When it comes to investigating Dems, the MSM is all Moveon.org. But when a Republican is potentially in the crosshairs, the liberal media suddenly goes Eliot Ness . . .
Take the New York Times editorial of this morning, Mr. Rove Gets Out of Town, which amounts to an extended plea to Democrats to investigate Karl Rove on matters sundry. Huffs the Times:
The American public needs to understand the full story of how this White House — with Mr. Rove pulling many of the strings — has spent the last six and a half years improperly and dangerously politicizing the federal government. Mr. Rove is already defying one Congressional subpoena to testify about the United States attorneys scandal. He should be made to respond to that one, and should also be subpoenaed to explain his role in several other cases of crass politicization.
Some "scandal," one in which no one has denied the right of the president to have fired the attorneys in question. But never mind. A scandal is in the eyes of the beholder, and for the Times, this is apparently big stuff.
Let's consider what might happen if the Dems follow the Times' advice. Between now and election day 2008, the headlines and cablewaves will be charged with the profoundly unilluminating spectacle of a bunch of Dem committee members in various states of manufactured outrage inveighing against the mild-mannered Rove about something in which the American people are largely uninterested.
And rather than the Dem presidential contenders and ultimately the party's candidate, the face of the Democratic party will be Senate Judiciary chairman Patrick Leahy and House Judiciary chairman John Conyers, along with fellow Senate committee members like Ted Kennedy, Joe Biden and Chuck Schumer, and Jerry Nadler, Robert Wexler, Sheila Jackson Lee and Maxine Waters of the House committee.
It might be an uncomfortable episode for Mr. Rove. But I'm guessing Republican strategists might well be thinking: by all means, throw us in that briar patch!
Contact Mark at mark@gunhill.net
—Mark Finkelstein is a NewsBusters contributing editor and host of Right Angle. Contact him at mark@gunhill.net.
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Investigate Clinton Instead
August 14, 2007 - 06:20 ET by ThisnThatA much greater story is still the mysterious disappearance and rediscovery of billing records showing the extent of Hillary Clinton's legal work for McDougal's savings and loan. Missing and under subpoena for two years, they turned up in January 1996 in the Clintons' private quarters at the White House. I still haven't heard a satisfactory answer on how this happened. If Clinton is going to run for President, she needs to come out and explain this. If not, then Leahy needs to launch an investigation.
TnT, you know very well
August 14, 2007 - 08:27 ET by motherbeltTnT, you know very well that when a Democrat says "I don't know" (how it happened, how they got there, or who hired Craig Livingstone) that's good enough for the MSM. And if they actually DO do something wrong and resign, they have "suffered enough" and that should be the end of it.
But for a Republican, especially an evil one like Karl Rove, even the lack of any indictment and resigning won't save him from the assumption of guilt, and their wrath. He is Moby Dick to their Captain Ahab, and they won't give up. After all, what else have they got, except their obsession and vindictive investigations?
Motherbelt, I agree
August 14, 2007 - 11:22 ET by cvgbuckeyeI don't see how anyone in their right minds could believe ANYTHING that Leahy, Pelosi, Reid and the rest of these liars say!
They are about as much True Americans as Bill & Hillary Clinton are True Baptists!
Put us to Sleep
August 14, 2007 - 06:20 ET by allanfThese investigations are the fastest way to put voters to sleep. They will be lost in the dust of the presidential campaign.
Rove is safe to ignore these wack jobs. Only Andrea Mitchell and her cocktail circuit friends care.
Polls
August 14, 2007 - 06:43 ET by Sergeant ROCKI can't imagine why Congress has the lowest approval rating ever.
The face of Big Brother Patrick Leahy
August 14, 2007 - 07:43 ET by CTCentral casting could hardly do a better job than select the face of Patrick Leahy for a remake of '1984'.
With the victory in the
August 14, 2007 - 08:29 ET by USA4freedomWith the victory in the Senate and Congress we get to see
the “Happy face of Laughing Leahy”
I don’t know about you but I just put him on top of the A
list for my next party.
If you put Leahy and Dennis Kucinich together you have a 6ft
tall pissed off pile of ________________ marshmallows.
These are the boys of Pointe du Hoc.
Ronald Reagan- 40th Anniversary of D-Day
Let Leahy investigate. He
August 14, 2007 - 10:49 ET by buddycLet Leahy investigate. He is a lightweight. If he is the best the libs have, Rove need not worry.
Leakey Lahey
August 14, 2007 - 16:30 ET by PAPA LA PROUD AMERICAN
Go ahead Leahy you s-b, MR, ROVE will eat your lunch. Maybe it is a good idea to hold closed door hearings so the last few Americans who dont know what an idiot you are won't find out.
Karl Rove
August 14, 2007 - 12:03 ET by tymanWhat I think will ultimately happen is that the country will get so fed up with all of this nonsense that they will not vote for these elites. They should be doing the peoples business, not working to increase their political profile (and taxes). They have shown the country how they are so preoccupied with things that don't matter. It will be their downfall. Just look at the approval ratings.