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On Fast & Furious, "Blame Bush" is a Lie
Townhall.com ^ | June 20, 2012 | Guy Benson

Posted on 06/20/2012 12:08:25 PM PDT by Kaslin

Throughout today's House Oversight Committee hearings on possible contempt charges for Attorney General Eric Holder, Democrat members repeatedly asserted and imtimated that the deadly gun-running program had originated under the previous administration.  Their clear aim was to muddy the waters on who is ultimately culpable for this blood-stained travesty, to suggest that Republicans are engaged in a shameless partisan witch hunt, and to feed the pliant mainstream media a handy alternate narrative as they begin to cover the controversy.  Katie documented why this variant of "Blame Bush!" isn't remotely applicable to Fast & Furious in her book, and former federal prosector Andy McCarthy exposed and distilled the Left's deliberate obtuseness on this subject last November:
 

The key to [Democrats'] strategy is conflating two very different programs: Operation Fast & Furious and a Bush era ATF initiative known as “Operation Wide Receiver.” In the questions from Judiciary Committee Democrats (principally, Senators Dianne Feinstein and Chuck Schumer — there may have been others but, again, I didn’t see the entire hearing), it emerged that Wide Receiver began in 2006, when Alberto Gonzales was the Bush administration attorney general...Wide Receiver actually involved not gun-walking but controlled delivery. Unlike gun-walking, which seems (for good reason) to have been unheard of until Fast & Furious, controlled delivery is a very common law enforcement tactic. Basically, the agents know the bad guys have negotiated a deal to acquire some commodity that is either illegal itself (e.g., heroin, child porn) or illegal for them to have/use (e.g., guns, corporate secrets). The agents allow the transfer to happen under circumstances where they are in control — i.e., they are on the scene conducting surveillance of the transfer, and sometimes even participating undercover in the transfer. As soon as the transfer takes place, they can descend on the suspects, make arrests, and seize the commodity in question — all of which makes for powerful evidence of guilt.  Senator Schumer’s drawing of an equivalence between “tracing” in a controlled-delivery situation and “tracing” in Fast & Furious is laughable. In a controlled delivery firearms case, guns are traced in the sense that agents closely and physically follow them — they don’t just note the serial numbers or other identifying markers. The agents are thus able to trace the precise path of the guns from, say, American dealers to straw purchasers to Mexican buyers.

To the contrary, Fast & Furious involved uncontrolled deliveries — of thousands of weapons. It was an utterly heedless program in which the feds allowed these guns to be sold to straw purchasers — often leaning on reluctant gun dealers to make the sales. The straw purchasers were not followed by close physical surveillance; they were freely permitted to bulk transfer the guns to, among others, Mexican drug gangs and other violent criminals — with no agents on hand to swoop in, make arrests, and grab the firearms. The inevitable result of this was that the guns have been used (and will continue to be used) in many crimes, including the murder of Brian Terry, a U.S. border patrol agent. In sum, the Fast & Furious idea of “trace” is that, after violent crimes occur in Mexico, we can trace any guns the Mexican police are lucky enough to seize back to the sales to U.S. straw purchasers … who should never have been allowed to transfer them (or even buy them) in the first place. That is not law enforcement; that is abetting a criminal rampage.

Another crucial distinction: The Bush-era gun tracing program known as "Wide Receiver" was executed in concert with the Mexican government, which was fully involved at every step of the process.  "Fast & Furious" was conceived and launched without the knowledge of the Mexican government -- and its citizens have paid a very dear price as a result.  Even Holder himself was acknowledged that Fast & Furious was entirely an Obama-era endeavor:

Holder contradicts Bush did it too.wmv

That clip is from a hearing in the fall of 2011, putting to lie the contention that Republicans are merely trying to capitalize on an election year "fishing expedition."  Investigators have been "fishing" for the truth for some time.  The family of those killed -- including US Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry -- deserve nothing less.  I'll leave you with two (additional) flashback instances of our transparency-loving president decrying the invocation of Executive Privilege, which is precisely the tactic he employed today to scuttle a legitimate Congressional investigation of his supposedly non-partisan Department of Justice. 

 

2009:
 
"The Freedom of Information Act should be administered with a clear presumption: In the face of doubt, openness prevails. The Government should not keep information confidential merely because public officials might be embarrassed by disclosure, because errors and failures might be revealed, or because of speculative or abstract fears." - President Barack H. Obama

2005:

Obama 2005: Attorney General's job is not to pursue the President's political agenda

The president is not the Attorney General's client. The people are."  - Senator Barack H. Obama



TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Editorial; Front Page News; Government
KEYWORDS: 2012; 2deadfeds; 300deadmexicans; alinskytactics; atf; banglist; blamebush; corruption; dea; democratcorruption; democrats; dhs; doj; dojisajoke; ericholder; fastandfurious; fbi; fraud; gunrunner; gunwalker; holder; ice; murdergate; obama; obamagate
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1 posted on 06/20/2012 12:08:35 PM PDT by Kaslin
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To: Kaslin

Mind boggling why Holder is not in jail.


2 posted on 06/20/2012 12:14:59 PM PDT by Leep (Enemy of the StatistI)
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To: Kaslin

What did the President know and when did he know it?


3 posted on 06/20/2012 12:15:49 PM PDT by TonyInOhio (What did the President know and when did he know it?)
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To: Kaslin; Leep

The fact that Wide Receiver was operated in concert with the Mexican government, while “Fast and Furious” was never mentioned to them, tells you all you need to know.

But that’s Obama for you. The dead people are “just Mexicans” or “just a Border Patrol agent,” and they’re insignificant in his quest for power.

One thing people don’t take into consideration is that Obama really despises Hispanics in general and Mexicans in particular, and this provides graphic evidence of it. Also, I was talking with some Mexicans a few days ago, and they told me that they thought that Obama hated Mexico and that he didn’t care how many Mexicans were killed or how he had violated Mexican sovereignty (another issue nobody has brought up yet).


4 posted on 06/20/2012 12:20:08 PM PDT by livius
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To: Kaslin

The entirety of the “Blame Bush” meme, which began during the 2008 campaign, has been a lie. On the economy, the dims were at the wheel when the crash occurred. Yet, Bush has born the blame, thanks in large measure to the Lame Stream Media. On the WOT, the dims did everything possible to thwart victory throughout Bush’s tenure, yet, again, Bush has received blame. Now Bush is being blamed for “Fast&Furious”. The dims DO NOT have anything to offer this country EXCEPT for finger pointing.


5 posted on 06/20/2012 12:22:04 PM PDT by SoldierDad (Proud dad of an Army Soldier who has survived 24 months of Combat deployment.)
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To: Kaslin

It seems like the wheels are starting to come off the bus even the LAME STREET MEDIA can’t ignore everything happening this week.

Explosion of information is getting out and the administration can’t answer the questions.


6 posted on 06/20/2012 12:23:34 PM PDT by THE_RAIDER
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To: Kaslin

Obama lied, people died.


7 posted on 06/20/2012 12:24:08 PM PDT by a fool in paradise (The media ignored the 40th anniversary of Bill Ayers' Pentagon bombing but not Watergate. Ask Why.)
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To: Kaslin; TheOldLady; WildHighlander57; netmilsmom; tomdavidd; Freeper; Gvl_M3; Flotsam_Jetsome; ...
.

Image and video hosting by TinyPic

.

8 posted on 06/20/2012 12:32:28 PM PDT by LucyT
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To: SoldierDad
Exactly, and as I have said so many times, there was nothing wrong with the economy when the Republicans were in charge. Unemployment was practically nonexistent and the economy was thriving. Things changed when the commicrats took over in January 2007. Unemployment began to rise and by December 2007 the recession began.

The only one that arrogant pos can blame is himself as he was part of of the Senate and the rats in the House and Senate

9 posted on 06/20/2012 12:33:07 PM PDT by Kaslin (Acronym for OBAMA: One Big Ass Mistake America)
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To: Kaslin

Actually, the “blame bush” meme, even if it had any shred of truth, would work AGAINST the claims of a partisan witch hunt.

The problem with Fast&Furious is with the program, not with who started it. The issue is that the current administration, which as Obama explained is the only administration currently in office, isn’t providing information.

These facts are true whether Bush started the program or not. They are true even if Obama is just continuing a Bush program. It’s not like Bush can come back and release the documents.


10 posted on 06/20/2012 12:41:20 PM PDT by CharlesWayneCT
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To: Kaslin

Looks like the public is finally finding out about OPERATION EVOLVING TRUTH.


11 posted on 06/20/2012 12:42:21 PM PDT by UCANSEE2 (Lame and ill-informed post)
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To: LucyT
Holder and the Hilldabeast's fingerprints are all over an identical operation between Tampa and Honduras

does it add up?:

Honduras? Why would ATF walk guns to Honduras?

and this........

Obama Admin Lobbying Honduras To Allow Zelaya Back In? Are You Kidding?

What could possibly be the motive behind this lunacy?

On the last day of December last year, Manuel “Mel” Zelaya, the deposed Honduran president and self-described victim of high-frequency radiation attacks by Israeli mercenaries, vowed to the press that he would return to Honduras. Few outside of Honduras have paid much attention to Zelaya’s MacArthur-esque prediction, but it has become apparent there is more behind his declaration than his usual hyperbole and bombastic absurdities.

Behind the scenes in the Obama administration there appears to be a concerted effort to pressure the democratically elected government of President Porfirio Lobo to dismiss charges of misappropriation of government funds and falsifying documents that are pending against Zelaya. This would open the door for his return to the country, and would be certain to undermine the delicate process of reestablishing democracy and order that is currently taking place in this poor and beleaguered nation.

When Zelaya was removed from office in July of 2009, the Obama administration at first joined with leftist dictators Fidel Castro of Cuba, Hugo Chavez of Venezuela, and Daniel Ortega of Nicaragua in calling for his reinstatement. The Obama White House seemed oblivious to the Honduran constitution, as well as the threat Zelaya posed to the stability of the country and the region. When the courageous Honduran people held firm to their democratic constitution and refused to yield to the pressure exerted by the U.S., the Obama administration found no way of saving face other than reversing course and backing the democratic presidential elections called for by their constitution.

The Honduran Connection 7.7.11 Now we know why Hillary Clinton and Obama were falling all over themselves to support and prop-up the Honduran Marxist dictator-wannabe, Manuel Zelaya back in 2009. I never could figure out why they would create such blatantly unflattering, pro-Marxist optics for the Obama regime for a small country like Honduras. Now it all makes perfect sense. Zelaya attempted to overthrow the Honduran constitution and install himself as dictator for life, a la Hugo Chavez. The Honduran Congress AND Supreme Court followed their Constitutional Rule of Law to the letter and removed Zelaya. Within hours Obama and Clinton were threatening Honduras and demanding that the Marxist dictator Zelaya be re-installed. Now we know why. Obama and Clinton were arming Zelaya and were coordinating with Zelaya to run arms through Honduras. Presumably the deal was that some of the arms would stay with Zelaya and most would move into Mexico from the South. Then, Obama and Clinton could "find" U.S. guns in Southern Mexico and Central America, and thus use these optics to bolster their false contention that "90%" of Mexican guns were sourced directly from the U.S. "See? U.S. guns are all the way down in Chiapas State and Guatemala. U.S. guns are everywhere! The Second Amendment simply is not feasible any longer!"

Baby Doc's Back - will Obama Back Aristide?

US revokes visas to pressure Haiti on election

12 posted on 06/20/2012 12:42:21 PM PDT by Elle Bee
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To: TonyInOhio

The President is withholding memos that prove ‘gunwalker’ came from the top down, because Obama already said he knew ‘nothing’ about it, and releasing the real proof would make him look like a liar.

This issue has become not ‘what he knew’ , but what he can ‘keep you from proving’.


13 posted on 06/20/2012 12:46:28 PM PDT by UCANSEE2 (Lame and ill-informed post)
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To: Elle Bee
What could possibly be the motive behind this lunacy?

A planet full of third world dictatorships with two classes. The HAVES and the HAVE NOTS. The HAVE NOTS will slave for the glory of the HAVES.

There will be no 'foreign partisans', no 'foreign allies' to help us.

It is not an issue anymore of 'keeping' our nation. That ship sailed already.

The issue is can we get it back.

14 posted on 06/20/2012 12:52:48 PM PDT by UCANSEE2 (Lame and ill-informed post)
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To: Kaslin

They wanted to undo everything Bush did- Iran war, Guantanamo prisoners, tax cuts for rich, etc. But in this case they wanted to expand a Bush a program?

Only liberals with a complicit media can get away with such crap.


15 posted on 06/20/2012 12:54:14 PM PDT by Raycpa
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To: Elle Bee

Oh.... quoting facts and sourcing actual documents. How rude of you.

Didn’t you hear the DEMS at the HOUSE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE HEARING?

“wah,wah,wah, Republicans, and the Tea Party, and Conservatives, and (stupid) ‘AMERICANS’ are just being meanies and picking on Holder and Obama because they are black [which neither one are] and besides, Bush did it.”


16 posted on 06/20/2012 1:02:08 PM PDT by UCANSEE2 (Lame and ill-informed post)
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To: Kaslin

If a person in DC were killed by a mugger today, Eleanor Holmes Norton would say that muggings happened under Bush, too


17 posted on 06/20/2012 1:05:08 PM PDT by syriacus (Obama Holder Napolitano conspiracy. 800,000 illegals become voters so swing states will swing Left.)
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To: Kaslin

So is “botched sting operation.” There never was an attempt to track the weapons in Fast and Furious.


18 posted on 06/20/2012 1:05:48 PM PDT by Carry_Okie (The RINOcrat Party is still in charge. There has never been a conservative American government.)
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To: SoldierDad
The dims DO NOT have anything to offer this country EXCEPT for finger pointing.

Their only other option would be the truth, and we know why they can't 'offer' that.

19 posted on 06/20/2012 1:06:02 PM PDT by UCANSEE2 (Lame and ill-informed post)
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To: Kaslin; Joe Brower; Travis McGee; LucyT; vette6387; MetaThought; 60Gunner; XHogPilot; ...

They walk lies just as blatantly as they walked guns. They can walk the lies back all they want.
It won’t bring back Jaime Zapata and Brian Terry.


20 posted on 06/20/2012 1:29:54 PM PDT by MestaMachine (obama kills)
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