by Mark Silva
Among the contentions in former White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan's scathing new book about the "culture of deception'' in the White House is a suggestion that Karl Rove, the president's former chief political adviser, and "Scooter'' Libby, former assistant to the president and chief of staff to the vice president convicted of obstruction of justice in the CIA leak scandal, colluded to get their stories straight.
Of course, this is the McClellan who had to stand at the press podium of the West Wing and assert that Rove, the president's former deputy chief of staff, had no knowledge of the leaking of the name of CIA operative Valerie Plame to the press after her husband, Ambassador Joe Wilson, publicly accused the Bush administration of manipulating intelligence to make its case for the invasion of Iraq.
Seems like suitable cause for resentment.
Libby was convicted of lying to federal authorities in the probe of that leak, though the president has since commuted his prison sentence.
Rove has left the White House, but rose to defend himself against McClellan's allegations on FOX News's Hannity and Colmes.
Host Alan Colmes noted that McClellan "makes several criticisms of our own Karl Rove, who joins us once again tonight from Washington. And Karl, among the things that he says is that you and Scooter Libby had a secret meeting where you kind of decided how to handle this. He says, he was misled by you about your involvement in the Valerie Plame affair, went out there and told the American public and the press one thing, and said it was fatal to his ability to be able to speak on behalf of the president.''
Rove replied: "Well, first of all, I've just read the same small article you have, so I'm going to reserve my judgment on the greater book until somebody else buys it and gives me a copy.
"I will say this. It's a little irresponsible... if this is an accurate depiction of what's in the book. He says that following a meeting Scooter and I visited in 2005. Well, Scooter and I visited all the time. I don't know what the particular meeting in question was about. I know what it wasn't about, which was it was not about Plame and Wilson.
"Both of our attorneys told us not to talk to anybody else in the White House about anything connected with that and so we didn't,'' Rove said. "But look, Scooter and I, you know, came into contact every day -- every other day on things like the selection of judges or a particular policy issue or the vice-president's travel schedule or, you know -- a draft of a presidential speech that we were commenting on.
"He was the vice president's chief of staff, and as a result we had a lot of business, and I think it's frankly maybe a sign of irresponsibility for Scott to sort of suggest that because he saw the two of us meet and he didn't happen to be in the meeting he somehow knows what the meeting was about.''
See the rest of the interview here, from FOX News' Hannity and Colmes
COLMES: What about this specific charge that he's claiming that you misled him about your level of involvement in the Valerie Plame case?
ROVE: That's simply not true. I'm not going to add to the public record on this because there's a civil lawsuit that the Wilsons have, and until that is resolved -- they lost at the district court level, it's on appeal, pretty confident that it's going to be tossed out -- but until that's resolved, I can't add to the public record.
But the fact of the matter is Scott's questions to me were: did I leak Valerie Plame's name, and the answer is no. In fact, we know today that the name of Valerie Plame was leaked by Robert Novak by Richard Armitage, the number two guy at the State Department, and not by me and not by Scooter Libby.
COLMES: He also says that after Hurricane Katrina, the White House, he quote, "spent most of the first week in a state of denial," and blames you for suggesting a photo of the president comfortably observing the disaster during an Air Force One flyover and that, later, you were convinced that we needed -- he said, we needed to do that and that there was.
ROVE: Yes.
COLMES: . clearly feels an error.
ROVE: Well, first of all, he was not in any of the meeting that I recall discussing this. We were in San Diego.
We were flying back to Washington, D.C., and we faced a horrible, horrible choice, which was either have the president of the United States drop into New Orleans the day of the incident, diverting valuable resources, closing down the airport, diverting valuable resources from the immediate search and rescue, so that the president could be seen on the ground at the first moment or to fly deliberately north of New Orleans and not pass over it, in which case we'd be turning a blind eye.
And unfortunately the only option we really had was to fly over the city and look at it. If we'd landed we would have diverted valuable resources from the immediate efforts to save people's lives, and that was simply unacceptable to the president.
And frankly, I don't recall Scott being in a lot of those meetings that first week, so maybe that's why he thinks we were in a state of denial. This was consuming a lot of time at the White House to make certain that all of the resources were available to Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, and particularly Louisiana in the immediate aftermath of the disaster.
In fact, we got into New Orleans on Thursday about as early as we could come into the city without disrupting things, and as I say, I don't remember Scott being in those meetings, and I certainly don't remember him speaking out at the time to say these were his deep felt feelings.
HANNITY: Hey, I want to put a little emphasis on the Plame point if I can, just -- without going into any more details, because I have another question about it, Karl. But, he said in his book, "I have no idea what you and Libby discussed, but it was suspicious for these two, who I'd never noticed spending any one-on-one time together."
You're saying that's absolutely not true, you did spend a lot of time with Libby.
ROVE: Well, look, it goes to show how out of the loop he was, that he didn't think we spent much time together. I mean, over the course of the seven years or six years that we worked together, Scooter and I spent a lot of time first on the campaign and then when we were at the White House we were on several committees together.
We were off times -- he was the vice-president's representative, a lot of policy meetings where we would have conversation and discuss -- I mean Scooter and I officed maybe 20 feet from each other.
HANNITY: (INAUDIBLE) a second. But let me ask one thing. Whenever we get to these tell-all books where he says the president veered terribly off course, he wasn't open and forthright as it relates to Iraq, he used propaganda to sell the war, but yet he was badly misguided in the information he's given.
ROVE: Yes.
HANNITY: . for the podium here. Why do I always get suspicious that if he -- if he really felt this way, and I think this is a question he needs to answer, but your thoughts on it.
ROVE: Yes.
HANNITY: . if he really felt this way, why didn't he leave earlier?
ROVE: Well, two things. First of all, this doesn't sound like Scott. It really doesn't. Not the Scott McClellan I've known for a long time. Second of all, it sounds like somebody else. It sounds like a left-wing blogger. Second of all, you're right. If he had these moral qualms, he should have spoken up about them.
And frankly, I don't remember him speaking up about these. I don't remember a single world. There were people on the White House staff.
HANNITY: Yes.
ROVE: Colleagues of mine who had doubts about this or that policy.
HANNITY: We're out of time.
ROVE: They spoke out. But this doesn't sound like Scott, frankly.
HANNITY: All right. Karl Rove, the architect, on Hannity and Colmes, thanks for being with us.
ROVE: You bet.
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Comments
Hannity's line a tthe end says it all: "Karl Rove, the architect..."
These knuckleheads follow the Clinton playbook. Deny, deny, deny until the day you die.
It's funny that anyone would seriously believe Rove.
Posted by: Todd M | May 28, 2008 10:52 AM
Let's see; Dr. Frankenstein (Rove) defends his own monster (Bush). What a surprise.
Posted by: C.Morris | May 28, 2008 10:53 AM
Oh. Rove denies wrongdoing. Well, if he says it wasn't his fault, it must not be his fault. Do we have any reason to think otherwise? He's been SO honest and forthright in the past.
Case closed. Nothing to look at here, folks -- move right along, now. Don't pay any attention to that man behind the curtain. Thanks so much! Run along home, and THANKS for voting Republican!
Posted by: Op109 | May 28, 2008 11:05 AM
They're all guilty of war crimes and should be in jail now.
Posted by: Cheryl | May 28, 2008 11:19 AM
I’m a Registered Architect and I resent the use of the word “Architect” regarding Karl Rove. Architecture is a regulated and responsible profession, in which its practitioners are liable for errors, omissions and malfeasants. An Architect is bound by law to protect the health, welfare and safety of the public. If Karl Rove were practicing architecture he would now be liable for the death of 4000 boys, 100,000 Iraqis and a half a trillion dollars. He’s not an Architect, he’s an unctuous wrecking ball.
Posted by: Robert | May 28, 2008 11:40 AM
Anything broadcast on the Faux news channel autmatically loses any credibility.
This is the first in a long wave of books and articles that will be published as the we find out more and more just how badly this country has been run into the ground the past 8 years.
Posted by: Bones | May 28, 2008 11:47 AM
Why do we even bother to read or listen to what these criminals have to say? We know they lied and are continuing to lie. November can't come soon enough.
Posted by: Janstress | May 28, 2008 11:48 AM
Worst. President. Ever.
Worst.Vice President. Ever.
After the all of the current Administration's dirty laundry is aired (which will take years, multiple Justice Department Investigations and federal proscutions), it will become evident to all that we have NOT been living under the Chimpy McFlightsuit Administration, but rather the Cheney Administration. I predict that future historians will refer to it as such - as a way of recognizing just how completely Chimpy abdicated his authority to Dick "Shotgun" Cheney during these 8 years.
I hope Dick "I-had-other-priorities-which-is-why-I-obtained-five-draft-deferments-to-avoid-serving-in-the-VietNam-War" Cheney can live with himself knowing that 4,000+ servicemen and servicewomen will never return home due to his "war of choice" in Iraq (much less the tens of thousands of diabled vets injured during this travesty).
Posted by: Buster | May 28, 2008 12:45 PM
These guys have so much money they dont give a hoot about what we think at all! they have no conscience.
Republicans = Big Government = More cash in their own pockets = take the money and run!
Posted by: Scot S. Blakeley | May 28, 2008 1:09 PM
Buster: WELL SAID...THANKS!
Posted by: Mary in Ft. Madison | May 28, 2008 2:50 PM
These guys have so much money they dont give a hoot about what we think at all! they have no conscience.
Republicans = Big Government = More cash in their own pockets = take the money and run! Posted by: Scot S. Blakeley | May 28, 2008 1:09 PM
Absolutely correct! Cheney looked right into the camera and told the country he did not CARE what they thought. Rove is the same. And Bush is their puppet. What they did is crimminal.
Posted by: Keith Lifetime Southsider | May 28, 2008 2:52 PM
Quick, cover up the Emperor, he's naked!!!!
Seize the individual for revaling that the Emperor is naked and have them brought up on charges. Short of that just claim to the media that a once loyal hack is no longar loyal and is probably mentally unballanced.
Remember, never, ever declare that the Emperor is naked, even if it is correct. After all issusions are more important that reality.
Posted by: Buckley | May 28, 2008 3:24 PM
The only reason the Tribune and other media are playing up this Judas book is that it's critical of Bush. If it had been favorable, it wouldn't even be reviewed in the book section on page 98. McClellan is a dupe being tooled by the left for their own purpose of once more slamming Bush.
Posted by: Belosi | May 28, 2008 3:33 PM
Bush, like Bill Clinton, had several competent press secretaries who also had the savvy to get along with White House reporters -- especially the ones who routinely asked first year J School-type questions. Scott McClellan always stuttered and stammered for words and routinely seemed out of his league. He should have been fired and he was. Is anybody surprised he has a (ghost written no doubt) "kiss and tell" book about his embarrassing tenure as White House spokesman?
Posted by: GWT | May 28, 2008 3:34 PM
Never liked Rove until I heard him talk on the different news shows. He's well spoken and tells it like it is. I believe his assessment of McLellan, who was always suspected to be an outsider in the inner circle and to harbor ill will because of it. On the other hand, I think McL completely believes what he wrote and is mostly accurate. Bush surrounded himself with real knuckleheads, the worst being Rumsfeld. It is his greatest failing as pres.
Posted by: John | May 28, 2008 3:45 PM
Is that the best Scott could come up with to sell his book? That Karl Rove met with Scooter Libby? Or that there was a culture of deception?
The majority of Americans are too stupid to be trusted with government, that is why we have a representative system.
We elected Bush to a second term when we knew exactly how he was likely to behave. Bush has done exactly what he told us he would do.
Posted by: Mike | May 28, 2008 3:54 PM
The Bush Administration legacy: Never have so few agonized so many.
Chris from Chicago
Posted by: Chris | May 28, 2008 4:04 PM
“If anything, the national press corps was probably too deferential to the White House and to the administration in regard to the most important decision facing the nation during my years in Washington, the choice over whether to go to war in Iraq.
“The collapse of the administration’s rationales for war, which became apparent months after our invasion, should never have come as such a surprise. … In this case, the ‘liberal media’ didn’t live up to its reputation. If it had, the country would have been better served.”
So what's it going to be, Swampsters? (And this is by no means in indictment of Mr. Silva specifically.) You guys going to keep running with the lemmings and get continuously punked by the McClatchy crew? All old "Sweaty" McClellan has done is re-state what has been obvious to anyone with a shred of critical and independent thought. This story (again, speaking in the general and not specific) should be in the "Books" section, since all the revelations should have been widely covered years ago.
Posted by: A Cynic | May 28, 2008 4:18 PM
So, people would rather believe someone who speculates on what might have been said in a meeting he was not part of than to believe the people who were actually in the meeting? McLellan says he didn't know what was being discussed -- because he was out of the loop -- yet the Bush haters would rather believe his speculation than the comments of the people who were actually involved? Makes no sense.
Posted by: Tom | May 28, 2008 4:24 PM
The only reason the Tribune and other media are playing up this Judas book is that it's critical of Bush. If it had been favorable, it wouldn't even be reviewed in the book section on page 98. McClellan is a dupe being tooled by the left for their own purpose of once more slamming Bush.
Posted by: Belosi | May 28, 2008 3:33 PM
Oh puh-leeze. Judas? So any whistle-blower that comes forward with the truth is Judas? Does that make Bush Christ? I wouldn't equate McClellan with the bravery of a whistle blower, but at least he finally came out with the truth.
And Karl, this is your karma talking! How does it feel to be on the defense now?
Posted by: DD | May 28, 2008 4:27 PM
It's too bad Belosi is so Bush-washed.
Posted by: Jim | May 28, 2008 4:30 PM
I like Bush! He gave me some extra $$ to spend. he has done a good job. If any of you dislike him then maybe you should be running for presidency instead of the clowns now?!
Posted by: Likable | May 28, 2008 4:36 PM
Rove goes on FOX News? That should be enlightening for everyone, as I'm sure they're going to get to the bottom of this disastrous presidency in a way that would do Woodward & Bernstien proud. After that, Rove should go onto Rush Limabugh's propaganda radio show, where he'll really get to truly answer tough, bruising questions.
Posted by: RomanB | May 28, 2008 5:01 PM
1st Colin Powell now Scott McClellan (guilty concisions) – Admitting the lies for Iraq, Katrina & Valerie Plame leak and all the cover ups, lies of the current administration. Wake the (blank) up America! Thanks Scott,
for coming clean. Karma will not forgive you but I doubt you'll die (as I hope Bush Cheney & Rove) Do in a federal prison.
JD Davis - independent progressive. zmintcard at yahoo dot com
McCain = 4 more years of Bush corruption.
Posted by: JD Davis | May 28, 2008 6:44 PM
Head Pig 'Major' Rove speaks. Geez, now we have to listen to this commissar as if he is some sort of senior statesman?
Watch out oligarchs; The animals are about to take over the farm.
Posted by: C.Morris | May 28, 2008 7:05 PM