Panic Over Possible Pardon, ABC Compares Libby Case to Plight of Cocaine Dealer

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Broadcast network anchors and reporters on Tuesday night seemed to be in a near panic over the possibility President Bush might yet pardon Lewis “Scooter” Libby, while ABC's Martha Raddatz illustrated special treatment for Libby by highlighting a man sentenced to 20 years for selling cocaine, whose commutation request Bush rejected, and Martha Stewart who served five months for violations similar to Libby's. With “Libby PARDON?” on screen, NBC Nightly News anchor Brian Williams warned that Bush is “not ruling out the possibility of a full pardon.” Bush remarked on Tuesday that “as to the future, I'm, you know, rule nothing in and nothing out.” CBS Evening News anchor Katie Couric made that her hook, citing “a lot more fireworks today...sparked by what the President said he may or may not do in the future.” Bill Plante began: “A day after he commuted Lewis Libby's prison sentence, President Bush raised the ante by leaving the door open to an eventual pardon.”

ABC anchor Charles Gibson teased World News: “Angry reaction to President Bush sparing Scooter Libby jail time while the President doesn't rule out granting Libby a full pardon.” Martha Raddatz reported: “Mr. Bush took it one step further today, saying a full pardon for Libby is not off the table.” After running a clip of White House Press Secretary Tony Snow maintaining “you do not engage in these acts for symbolic or political reasons,” Raddatz charged: “But that is going to be a hard accusation to shake. At the very least, Libby went to the front of the line. There are currently close to 2,000 commutation requests pending. More than 4,000 have already been denied. During his nearly seven years in office, President Bush has granted only four commutations, including Libby.” She proceeded to highlight how “former Kansas City Royals slugger Willie Mays Aikens, was sentenced to 20 years in prison in 1994 for selling two ounces of crack,” but “Aikens' request to have his sentence commuted was turned down by President Bush.”

But no matter how many commutations or pardons Bush grants, you could always find another sympathetic case of injustice.

MRC analyst Brad Wilmouth corrected the closed-captioning against the video for the July 3 World News story on ABC:

CHARLES GIBSON: Now, to today's noisy fallout from President Bush's decision to commute the sentence of Lewis "Scooter" Libby. The fact that Libby's conviction for lying in the CIA leak investigation stands, while he is spared from serving any prison time, didn't seem to satisfy anyone, except, perhaps, the President himself. Or at least that's what it sounded like in Washington today. Our chief White House correspondent, Martha Raddatz, is there. Martha?

MARTHA RADDATZ: Charlie, the President was unapologetic today, despite criticism from all sides. Mr. Bush took it one step further today, saying a full pardon for Libby is not off the table.

GEORGE W. BUSH: As to the future, I'm, you know, rule nothing in and nothing out.

RADDATZ: But the reaction has been immediate and intense. The Democratic National Committee posted a Web ad slamming the President.

AUDIO OF BUSH, in clip of ad: I expect every member of this administration to stay well within the boundaries that define legal and ethical conduct.

RADDATZ: The President's conservative base was not happy either, Demanding a full pardon.

TONY SNOW: The point of this is that you do not engage in these acts for symbolic or political reasons.

RADDATZ: But that is going to be a hard accusation to shake. At the very least, Libby went to the front of the line. There are currently close to 2,000 commutation requests pending. More than 4,000 have already been denied. During his nearly seven years in office, President Bush has granted only four commutations including Libby.

MARGARET LOVE, Attorney: The thing that I hope most is that this will encourage him to grant some pardons and commutations to ordinary people.

RADDATZ: Margaret Love's client, former Kansas City Royals slugger Willie Mays Aikens, was sentenced to 20 years in prison in 1994 for selling two ounces of crack.

WILLIE MAYS AIKENS, Former Kansas City Royals first baseman (2003 video from ESPN): For the crime that I committed, I believe that I, you know, I've done enough time. It's time for me to go home.

RADDATZ: Aikens' request to have his sentence commuted was turned down by President Bush. He has another request pending. And there is, of course, the case of Martha Stewart. Like Libby, she was convicted of perjury and obstruction charges. She served five months in jail. But the White House insists that Scooter Libby has already suffered enough. Charlie.