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RNC Chairman Ken Mehlman Statement On The Partisan Attack On Karl Rove
Republican National Committee ^ | July 12, 2005

Posted on 07/12/2005 12:34:34 PM PDT by RWR8189

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Tracey Schmitt
202-863-8614


"It's disappointing that once again, so many Democrat leaders are taking their political cues from the far-left, Moveon wing of the party. The bottom line is Karl Rove was discouraging a reporter from writing a false story based on a false premise and the Democrats are engaging in blatant partisan political attacks."

 

-RNC Chairman Ken Mehlman


 

Cooper’s Own Email Claims Rove Warned Of Potential Inaccuracies In Wilson Information:

“[Time Reporter Matt] Cooper Wrote That Rove Offered Him A ‘Big Warning’ Not To ‘Get Too Far Out On Wilson.’ Rove Told Cooper That Wilson’s Trip Had Not Been Authorized By ‘DCIA’ - CIA Director George Tenet - Or Vice President Dick Cheney.” (Michael Isikoff, "Matt Cooper’s Source," Newsweek, 7/18/05)

Wilson Falsely Claimed That It Was Vice President Cheney Who Sent Him To Niger, But The Vice President Has Said He Never Met Him And Didn’t Know Who Sent Him:

Wilson Says He Traveled To Niger At CIA Request To Help Provide Response To Vice President’s Office. “In February 2002, I was informed by officials at the Central Intelligence Agency that Vice President Dick Cheney’s office had questions about a particular intelligence report. … The agency officials asked if I would travel to Niger to check out the story so they could provide a response to the vice president’s office.” (Joseph C. Wilson, Op-Ed, “What I Didn’t Find In Africa,” The New York Times, 7/6/03)

 

 

Vice President Cheney: “I Don’t Know Joe Wilson. I’ve Never Met Joe Wilson. … And Joe Wilson - I Don’t [Know] Who Sent Joe Wilson. He Never Submitted A Report That I Ever Saw When He Came Back.” (NBC’s “Meet The Press,” 9/14/03)

 

CIA Director George Tenet: “In An Effort To Inquire About Certain Reports Involving Niger, CIA’s Counter-Proliferation Experts, On Their Own Initiative, Asked An Individual With Ties To The Region To Make A Visit To See What He Could Learn.” (Central Intelligence Agency, “Statement By George J. Tenet, Director Of Central Intelligence,” Press Release, 7/11/03)

 

 

Wilson Denied His Wife Suggested He Travel To Niger, But Documentation Showed She Proposed His Name:

Wilson Claims His Wife Did Not Suggest He Travel To Niger To Investigate Reports Of Uranium Deal; Instead, Wilson Claims It Came Out Of Meeting With CIA To Discuss Report. CNN’S WOLF BLITZER: “Among other things, you had always said, always maintained, still maintain your wife, Valerie Plame, a CIA officer, had nothing to do with the decision to send to you Niger to inspect reports that uranium might be sold from Niger to Iraq. … Did Valerie Plame, your wife, come up with the idea to send you to Niger?” JOE WILSON: “No. My wife served as a conduit, as I put in my book. When her supervisors asked her to contact me for the purposes of coming into the CIA to discuss all the issues surrounding this allegation of Niger selling uranium to Iraq.” (CNN’s “Lade Edition,” 7/18/04)

 

Wilson’s Report On Niger Had “Thin” Evidence And Did Not Change Conclusions Of Analysts And Other Reports:

Officials Said Evidence Was “Thin” And His “Homework Was Shoddy.” “In the days after Wilson’s essay appeared, government officials began to steer reporters away from Wilson’s conclusions, raising questions about his veracity and the agency’s reasons for sending him in the first place. They told reporters that Wilson’s evidence was thin, said his homework was shoddy and suggested that he had been sent to Niger by the CIA only because his wife had nominated him for the job.” (Michael Duffy, “Leaking With A Vengeance,” Time, 10/13/03)

 

Senate Select Committee On Intelligence Unanimous Report: “Conclusion 13. The Report On The Former Ambassador’s Trip To Niger, Disseminated In March 2002, Did Not Change Any Analysts’ Assessments Of The Iraq-Niger Uranium Deal.” (Senate Select Committee On Intelligence, “Report On The U.S. Intelligence Community’s Prewar Assessments On Iraq, 7/7/04)

 

 

CIA Said Wilson’s Findings Did Not Resolve The Issue. “Because [Wilson’s] report, in our view, did not resolve whether Iraq was or was not seeking uranium from abroad, it was given a normal and wide distribution, but we did not brief it to the president, vice president or other senior administration officials. We also had to consider that the former Nigerien officials knew that what they were saying would reach the U.S. government and that this might have influenced what they said.” (Central Intelligence Agency, “Statement By George J. Tenet, Director Of Central Intelligence,” Press Release 7/11/03)

 

The Butler Report Claimed That The President’s State Of the Union Statement On Uranium From Africa, “Was Well-Founded.” “We conclude that, on the basis of the intelligence assessments at the time, covering both Niger and the Democratic Republic of Congo, the statements on Iraqi attempts to buy uranium from Africa in the Government’s dossier, and by the Prime Minister in the House of Commons, were well-founded. By extension, we conclude also that the statement in President Bush’s State of the Union Address of 28 January 2003 that: ‘The British Government has learned that Saddam Hussein recently sought significant quantities of uranium from Africa.’ was well-founded.” (The Rt. Hon. The Lord Butler Of Brockwell, “Review Of Intelligence, On Weapons Of Mass Destruction,” 7/14/04)

 

Sens. Roberts, Bond And Hatch All Dismissed Wilson’s Claims:

Sens. Pat Roberts (R-KS), Kit Bond (R-MO) And Orrin Hatch (R-UT) All Stated, “On At Least Two Occasions [Wilson] Admitted That He Had No Direct Knowledge To Support Some Of His Claims And That He Was Drawing On Either Unrelated Past Experiences Or No Information At All.” (Select Committee On Intelligence, “Additional Views Of Chairman Pat Roberts, Joined By Senator Christopher S. Bond And Senator Orrin G. Hatch; Report On The U.S. Intelligence Community’s Prewar Intelligence Assessments On Iraq,” U.S. Senate, 7/7/04)

 

 

 
Wilson Tied To The 2004 Kerry Campaign For President:

Wilson Endorsed Kerry In October 2003. “Former Ambassador Joseph Wilson, who accused the Bush administration of manipulating intelligence to exaggerate the threat from Iraq, endorsed Democrat John Kerry for president … In a conference call with New Hampshire reporters, Wilson said he and Kerry have shared the experience of challenging their government – Wilson when he questioned the ‘rush to war’ with Iraq, Kerry when he challenged America’s role in Vietnam.” (David Tirrell-Wysocki, “Former Ambassador Wilson Endorses Kerry In Presidential Race,” The Associated Press, 10/23/03)

 

“Wilson … Said He Has Long Been A Kerry Supporter And Has Contributed $2,000 To The Campaign This Year. He Said He Has Been Advising Kerry On Foreign Policy For About Five Months And Will Campaign For Kerry, Including A Trip To New Hampshire …” (David Tirrell-Wysocki, “Former Ambassador Wilson Endorses Kerry In Presidential Race,” The Associated Press, 10/23/03)

 

“In Mid-May, [Wilson] Began Talking To Kerry’s Advisers About Helping The Campaign; He Made His First Donation May 23. Kerry Himself Had Not Met Wilson Until Tuesday Night At A Campaign Fund-Raiser In Potomac, Md., A Kerry Aide Said …” (Patrick Healy and Wayne Washington, “In Probe Of CIA Leak, Two Sides See Politics,” The Boston Globe, 10/2/03)

 

“[Kerry Advisor Rand] Beers Said Wilson Communicates With Campaign Advisers At Least Once A Week.” (Patrick Healy and Wayne Washington, “In Probe Of CIA Leak, Two Sides See Politics,” The Boston Globe, 10/2/03)


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Front Page News; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: 2006; 2006elections; borders; bush43; cialeak; cooper; dump109th; dumpmehlman; eminentdomain; gop; joewilson; johnkerry; judithmiller; karlrove; kenmehlman; kerry; matcooper; mehlman; miller; nationalsecuritynow; payattention43; plame; rnc; rove; statement; valerieplame; wilson
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Comment #41 Removed by Moderator

To: minnesotared
Back when it was reported that there was a leak, everyone here was screaming Treason, or screaming to have the scoundrel thrown into jail.

It all depends on what the meaning of the word "leak" is. To hear the MSM say it, Rove was like "hey, bud. I don't like the way Joe Wilson is sniffing too close to my secret plan to destroy the world. So let me tell you, his wife, Valerie Plaime, is an undercover super spy, and if anyone found that out her life wouldn't be worth a plugged nickel."

From the account, it doesn't seem that this was the case at all when Rove told Cooper that he was barking up the wrong tree.

Now, the Judith Miller source COULD be a mole at the White House whose intention WAS to embarrass the Administration and undermine the War On Terror. In which case, it's possible the "traitor" angle will still stand.

42 posted on 07/12/2005 1:37:07 PM PDT by Question Liberal Authority ("There is no terrorist threat! There is no terrorist threat!" - Michael Moore)
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To: minnesotared

I'm not the one who called you a troll; in fact, to my knowledge, I've never called anyone in here a troll, on any thread, in the five or six years I've been in here. I did point out, however, that you linked to a tstory that cast aspersions on the NYT, not on Karl Rove, and on a matter unrelated to the Plame case.


43 posted on 07/12/2005 1:37:12 PM PDT by Steve_Seattle
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To: Question Liberal Authority

Excellent reply. Your "Hey, bud . . . " scenario is EXACTLY what the media have been trying to imply, and this story about Cooper and Rove suggests nothing of the sort happened, at least as far as the Cooper/Rove connection is concerned.


44 posted on 07/12/2005 1:40:03 PM PDT by Steve_Seattle
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To: Steve_Seattle

..."cast aspersions"...
nice!


45 posted on 07/12/2005 1:40:26 PM PDT by benben
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To: Jazzman1

I have been fighting in a foreum all day long with stupid young lefties. They are stupid and get their info straight off Du and move onnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn.


46 posted on 07/12/2005 1:40:36 PM PDT by JFC ( President Bush, You are being prayed for along with our country daily, by millions of us.)
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To: Steve_Seattle
From Day 1, this has been a media creation and a media fixation.

The Media is still trying to set the agenda.

47 posted on 07/12/2005 1:40:55 PM PDT by oldbrowser (You lost the election.....get over it.)
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To: saleman
Until the 'Rats started demonizing Rove maybe a couple of years ago I had never heard of him. I hear hes been with Bush a long time but geez, he's just an adviser isn't he?

The Liberal fantasy is that Bush is a complete idiot, yet the hard reality is that he keeps winning electoral and political victories.

To explain the disconnect, it is posited that George W. Bush is the sock puppet of some shadowy neo-conservative overlords - primarily Karl Rove and Dick Cheney.

But, yeah. Your basic premise is correct. Clinton went through several advisors, some of whom died under mysterious circumstances. Heck, the man even had his own dog murdered. Yet, through it all, Clinton was always Clinton.

48 posted on 07/12/2005 1:44:23 PM PDT by Question Liberal Authority ("There is no terrorist threat! There is no terrorist threat!" - Michael Moore)
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To: benben
"cast aspersions"

I'm not sure what you're referring to; I don't think I or anyone else used that phrase in a recent post.
49 posted on 07/12/2005 1:44:56 PM PDT by Steve_Seattle
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To: Steve_Seattle
No not strange at all. The guy's an idiot DU'er and that's the way they look at all things political. You have to understand, facts and logic don't matter. Common sense sure as hell doesn't matter. Nothing matters except getting Bush or any Republican, and regaining power. Doesn't matter if it hurts the country. Doesn't matter if it aids terrorist organizations or enemy's of the US. IMO many on the left are nothing but traitors. I hope one day they will get their due.
50 posted on 07/12/2005 1:47:16 PM PDT by saleman
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To: Steve_Seattle
"I'm not the one who called you a troll; in fact, to my knowledge, I've never called anyone in here a troll, on any thread, in the five or six years I've been in here. I did point out, however, that you linked to a tstory that cast aspersions on the NYT, not on Karl Rove, and on a matter unrelated to the Plame case."
51 posted on 07/12/2005 1:48:35 PM PDT by benben
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To: mund1011
Sincerely
John Kerry

ROTFLMFAO!!! John Kerry "Sincere" about something? Let's all be sure to keep copies of these letters so that we can "demand an apology" from the Dimwits demanding action by the administration before any proof has been shown.

What ever happened to "innocent until proven guilty"?

Oh yea, doesn't apply if it's a Republican taking the heat.

52 posted on 07/12/2005 1:51:10 PM PDT by golfboy (character is doing what is right, when no one is looking)
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To: benben

There are always a lot of posts and replies for a thing that goes nowhere. It is just us taking a minute to laugh at the stupid libs that keep thinking that Gore won in 2000 and that Rove is devising strategy from a bunker in Texas.


53 posted on 07/12/2005 1:53:53 PM PDT by EQAndyBuzz (Liberal Talking Point - Bush = Hitler ... Republican Talking Point - Let the Liberals Talk)
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To: minnesotared
Nope, your a suspected troll if you use information that has nothing to do with your argument. Again, WHAT does your link have to do with Rove?

Maybe you just posted the wrong link? I doubt it. You sound like a Troll to me. If not I apologize.
54 posted on 07/12/2005 1:54:10 PM PDT by saleman
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To: minnesotared

Well it turned out is isn't Rove and it still is OK.

They didn't throw Hillary in jail for stealing 900 FBI files. So I don't think this is a big deal, especially since it isn't true.


55 posted on 07/12/2005 1:56:02 PM PDT by EQAndyBuzz (Liberal Talking Point - Bush = Hitler ... Republican Talking Point - Let the Liberals Talk)
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To: Jazzman1
Doesnt matter WHAT the truth is to these DIMOS.

To the dims (masters of the "Big Lie"), the truth is whatever they say it is at the moment. Truth is like water, it takes the shape of whatever container they pour it into.

Right now, the container of Demonicrat truth is "Karl Rove Did It!" Next week dim truth will be something else equally as ridiculous, but it will be "The Truth" because they say it's so.

Don't ever expect the left to let the "Real" truth get in the way of their agenda.
56 posted on 07/12/2005 1:57:25 PM PDT by Dr.Zoidberg (Children's classic songs updated for Islam "If you're happy and you know it, Go Kaboom!")
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To: mund1011

Dear John Kerry,

Bite me.

Sincerely,

Jerome Corsi


57 posted on 07/12/2005 1:58:11 PM PDT by EQAndyBuzz (Liberal Talking Point - Bush = Hitler ... Republican Talking Point - Let the Liberals Talk)
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To: Dr.Zoidberg

another Delay type attack on a very effective Republican. They can't stand for Delay or Rove to be this succesful against them. When will they call for the ouster of the likes of Robert Byrd, Ted Kennedy, Al Sharpton and the rest of the horrible lot?


58 posted on 07/12/2005 2:20:12 PM PDT by jw777
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To: Dr.Zoidberg

What's the issue here, her name was already public? Jeez!


59 posted on 07/12/2005 2:27:58 PM PDT by FerkFick
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To: Dr.Zoidberg

What's the issue here, her name was already public Jeez!


60 posted on 07/12/2005 2:28:06 PM PDT by FerkFick
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