CNN: Colleagues defend Berger in documents probe (deny, deny, deny Sock story!!!)

cnnsi ^ | 20-july | cnn-si

[epluribus_2]

snip

In a statement issued late Monday, Berger said the removal of those papers was unintentional. But law enforcement sources told CNN that some of the papers he is said to have taken from the National Archives were stuffed into his socks as well as other parts of his clothing.

That allegation drew sharp responses from two of Berger's associates. President Clinton's former spokesman, Joe Lockhart, said Berger "categorically denies that he ever took documents and stuffed them in his socks.

snip

[epluribus_2]

Uh oh. Deny deny deny. If they don't have this on film - this story is over. Maybe they floated the "socks" angle to cover up for the pant's pocket and briefcase - i.e. story should be dismissed since (out)Fox(ed) and Rush lost their minds crowing about socks. Before you get out yer foil - this IS their historical M.O.

[bikepacker67]

Today's spin words of the day:

Sloppy. Careless.

[Restorer]

Those weren't socks, they were stockings!

[TommyDale]

Was "Bug-Eyed Joe" Lockhart with Berger when he stole the documents? Hmmm...is this the "talking points" fax that went out this morning to all the Clinton "Legacy Brigade"?

[handy]

I noticed the sock denial on CNN also. The Fox story is written in such a way that it looks like the sock stuffing was admitted to by Berger & his lawyer.

Copied from the Fox Story:
Berger and his lawyer said Monday night he knowingly removed the handwritten notes by placing them in his jacket, pants and socks, and also inadvertently took copies of actual classified documents in a leather portfolio.

[Red Badger]

Parse the words! He's talking about THE CAT!.....

[epluribus_2]

I think that fax went out months ago when WJC and Hill worked up their plan for the whole freakin' 9/11 commission and their legacy repair operation.

[11th Earl of Mar]

"categorically denies that he ever took documents and stuffed them in his socks."

Depends on the definition of socks...

How about "leggings," "leg wear," "men's stockings," "ankle clothing"....<P. And why no mention of underwear in the denial?

[freeperfromnj]

On another thread there was a report that he and his lawyers admitted he stuffed his clothes and socks.

[ClearCase_guy]

This is all about sex. Everybody does it ... Nothing to see ... Let's move on.

[PMCarey]

The papers contained information about some Muslim extermists and thus we should all move along because once again this is only about sects.

[Shermy]

"The source said the 9/11 commission was briefed on the Berger investigation, but the White House was never informed of the matter."

Very interesting. One FReeper suggests that the leak was by Berger himself - notice that his lawyer was talking with the first reporter of the story.

Theory - the 9/11 commission report was going to comment on Berger. That would have created a firestorm that would detract from the presumably anti-Bush aspects of the report. So Berger came out first, his story will die out under the attention of the other matters in the report.

[RippleFire]

[kellynla]

Tomorrow's headline: "Sandy Burglar Inadvertently Indicted!"

Subtitle: "Sandy Looks Sweet in Orange Jumpsuit!"

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Secret documents stuffed in his socks ?
I haven't had a good laugh at the Clintons' expense in years.

[js1138]

"categorically denies that he ever took documents and stuffed them in his socks.

Of course he can deny that. The documents went in his briefcase. His notes went in his socks. Gotta watch clintonian denials.

[mass55th]

Bill Richardson was on Fox News and made comments that Sandy's behavior is just Sandy's usual disheveled, disorganized self. He said Sandy has always been sloppy and this situation is only Sandy being his usual sloppy self.

[BunnySlippers]

As another Freeper noted this morning ... the "socks" angle makes it not-ordinary ... more newsworthy for its weirdness. Naturally they want to knock down Berger's penchant for bizarre thievery.

[Lazamataz]

That allegation drew sharp responses from two of Berger's associates. President Clinton's former spokesman, Joe Lockhart, said Berger "categorically denies that he ever took documents and stuffed them in his socks.

Lanny Davis introduced these meme this morning, in order to be able to ridicule the whole story later.

Ignore the socks, stay focused on the felonies.

M.Thatcher, I pinged you because I'd like you to introduce the fact that Lanny Davis did this to Rush, if you'd care to. It's a shame I couldn't get the message to him quicker, because it was obvious to me what Lanny was doing the minute he did it.

[Right Wing Professor]

The key word is 'documents'. No one ever said he put documents in his socks. He put his notes in his socks.

[fooman]

Where is DEE DEE when you need a catagorical denial

[babaloo]

Ok. As long as he did not stuff the docs in his socks I feel much better. I can live with the docs stuffed in his shirt and pants. Do the Dems really think that line of attack is going to pass muster with anyone?

[jocko12]

I hope his cell is next to Martha's at the country club.

[Mr. Lucky]

Maybe those were rolled-up documents stuffed in the front of his pants and maybe he was just thinking about Hillary.

[BunnySlippers]

To be expected from people who parse the word "is".

[Guillermo]

Well, haven't you ever had an itch on your ankle, and reached down to scratch it while you were holding a stack of papers, and accidentally left the papers down there?

Shoot, that happens to me all the time.

Why is everyone around here giving Berger a hard time?

[Right Wing Professor]

Beat me to it, darn it!

(Maybe the years on the crevo threads have taught us both to watch for the curveball)

[AmericanInTokyo]

Are we ready to...er, christen it SOCKGATE yet?

[11th Earl of Mar]

categorically denies that he ever took documents and stuffed them in his socks

Berger and his lawyer said Monday night he knowingly plac(ed) them in his jacket, pants and socks

You have to learn Clintonspeake.

Berger never "stuffed" them in his socks. He simply "placed" them in his socks.

[Lazamataz]

I attempted to ping you but the second name was lost. Please backtrack up the thread to the message I was trying to get to you.

[Steve_Seattle]

I see Joe "Lumpy Rutherford" Lockhart has resurfaced for more spin. Lockhart, Begala - it's like old times.

[babaloo]

Notes in socks makes perfect sense to me. Next we'll find out he has some sort of personality quirk where he feels his notes are safer in his socks. Maybe he forgets notes when he puts them in his briefcase like every normal person.

[BunnySlippers]

The AP and Reuters articles said he stuffed his jacket, pants, socks and a leather file folder. What I wanna know is "isn't anyone checking them when they leave the archives?"

[kevkrom]

Somehow, when I think of the words "Clinton", "socks", and "stuffed", this wasn't the first thing that came to mind...

[keat]

[Henk]

"categorically denies that he ever took documents and stuffed them in his socks."

This is lawyer talk. He is accused of putting the notes in his socks, not the missing documents.

[DB]

If there is proof he put anything from that room into his socks, there is no way he'll be able to say it was "unintentional".

[Max7]

To post #3: Those weren't socks, they were stockings!

.....with or without garters?

[Lurking in Kansas]

The key word is 'documents'. No one ever said he put documents in his socks. He put his notes in his socks.

Exactly, I always carry my notes in my socks.

[petercooper]

Bill Richardson is one sloppy dude himself. Now if only sandy burglar had been wearing cowboy boots, he coulda gotten alot more docs out.

[freeperfromnj]

Exactly. And, aren't there cameras in such a sensitve area?

[Right Wing Professor]

If there is proof he put anything from that room into his socks, there is no way he'll be able to say it was "unintentional".

Hey, I'm not making excuses for him, I pointing out how he's trying to weasel out of the accusation.

[fooman]

Wow. I feel for you guys. FR is buzzing like I have never seen on a lazy summer day. Too many burglar threads.

The VOLUME of FR traffic tells me this story has legs....

[DB]

He was "compartmentalizing" the notes...

[Frank_Discussion]

It doesn't matter if he stuffed 'em up his CLYMER, it's forbidden. Call him BOHICA Burger today.

[laredo44]

President Clinton's former spokesman, Joe Lockhart, said Berger "categorically denies that he ever took documents and stuffed them in his socks.

It's quite simple really. He stuffed the documents into one sock. At no point were documents in his socks.

[EllaMinnow]

If Sandy had taken my suggestion to wear cowboy boots like this, he could have smuggled out TWICE as many documents!"

[Rebelbase]

"This is all about sex. Everybody does it ... Nothing to see ... Let's move on."

Are you suggesting that Berger stuffed his pants with his socks?

[browardchad]

Maybe they floated the "socks" angle to cover up for the pant's pocket and briefcase - i.e. story should be dismissed since (out)Fox(ed) and Rush lost their minds crowing about socks.

Following these Berger threads, I get the impression that CNN floated the "socks" story well ahead of Fox, then squashed it after Fox and Rush picked it up.

Your theory makes sense: notice that Lanny Davis' comments focus entirely on denying that Berger stuffed docs in his socks, not on taking the documents themselves.

Since where Bergler stuffed them is now a point of deniability for the Dems, I'll bet the Feds do have a tape.

[Libertarian444]

CNN's John King, Kelli Arena, Bob Franken and Pam Benson contributed to this report.

CNN's got four reporters working on the Berger spin. They're in full panic mode.