ABC Portrays Obama Team Aggressively Pursuing Security Leaks--Not As Possible Source of Them
If an extraterrestrial had tuned into Good Morning America today and watched ABC News's report on national security leaks, he would have come away thinking the Obama administration was valiantly, aggressively pursuing the leakers. ET wouldn't have learned that there is good reason to suspect that the source of the leaks . . . is the Obama administration itself.
An attentive viewer might have noticed that the screen graphic referred to the White House and Congress being investigated. But the report by ABC's Pierre Thomas never hinted that the Obama administration was itself being accused of being the source of the leaks. To the contrary, Thomas framed the issue this way: "freedom of the press and the public's right to know is now on collision course with the government's desire to protect national security secrets." Translation: the Obama admin is, even at the risk of impinging on other values, leading the fight to protect national security. Gag us with a background briefing! View the video after the jump.
Watch Thomas twist what could be a devastating scandal for President Obama into a story about the prez bravely standing up for national security.
RON CLAIBORNE: The Justice Department is stepping up its crackdown on a series of national security leaks to the media. Attorney General Eric Holder is assigning two US Attorneys to lead criminal investigations into the recent leaks, and ABC's Pierre Thomas joins us now, live from Washington, with the latest. Good morning, Pierre.
PIERRE THOMAS: Hi, Ron. The freedom of the press and the public's right to know is now on collision course with the government's desire to protect national security secrets. The Attorney General's order to two top prosecutors in Washington, DC and [inaudible] to go after the source of those leaks is serious business. Republicans and Democrats in Congress are livid about the leaks concerning US efforts to stop Iran's nuclear program and efforts against al Qaeda. These prosecutors will have tens of FBI agents at their disposal, the ability to conduct grand jury investigations, and the authority to pursue subpoenas against journalists and members of government. Make no mistake: this could get quite ugly.
CLAIBORNE: Pierre, when you say that, what does this potentially mean for the journalists . . . and for the leakers?
THOMAS: Well, it means the journalists could be called to court and ordered to reveal who their sources are if the government can't find out who is leaking these secrets any other way. And if the journalists do not comply, that could mean jail time and fines. And obviously, if they find out who leaked the information, they're probably going to jail, Ron.
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Comments
Today's news from Bizarro World....
Submitted by motherbelt on Sat, 06/09/2012 - 8:59am.
Sheesh.
Everyone should read the linked story from Forbes.
First money quote:
...we can see that this administration was likely aware of the front page New York Times story and the serious revelations about national security contained in the story. Despite those facts, outrage wasn’t the first instinct of this administration. In fact, their first instinct upon being questioned about the story was to offer talking points about the President’s Iran policy.
IOW, they wanted the info leaked so they could talk about it more.
It gets better from there.
What a snow-job.
So, you are saying it is different than the valerie plame leaks?
Submitted by merly1 on Sat, 06/09/2012 - 9:26am.
When Bush was outraged with the Plame disclosure, are you saying the media
didnt portray it as "Bush and Congress valiantly protect national security?"
Say it aint so...........................................
:oD
:oQ
:oX
you're not really trying to compare
Submitted by hbnolikeee on Sat, 06/09/2012 - 10:58am.
the magnitude and international affects of this to Plame? This obvious repeated leaking of information as we approach election prop your image gambit eclipses Plame.
Special Counsel
Submitted by Kingfish17 on Sat, 06/09/2012 - 11:05am.
The leak of a low level CIA employee's identity warranted a Special Counsel. Security leaks that reveal the names of informants working against Iran does not. What a joke.
Remember when the press raised a big stink over Bush getting rid of all the U.S. attorneys? Here's an excerpt from an article about Holder's recent appointment of two U.S. attorneys appointed to do this investigation.
Rosenstein was appointed by former President George W. Bush and was among only three U.S. attorneys out of 93 nationwide that was kept on by Obama, according to a 2011 article by The Washington Post.
I don't remember the big stink from the press about Obama dumping virtually all the U.S. attorneys.
"You can’t go take a trip to Las Vegas...on the taxpayer’s dime." Barack Obama
likee didnt likeee my humor....
Submitted by merly1 on Sat, 06/09/2012 - 2:30pm.
Good one on the US attorneys however.
As with the minor Plame leak leading to anti-Bush media feeding frenzy, it is stunning to see
how little interest the media has into embarrassing this administration.
Next we'll see a story
Submitted by cocodrie on Sat, 06/09/2012 - 9:57am.
Next we'll see a story about how Charles Manson's right to self gratification by murdering people conflicts with his victims' right to life.
Jesus Loves You so much He died for you
If you love what you do?
Submitted by Indie Dude on Sat, 06/09/2012 - 11:49pm.
If I was a professional journalist in today's world and I was dedicated, I would love the opportunity to uncover corruption in today's government!
There are so many issues of corruption to uncover under this administration. However, what a waste of opportunity (for these so-call MSM journalist). To turn a blind eye, and not ask probing questions, investigate the truth, and dig deep to find what's really going on inside this administration. It's such a shame, and a big sham. All in the name of leftist Ideology. I guess only time will tell how many "Watergate" incidents may have occurred under this administration. Years and years from now, things will be uncovered, people will speak,..they always do. Unfortunately and sad to say, Journalist today are refusing to find the truth.
I hope a journalist in the MSM reads this and wakes up.
With Eric 'Gun Runner' Holder? Ha!
Submitted by Slyrr on Sat, 06/09/2012 - 10:20am.
Oh wonderful. Obama has put Eric 'Gun-Runner/Agent Murderer' Holder in charge of 'getting to the bottom' of this. Wow. I feel safer already.
I'm sure this man, who is currently under INVESTIGATION for obstruction of justice, lying, perjury and a host of other crimes is just the guy who take down the dastardly villain who's somehow letting NYT reporters walk right in to Obama's secret military planning sessions. And the same person then lets them walk right out and publish all our secrets so that Al Queda can be warned in advance of our doings.
I'm sure the administration that has done nothing but grab their ankles for Iran and the terrorists have nothing but pure motives in making sure our military are walking right into whatever traps the jihadists are setting for them by spilling our secrets on a daily basis. /sarcasm
I saw a news article on this that said 'Either Obama or the NYT is wrong'. Please. Let's not sugar-coat this. It should read, 'Either Obama or the NYT are traitors'. In my book, they're ALL traitors to their country - selling out our military troops and plunging the entire world into jeapordy simply to stroke their liberal egos.
Eric the Red was put in
Submitted by craig1304 on Sat, 06/09/2012 - 12:31pm.
Eric the Red was put in charge of the investigation because The Messiah knows that nothing will come of it.
The NYT reported that David
Submitted by celator on Sat, 06/09/2012 - 11:07am.
The NYT reported that David Axelrod has attended the highest level of intelligence briefings, and the House Intelligence Committee is taking a serious look at whether Axelrod's possible presence at these meetings has compromised our intelligence. Axelrod denies his attendance (of course). But then, Axelrod lies for a living.
Who is the person most responsible for crafting yet another Obama persona--warrior, manly man, etc.-- for the re-elect campaign? Axelrod.
So when Obama says that the leaks didn't come from INSIDE the White House, it might be technically true (or maybe not). Axelrod works out of Chicago.
http://www.rollcall.com/news/David_Axelrod_Says_He_Did_Not_Attend_Terror...
Axelrodgate?
Submitted by cristo on Sat, 06/09/2012 - 11:50am.
Maybe it was David Axelrod, you know, getting back at Eric Holder for comparing him to Karl Rove. Can't you see it, David dressed in his black leather Canadian-homosexual-cannibal-porn-killer jacket, a potted plant with a red flag in it atop his head, in an underground garage in Chicago, beckoning Rachael Maddow to the shadows, ppiiisssttt, whata know a secret, buddy? Works for me. Call Ben Bradlee, see what he thinks.
Holder/Ax
Submitted by HudsonRiverGirl on Sat, 06/09/2012 - 11:53am.
Be nice if this turned out to be a pissing war between Ax and Holder.
They truly deserve each other.
"Report: Holder, Axelrod
Submitted by celator on Sat, 06/09/2012 - 5:00pm.
"Report: Holder, Axelrod nearly engaged in White House fisticuffs"...from Yahoo News.
Fisticuffs? LOL
http://news.yahoo.com/report-holder-axelrod-nearly-engaged-white-house-f...
The comrade Teflon Mullah fraud in the White House...
Submitted by Dave. on Sat, 06/09/2012 - 12:57pm.
...will get away with this, just like he has everything else, because the congressional repubs all have wet noodles for spines.
-Dave
Vote for the American in November
That was their spines, Dave??
Submitted by killa37 on Sat, 06/09/2012 - 9:46pm.
That was their spines, Dave?? Considering that they are self-emasculating eunichs, I thought the wet noodles were somewhere else.
Letting Eric Holder
Submitted by nolefan2 on Sat, 06/09/2012 - 4:32pm.
investigate this is the biggest bunch of bull-squeeze I've ever seen, but I am not surprised. I've said it before and I'll say it again.....this administration will go down in history as the most corrupt one in our history.
Let's see a show of hands.
Submitted by ricklail on Sat, 06/09/2012 - 4:33pm.
All who believe these US Attorneys will have a report ready by November please raise your hands. All who believe Holder will withhold documents please raise your hands. all who believe Alexrod is right now working on some BS PR statement please raise your hands. I have absoluetly no faith in this administration doing any investigation into itself. This is the place where a special prosecuter is warrantted.
But if the White House didn't
Submitted by angus young on Sat, 06/09/2012 - 8:31pm.
But if the White House didn't leak them how would the masses know what an awesome bad-ass he is !!!
He's a Warrior !!!!!!!!!
Agreed, angus. Obama is an Osama slaying ---
Submitted by matthewdean on Sat, 06/09/2012 - 9:12pm.
stud muffin, all right. :o)
MD
Well, MD - I see that the
Submitted by killa37 on Sat, 06/09/2012 - 9:49pm.
Well, MD - I see that the Somolia branch of Al Queda just came up with their own bounties - 10 camels for Boy Baraka, and 20 chickens for Nurse Ratchett.....................but, given the personalities of the two 'most wanted', I'd say that 'da boyz' in Somolia got the reward items backwards!!!
I guess they could've offered some cornered badgers for Nurse Ratchett, but they probably don't have them in Somolia - but they might have those 'honey badgers', which are REALLY mean!!!!
Update, killa, ---
Submitted by matthewdean on Sat, 06/09/2012 - 10:13pm.
The bounty offers were scrambled, either during transmission or in translation.
The offing offers were actually:
1 camel straight across for the not so straight, chickensh*t Obama; & 2 camels, a pound for pound trade, for the wretched Ratchett.
MD
killa & MD
Submitted by Radical1979 on Sat, 06/09/2012 - 10:15pm.
Wait, I'm getting confused. Are those offers for offing them, or what they would give us to keep them here? Cause if it's to keep BO and MO it's waaaay to little. But I can understand they don't want either of 'em there.
Rad ---
Submitted by matthewdean on Sat, 06/09/2012 - 10:22pm.
I think those had to have been offing offers, cuz the cost of a bribe to keep 'em here in the U.S. would be astronomically higher than camels and chickens.
Unless, of course, one happens to be a boneheaded Lib-Dim - a member of a deranged group who just luz Obama and his administration.
MD
Damn
Submitted by Radical1979 on Sat, 06/09/2012 - 10:53pm.
I was hoping against hope...
Yeah, Ms. Lovely and Elegant
Submitted by killa37 on Sat, 06/09/2012 - 10:47pm.
Yeah, Ms. Lovely and Elegant Rad, if they WERE offerering to keep them over there, Ms. FemiNazi would find out the TRUE meaning of 'women's rights' with those moooooooooooooooslems, and of course Boy Baraka would be injected, inspected, and infected with the REAL meaning of 'piece and love'...........
Of course, being the first Gay President, he might not take this situation sitting down!!!
But wouldn't BO love the chance
Submitted by Radical1979 on Sat, 06/09/2012 - 10:55pm.
to be boss over MO for a change?! Going to a muslim country is about the only way that would happen.
You speak TROOF, MD!!! And I
Submitted by killa37 on Sat, 06/09/2012 - 10:51pm.
You speak TROOF, MD!!! And I think the main reason that 'da boyz' in Somolia didn't include Moooooooooochelle Imelda sASSquatch Patrick Ewing-in-drag was because they didn't have THREE extra camels!!!!
If source of leaks isn't found within 7 days...
Submitted by ChrisNH on Sun, 06/10/2012 - 9:12am.
...then the source IS the White House.
They cannot 'aggressively' search for a source of leaks and not find it...not with the resources available to them.
Each day, Carney should be asked, point-blank, "Did you find the source yet?"
Yeah, and Boy Baraka was
Submitted by killa37 on Sun, 06/10/2012 - 1:52pm.
Yeah, and Boy Baraka was going to 'focus like a laser beam' on the job situation, and he 'wasn't going to sleep' until he fixed the economy, so this little side-show will be easy to sweep under the rug, especially with Eric (With)Holder in charge - he couldn't even find anything wrong with Black Panther intimidation at the polling booth or having a gun running/dead bodies boondoggle down on the border.
And I wonder how Gibson guitars are doing??? You know, those damn guitars are treasonous, insidious, seditious, and dangerous!!!!
This reminds me of when Acorn investigated Acorn.
Submitted by SickofLibs on Sun, 06/10/2012 - 9:30am.
"Our/Their's investigation has found that We/They have committed no crimes.
Therefore, Them/Us are fully exonerated." -- Bertha Lewis