Hatch Warning: Sen. Rockefeller Risks 'Serious Criticism' for Memogate

NewsMax.com ^ | Friday Nov. 7, 2003 | Carl Limbacher and NewsMax.com Staff

[jmstein7]

Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Ut., said Thursday that Sen. Zell Miller, D-Ga, was right to charge this week that a memo outlining plans by Senate Intelligence Committee Democrats to politicize Iraq war intelligence borders on "treason."

But the Utah Republican defended the committee's ranking Democrat, Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-WV, saying he shouldn't have to resign as the committee's vice chairman even if he's found have authorized staffers to prepare the bombshell document.

Asked about Sen. Miller's comment on Wednesday that the memo was "treason's first cousin" and that "heads should roll" over the episode, Sen. Hatch told radio host Sean Hannity, "I happen to love Zell Miller and I do agree with that because bad intelligence results in the deaths of Democrats and Republicans - in other words, our people."

But Hatch refused to call for disciplinary action against ranking Democrat Rockefeller, recommending instead that Republicans "publicly ask the Democrats how they reconcile [preparing such a memo] with the critical need for non-partisanship."

When Hannity said that his sources had identified Rockefeller as being responsible for the memo, Sen. Hatch turned defensive.

Noting that the West Virginia Democrat "has worked pretty well with [Committee Chairman] Pat Roberts," the Utah Republican said, "I really doubt that Sen. Rockefeller would have anything to do with trying to make [the Committee's investigation] that partisan."

Asked what would happen if it turned out that Rockefeller was implicated in the memo scandal, Hatch replied, "Well, it's a serious issue. I mean, it would be, you know - he would be seriously criticized if that were the case."

"I like Sen. Rockefeller very much but, I mean, that wouldn't be right," he added.

Despite the national security breach, Hatch said it would be unwise for the White House to stop cooperating with committee Democrats, saying he feared that the press wouldn't permit it.

"The can't [stop cooperating] because the major media in this country . . . is always on [the Democrats'] side and they don't ever get called to account," he complained. "If [Republicans] did something like that it would be front page headlines all over the country. You know that."

[StriperSniper]

Is this going to be today's Hannity/C-SPAN/Memogate live thread?

[NYC Republican]

I'm half-listening to Sean. Does anyone know who's talking?

[OXENinFLA]

Back to the CIA leak now.

[Judith Anne]

Stupid Dem wants to know how the MEMO was "stolen."

BS! PURE BS! Sean Hannity said it was GIVEN TO HIM!

Says it compares to leak to Novak about Wilson's wife.

BS!!!!

[RandallFlagg]

Now the loser's talkin' about Wilson! Unbelievable!!

[OXENinFLA]

Frist on hannity now>!

[cars for sale]

said tit for tat 'cause of Wilson leak..holy crap

[EGPWS]

says it was STOLEN AND DEMANDS TO KNOW HOW OBTAINED wowowowowowow

Laughable to say the least!

[StriperSniper]

Reid, D-Nev

[OXENinFLA]

Not even CLOSE!

[NYC Republican]

Thanks!

[NutCrackerBoy]

says it was STOLEN AND DEMANDS TO KNOW HOW OBTAINED

That was the moral equivalence angle used in Boston Globe's initial report. I couldn't even think how they were going to frame this as not a heinous act by Dems, but they did it.

[Judith Anne]

Reid: Minority believes investigation should be looking at policymakers and what they did.

Says he voted for the war, aiming toward the President, wants to delve more deeply into legal authorities, including the President.

SOBs!

Says again the memo was STOLEN!

[OXENinFLA]

I think Hannity was re-playing what Frist was saying on the Floor, and He's going to re-pkay Kyl next.

[NYC Republican]

BS! PURE BS! Sean Hannity said it was GIVEN TO HIM! Says it compares to leak to Novak about Wilson's wife.

I KNEW they would try to draw a parallel here, effectively knocking this out, saying the Republicans did something similar. TOTAL LIES!!!

[mewzilla]

But the Utah Republican defended the committee's ranking Democrat, Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-WV, saying he shouldn't have to resign as the committee's vice chairman even if he's found have authorized staffers to prepare the bombshell document.

Gee, Orin...Have you been a naughty boy, too?

[thoughtomator]

If Sen. Hatch isn't willing to fulfill his oath of office and pursue this to a satisfactory conclusion, he needs to resign immediately and let someone who still has their testicles attached do the job.

[cars for sale]

man Hannity is some fired up.....all the other channels have Rosie Donuts waving like some queen,

[Mo1]

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