sort. He said he was sent by the CIA under a request made by Cheney that somebody be sent to investigate.

#4 Baloney. Getting married is not a revelation of covert status. No matter how much you want to spin this, laws were broken. See the answer to #1

[louis-t]

6. I am changing my sig line to

Carl Rove is a traitor. Maybe everyone should for a while. Thank you.
Lou

[Walt Starr]

7. Make your sig a Google Bomb

Copy and past this into your signature:

Karl Rove is a [link:en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karl_Rove|Traitor]

[louis-t]

8. done.

thanks,
Lou

[skids]

4. It's all on the greatest page.

Check the right-hand column. All that crap has been solidly proven to be hooey.

[CoffeeCat]

5. Thank you, everyone--for your responses!!

Thanks DUer's!

I get busy with life and kids (as all of you do, too)--and I don't always have the time to go into research mode!

I will read the links, do some studying and I plan on writing a LTTE very soon.

Thanks again!!