Rove's Spokesperson Responds to Waas Article

[kpete]

Update: Mark Corallo, Karl Rove's spokesperson, has sent me this response to Murray's article:

"Karl Rove has never urged anyone, directly or indirectly, to withhold information from the Special Counsel or to testify falsely. No one has ever said or implied to Karl Rove that he intended to do so. The Special Counsel has never suggested that there is any evidence to support such an allegation. Frankly, it is hard to think of anything less reliable or less relevant than what investigators may or may not have speculated before they had started collecting evidence. Circulating such speculation now is nothing short of irresponsible."

http://talkleft.com/new_archives/014941.html#comments

CIA LEAK INVESTIGATION
Rove-Novak Call Was Concern To Leak Investigators
By Murray Waas, National Journal
© National Journal Group Inc.
Thursday, May 25, 2006

http://news.nationaljournal.com/articles/0525nj1.htm

[robbedvoter]

1. Marc Corallo is a very busy man as of late.

[Spazito]

6. Yes, the non-denial denials are what he gets paid for and....

it seems he is beginning to earn his pay, lol.

[Me.]

10. I Love How David Shuster

always emphasizes that point about Corallo being paid.

*shadow government*

[Spazito]

11. Yep, Schuster is doing a great job in his coverage, imo

I wish more of the media would point out exactly that instead of leaving the impression that he has any credibility beyond that which a paid shill should have, exactly none.

[Supersedeas]

12. A man in love with non-sequiturs

[Spazito]

15. LOL and so true! n/t

[babylonsister]

2. Corallo protests too much? My patience is doing swell. nt

[dogday]

3. Read Up on Mark Corallo

http://www.corallomedia.com/pages/aboutmark.html

Crisis communications:
CMS understands what it takes to navigate through the global, 24/7 news cycle under intense pressure.

National security/Homeland security/Law Enforcement:
CMS is a leader in communicating the solutions to the threats we face in the post-9/11 world.

Federal litigation:
CMS takes "lawyerspeak" and puts it in English to effectively communicate your message to your audience.

Congressional affairs:
CMS knows Capitol Hill and how to use the media for maximum effect on the legislative process.

CMS leverages extensive contacts and an established reputation with the national media and a proven track record of crafting the message, developing the strategy to implement that message and executing the strategy to maximum success that can be sustained over time.

[Catherine Vincent]

4. As I said about Mark Corallo.....

http://journals.democraticunderground.com/cat_girl25/13

[lonestarnot]

5. Wow if circulating truth is irresponsible, what is outing a CIA agent

worth? It must a least get a supernova explosion on the national security violation scale.

[Sydnie]

8. I am thinking the same thing

Every response he gives includes the word "irresponsible". Surely not every statement by anyone speaking to this issue for his client can fall into the area of "irresponsible", can it? He talks as if they entire journalistic world is 15 years old, old enough to make statements but not old enough to understand that they shouldn't be talking about things that the grown ups are talking about.

I call bullshit on his statements. Why isn't Luskin making any statements? Seems his silence is what's irresponsible ... or it that just plain non-responsive?

[Kagemusha]

7. Corallo has done NOTHING to refute Waas' article.

Though technically this is a RESPONSE, what was in Waas' article did NOT claim that Rove urged anyone, including Bob Novak, to withhold information from the Special Counsel or to testify falsely. Novak did not say or imply that he intended to do so. PER SE. He said he'd protect Rove, and Rove has played dumb. The Special Counsel has never suggested there is evidence to support such an allegation, but such evidence has no import to the Libby case and must, by law, be kept secret unless and until Rove is indicted.

The rest is pure spin and does not even manage to allege, PER SE, that Waas has irresponsibly circulated claims of what investigators may or may not have speculated prior to collecting evidence. And I don't think Waas actually did.

Am I leaving anything out?...

[Mist]

9. With Bushco, one has to carefully examine everything they say. When

Corallo states that Rove hasn't urged anyone...to withold information...or to testify falsely, it doesn't mean Rove didn't withhold information or testify falsely himself.

[lonestarnot]

18. They had made the damn agreement before anyone testified.

It was hatched when they were cooking up the whole devious scheme.

[Patsy Stone]

13. You know...

The Corleones never urged him, yet Frankie Pentangeli seemed to get the idea of what to do...

[H2O Man]

14. Rove's "crisis manager."

Mark Corallo was hired as a "crisis manager" for Rove. It has a nice ring to it. And it is more accurate than "spokesperson."

[Garbo 2004]

17. Yes, Corallo was hired in October 2005 when it appeared a crisis was

in Rover's future. He works for the defense team. (Froomkin article: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/blog/2006/04/28/BL2006042801119_pf.html )

Additionally, it's interesting to note that previously Corallo was chief spokesman for Ashcroft's DOJ. He left the DOJ in 2005, apparently after Gonzales was confirmed as AG since a February 28, 2005 WaP report refers to him as "newly departed" from the DOJ. http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A58188-2005Feb27?language=printer

[Garbo 2004]

16. Corallo responds to an allegation not made. And, btw, the basics of the

story is not new. I seem to recall reading long ago, perhaps at least last year, there was a report that investigators were concerned that Novak and Rove may have concocted a cover story for Rove, the content of the supposed "I heard that too" conversation that both testified to. I can't remember where I read that or who reported that, whether it was Waas or not. Apparently Wass now has a bit more meat to put on those bones.

[H2O Man]

19. Correct.

The basic story was known for at least a year.

[spuddonna]

20. Would that be an example of a non-denial denial?

:evilgrin:

[librechik]

21. Oh, irresponsible

Not as irresponsible as an unprovoked war. Not as irresponsible as stealing several elections. Not as irresponsible as a $500 billion deficit.

Yeah, these people are the very paragon of responsibility. That's why they feel qualified to judge Murray Waas.