Woodward's revelation disproves one of Fitz's claims? NO WAY JOSE

[kpete]

This argument is all over the place today. Josh Marshall tells it like it is:

A lot is being made of the supposed fact that Woodward's revelation disproves one of Fitzgerald's claims, namely, that Libby was the first person to tell a reporter about Plame.

But look what Fitzgerald actually said (emphasis added) ...

But Mr. Novak was not the first reporter to be told that Wilson's wife, Valerie Wilson, Ambassador Wilson's wife Valerie, worked at the CIA. Several other reporters were told.

In fact, Mr. Libby was the first official known to have told a reporter when he talked to Judith Miller in June of 2003 about Valerie Wilson.

Fitzgerald chose his words carefully. He didn't state as a fact that Libby was the first government official to leak Plame's identity. Nor did he hang any of his indictment on Libby's having been the first.

What he said is that Libby's was the earliest instance he'd found of an official leaking Plame's identity.

http://talkingpointsmemo.com /

[DU9598]

1. You should email this to Russert

Despite Keith Olbermann on MSNBC clearing this up last night, Russert (media whore) was on the Today Show spewing the Libby lawyer's talking points. While I lost confidence in Russert a long time ago, this morning was a vivid reminder why I have no respect for him as a journalist and as a person.

[H2O Man]

2. We should be engaged

in a coordinated effort to contact the most important journalists today and tommorow. I have a thread up regarding contacting Countdown about that slime Newt Gingrich. Your idea about e-mailing Russert is good, too.

[peacetalksforall]

11. What can they gain that is that important to lie like that? Obfuscation?

Is it worth it? Count on this - the little Jack Welchs of this world are not going to stop trying - the writing is on the wall that Russert and the others are true bloodrf Republican Operatives. They probably even have their own secret organization. Rewared for joining? - second and third houses, all medical paid for life, Swiss or Cayman Island bank account? We know that they canNOT be called journalists. This is one of NBCs lowest moments.

[chelsea0011]

3. Fitzgerald never said that Scooter and Cheney were the beginning

of the outing. If he had believed that the charges would have been more serious against Libby and maybe there would have been charges against Cheney. As your post points out, there can be a crime or crimes going on beyond Libby's narrow world. This is a story that isn't even close to being at it's final throes.

[havocmom]

4. And (so far) Libby was indicted for LYING

Boo Hoo Bob's tale does not disprove any of the indictment charges against Scooter.

The GOP Spin Cycle is counting on most folks not reading the indictment (pretty likely) OR what Boo Hoo Bob actually said. They can call a tight indictment a turkey, it don't make it so. They have a history of trying to pass off many things as turkeys.

Remember the day Libby's indictment was read, the GOP Spin Cycle tried to appear unconcerned and went about chanting that less that 10% of Americans even knew who he was. Next poll was something like 70% figured if Libby was involved, it was a problem for the malAdministration. Gee, was that 70% of the 10% the GOP insisted knew who Libby was or was that 70% of the people polled?

If we could hook GOP talking point spewers to power lines, we could make a big dent in our energy problems.

[skypilot]

5. I must be missing something.

I don't understand all this "first person to tell a reporter..." business. Does it matter who was first? If I recall correctly the White House was fishing the story to numerous reporters. I don't know who was the first White House official to blab but it would seem that it's not only the first blabber who should get indicted.

[Supersedeas]

13. Pubbie talking points are that Plame was being circulated by lots of folks

Trivialize the problem and that Fitzgerald must not be doing a thorough investigation if Woodward is a surprise.

[skypilot]

14. I guess it goes without saying...

...that that talking point still doesn't make sense. There would still be the question of why lots of folks had this information about Plame and why were they circulating it to even more people. I just don't understand how their minds work. How would the fact that lots of people knew who Plame was--and what she did--trivialize the problem? It would seem to me that if lots of people knew the identity of our covert agents then there is a serious problem. But I guess in their universe this is no biggie.

[janx]

6. Of course it doesn't.

Fitzgerald is in the middle of an investigation. He finds situations as he investigates.

For anyone to interpret these findings before they are found is ridiculous. Let the talking heads speculate. The jury is by no means out yet...literally.

[Canuckistanian]

7. And even if he did leave out those qualifiers, so what?

This is fresh information. And at this point the information doesn't exonerate anyone.

There still could be multiple cases of leaking involving more that one offical and one reporter.

And each one can be charged.

And besides which, no one has been indicted for the original crime. For Fitzgerald to speculate is not so terrible.

Just ask Ken Starr.

[dennis4868]

8. This is why I HATE the MSM......

they are either stupid or very stupid or just pushing the neocon line....they don't care about the facts! Fitx said that Libby was the first WH official KNOWN to have revealed Wilson's wife name to a reporter.....

[Toots]

9. What this means is others in the Whitehouse LIED to Grand Jury

Since this was never mentioned before the Grand jury ended I would assume they were not told about this. that only means one thing. Someone withheld information or out and out LIED. There will be more charges filed because of this I would imagine.

[Norquist Nemesis]

10. John Dean made this exact point on KO last night

The "K" word. KO said it's already out there sans "known" in one a mainstream/respected article (US News and World or something like that...transcripts aren't up yet). The both shook their heads with grimaces on their faces.

[FreedomAngel82]

12. Good catch!

So they could be screwing themselves by not paying attention!

[The_Mule]

15. What a weak-assed argument!

Aside from the glaringingly obvious fact that Mr. Fitzgerald said that Libby is the first *known* official, this is a pathetic attempt to discredit his investigation.

So what would happen if Mr. Fitzgerald had left out the word "known"? Would that really change things? Would that mean Mr. Woodward's testimony somehow damages the investigation? Let's play it out hypothetically step-by-step:

1. Mr. Fitzgerald gives his press conference and says "Mr. Libby has been indicted on charges of perjury and obstruction of justice. He is the first administration official to have leaked the name of CIA operative Valerie Wilson."

2. Mr. Fitzgerald receives information that Mr. Woodward may have been involved in the case. Mr. Fitzgerald calls Mr. Woodward for testimony and learns that there are other administration officials involved, and that Mr. Woodward received information about Mrs. Wilson before Mr. Libby disclosed the information.

3. Mr. Fitzgerald has another press conference and says "It has come to our attention that Mr. Libby was not the first administration official to disclose the identity of Mrs. Wilson. Mr. X was the first administration official to disclose that information. Mr. X is indicted on charges of obstruction of justice, conspiracy, and treason."

See, the charges against Mr. Libby (perjury, obstruction of justice) still stand. Mr. Woodward's actions just make it easier to indict Mr. X.

[dennis4868]

16. One problem with your analysis.....

it makes sense and it is based on logic...MSM does not work that way (except for Keith Olberman).