How Kumbayah! Obama’s Top Attorney Wants to Pardon Scooter Libby!
By SusanUnPC on January 8, 2008 at 2:53 PM in Joseph Wilson, Obama, Plamegate, Valerie Plame Wilson
Those are big smooches landing smack on Scooter’s “other cheek.” I did not know this. But, Jane Hampsher at FireDogLake, who covered the Scooter Libby trial like no other blogger, had plenty to say: “Pardoning Scooter — Still A Bad Idea, Senator Obama.” Here’s the scoop from The Hill about Obama’s top general counsel:
“Obama aide wants Libby pardoned“: Sen. Barack Obama’s (D-Ill.) top lawyer publicly made the case yesterday for a presidential pardon for convicted White House aide I. Lewis “Scooter” Libby. Obama general counsel Robert Bauer did not ask his boss, a presidential candidate, for permission to write the article, published on HuffingtonPost.com. But Obama’s campaign said the senator would not ask for Bauer’s resignation, adding that he is “still our lawyer.” Obama’s campaign and Bauer told The Hill yesterday that Bauer was not speaking on behalf of Obama when he wrote the piece, and the blog entry carries a disclaimer to that effect. “Never at any time have I written for a candidate or asked a candidate’s approval, and I have not done so in this instance,” Bauer told The Hill. “The truth of the matter is, to sound humbly, I’m just his lawyer.”
“Humbly.” Get me a barf bag. Is this a sign of the true “change” and that fairy tale about getting everyone in D.C. to love each other? Where the guilty go free, and the man who outted a key C.I.A. agent and destroyed her brilliantly-run network gets a pardon from President Kumbayah? Jane tells it like it is:
This may be well and fine for a Presidential candidate trying to massage a potential pardon into position as a campaign issue, but it’s an extremely cynical argument, and I really can’t imagine what the Obama campaign was thinking. This is about the rule of law, not political posturing. And as much as all the “liberal progressives” Bauer is preaching to at arms’ length would like to see Bush publicly tied to the scandal, at this point in time we’d rather see some respect for the judicial process.
Jane concludes:
If you want to tie Bush and Cheney to the leak of Valerie Plame’s identity, it needs to be done in the appropriate legal context. We already have a judicial system, fragile though it may be at the moment. We believe in making it work.
P.S. While Jane Hamsher’s crew did a superb job of covering Scooter’s trial, nobody dissected the issues as well as our own Larry Johnson.
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By Sarah Palin (Release date: November 17. 2009)
I saw Obama say that we won’t have “Libby justice” in his administration.
This is another association he needs to dump if he wants votes.
Cee, can you explain the context, and what he was inferring? (I.e., I’m confused by that reference and need your help in figuring it out.) Thanks!
It was a recent stump speech in NH. He was talking about how his leadership would be different.
He also said we have to restore the rights we lost under the Patriot Act.
I’ll see if I can find the speech.
The link is from June 2007, but the analysis is still valid. It is about accountability and the rule of law. If there were a pardon, however, then Libby couldn’t use a 5th Amendment defense against talking. However, since he is only commuted, not pardoned, he is still under the 5th restriction. Balkinization had an excellent walkthrough as does FDL and Talk Left.
One more reason Obama’s not my guy.
what is it with the obama campaign? it seems like every week the obama staffers try their damnest to emulate the arrogance and the hubris of the bush adminstration. obama’s reluctance to discipline or fire his staffers for gaffes like this is also very unsettling and gives the impression he [read wink wink here] agrees with them. commuting the sentence of libby was outrageous and immoral; a full pardon would make a mockery of the american justice system while undermining the safety of all american intelligent agents.
i, for one, have had enough of the bush adminstration … we dont need more of the same.
Things are looking up. Senator Clinton’s name wasn’t connected with Bauer’s until the second comment in FDL.
The chickens are coming home to roost earlier than I expected. You go, liberal Hillary bashers.
Obama on Libby
Obama said in a statement that Libby’s conviction “underscores what happens when our foreign and national security policies are subverted by politics and ideology.”
http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/03/06/cia.leak/index.html
I believe the speech is here (scroll to almost the bottom) to see Most Recent in NH
http://www.barackobama.com/tv/speeches.php
From NBC’s Abby Livingston
OBSERVATIONS OF THE IOWA JEFFERSON-JACKSON DINNER
The era of Scooter Libby justice and ‘Brownie’ incompetence and Karl Rove politics will be finally be over.”
http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/11/11/460666.aspx
Cee, Libby’s “conviction” is not the problem. Libby’s “guilt” is. But let the pardon go forth and the recruitment for CIA agents sky rocket. Sure.
I truly believe that if Obama had to answer for his positions , he would have a harder time, and we might be seeing candidate responsibility in this tidal wave that has tossed thought to the winds.
The Indie vote along with great on the ground retail politics, compelling oratory, are the reasons that has separated Hillary from some Indie and women voters. But there are other factors.
Having been a succcessful advertising person for many years I can tell you that Hillary’s team is not on the mark. Her advertising is off.
If you look at Obama’s website he talks to [big pic of himself ] you personally and in a secure, low key manner.
Obama’s graphics don’t look like a jumbled grab bag. The graphics are clean and relaxed. Hillary’s graphics are hyper and confusing with too many choices on main page, that should be on succeeding pages. Look at the typefaces as they tell a story.
Change, etc. is the large logo banner in Obama’s placards, and Obama’s name is smaller underneath his change,hope message. Smart positioning.
Hillary’s is the opposite. It stresses Hillary in large banner logo, and change, etc message is small underneath it. His stresses message. Hillary’s stresses her name. Tells different story.
From a graphic and verbal communication position his is clearer, cleaner, and lets you know you are more important than he is.
Her positioning must be changed to better imagry, graphics, message, and above all…public relations with regard to the press. Overcome generational
differences to a greater extent.
Hillary needs all the press coverage she can get, and instead of avoiding them, she should attempt to use the press and get more space and better coverage.. She’s shown she can warm up. But it was done late in the game.
Actually, Penn is out of touch with the mood of the moment and it filters through Hillary. He should go.
Hillary can’t go negative on Obama. She must strongly and clearly let everyone know how she is different in verifiable ways. She has the facts on her side, but has to make her own case.
As an old Advertising maven I’d definitely let the 527 groups do this for her. They must go after Obama’s vulnerabilities. Or surrogates other than Bill.
One great vulnerability for Obama is the noxious and past failure of Carter’s Administration in foreign and domestic policy. Brezinsky. He’s unpleasant and old hat. He’s a hawk, and a blowhard. He failed during hostage crisis; not a particular friend of Israel, and has other negatives.
He is is one of Obama’s chief foreign policy advisors, and possibly his Sec’y of State.Not good.
Obama has not made one substantive statement of domestic or foreign policy with details necessary since he started campaigning.
Bill Clinton should stop sounding like an angry old man.
Let things cool down and regroup. If Hillary can afford it she needs a talented and connected Public Relations honcho like Howard Rubenstein, less like Donna Brazile.
Basically this is a youthquake that may last, and may not, at the polls in the General. Lots of factors. If Hillary survives to California, what happens in California whose primary doesn’t allow Indies to vote in Republican primaries? Many can go to Obama. GOP machine will push them towards Obama.
Then we come to Steinem’s excellent OpEd in today’s NY Times. Men don’t like uber powerful women as it makes them feel like babies. Macho feelings are built up by daddy image leaders.
This will always be a factor that has to overcome as Steinem points out that black and white men got the vote long before women did.
As a Hillary supporter I hope she can overcome the strategic mistakes I feel were avoidable. For one thing there was Edward’s 4 year stint in Iowa, and his Hillary hatred was emphasized frequently by his wife [to bring Hillary down]. He had advantages in Iowa. And she underestimated Obama’s superb retail politics background and organization in Iowa. Ans seriously misread the Indie vote. Why? Penn.
After Oprah’s tremendous P.R. boost for Obama, a look at the fervor of the crowds should have been a message. I saw it. I felt it. Campaign Hillary didn’t get it. Hillary didn’t get it.
They should have gone to Plan B if they had one. Stay out of Iowa. Be patient. Look and listen. Stratgize in NCarolina and Nevada fast. Get time and ammunition on your side and sharpen your message, change your graphics, image, etc.
And Last But Not Least…
There were no compelling TV spots strategically placed at strategic moments. Who does Hillary’s Advertising?
I hope someone finds some of this helpful in Hillary camp, as she could still beat back Obama. Iran and other changes on the ground could change much for Obama. Hillary is equipped on many levels to be a better President in the time we live in. But she has to get the voters to believe this amid the OBAMomentum.
I have to tell you this is one of the better comentaries I’ve seen on the campaigns. It’s easy to forget how much humans use images in their thought processes.
I shared this with friends who may or may not have connections with the campaign. I hope it helps.
Noticed Obama’s perfectly round signs when i watched C-Span Saturday night… the sky blue (soft) and the muted red. Lovely round “O” signs that, as they were being waved about, looked far nicer than the typically rectangular signs. I was envious.
What spoiled it for Obama for those in attendance (from whom I heard firsthand accounts) — and unfortunately, because of C-Span’s less optimal camera and sound work, it didn’t come across on television — was their booing of Sen. Clinton at a Democratic party dinner, followed by their impatient chanting for “Obama, Obama” just as Gov. Richardson was finishing his speech and while he shook hands. It was extremely rude and immature behavior that never happens at party solidarity events.
This is, indeed an excellent analysis of what really drives American electoral politics - P.R. Forget substance, it’s all about the sizzle.
Well, it’s also about pandering to basest instincts, the setting up of straw men and false Golems and a lot about “ME TOO!”, “HURRAY FOR OUR SIDE!” and having a Good Time at the Conventions.
But you pretty much have it pegged…
Please, PLEASE will one Demorcatic candidate offer me something other than “change?”
Like, “I promise to have Scooter Libby flogged and Keny Lay exhumed…”
That’d do it for me!
One great vulnerability for Obama is the noxious and past failure of Carter’s Administration in foreign and domestic policy. Brezinsky.
He is is one of Obama’s chief foreign policy advisors, and possibly his Sec’y of State.Not good.
I feel differently about Brzezinski in recent years. Your comments made me think of Colin Powell now not saying that he has endorsed Obama. Smart move.
I think your other observations are on target.
Norris Morris, I agree with ybnormal. That was excellent.
Small wonder Scooter’s pals - such as the Weekly Standard and Tucker Carlson love Obama.
His supporters remind me of American Idol voters.
I’m feeling hurt. I’ll survive.
Ron Paul voted against the war & the patriot act but he’s not advocating a nannny government so you’re not interested in him. Just keep letting the perfect be the enemy of the good & don’t be suprised if we get stuck with Mitt, Rudy or McCain.
& when your 64 questions arrive in the mail, The New American Community Survey, that you’ll be required by law to answer, remember to thank Obama, McCain & HRC & remember Ron Paul voted against that invasive piece of junk too.
NORRIS MORRIS..
Excellent Comments above..I agree with virtually everything you said..and I hear other people saying the same things locally..
Your Comments/Analysis..really should get to the Hillary Campaign Organizers…and they would do well to follow your advice…There is still a long ways to go..and much can happen over the next several months..Avoid all the Media Hysteria and get reorganized and fight a good fight..
You are right Norris..The Obama camp understands Packaging…and a good President day Sale..
Susan,
Obama and the neocon crowd are connected at the hip. There have been many convenient meetings of the two with one another (Obama meeting with noted neocon head cheeses) for it to not mean something. Ergo, Obama is a neocon stooge in sheep’s clothing waiting to pounce when the neocon crowd gives the order.
This is just silly.
In a wierd way Cee, it isn’t. Hypothetical, for ya. Obama gets to park at 1600 and what does he see? K street and Rethug’s dug in like a tick. The power stucture in DC will not have changed. Obama will have alot on his hands and only the folks at the K st, coral to “reach across the isle to”. He will have to deal with toys “someone else” left in the sandbox. I could be wrong.
J is talking about now. Obama is not joined at the hip to the neocons. That is silly.
Whoever is the president will have to start the investigations to prosecute the dug in ticks or we’re all going to perish.
Oh. I was of the mind he is getting played by the House of Slythern. No lie about the ticks!
Norris Morris: good thoughts to chew on.
He is a spineless sack.