WaPo national editor repeats lie that Fitz said Libby was first source

[quaoar]

The Washington Post 's national editor, John Harris, held a live online chat today and got irritated because all the questions were about Woodward. Duh.

Then he repeated the claim that Woodward's revelations undermine Fitz's claim that Libby was the first source for Plame's identity getting out.

Harris was asked this question:

Austin, Tex.: Where do people get the idea that Woodward's revelations in any way help Libby's cause?

John F. Harris: You make a good point. We do not know for sure what--if anything--this does for Fitzgerald's case or for Libby's defense.

It does seem that it makes clear that Fitzgerald's assertion that Libby was the first person in the adminstration to mention Valerie Plame and her marriage to Iraq war critic Joe Wilso was not correct.

A shot while later he was challenged about it:

Fact Check!: Fitzgerald never, ever, ever said the Libby was the FIRST source for anything. He only said that Libby was a widely known source.

Please get your facts straight.

John F. Harris: I've checked with reporters working on this story just now, but have not gone back to check the indictment myself.

My understanding is that Fitzgerald has asserted that Libby was the first official KNOWN to have spread Plame's name...allowing for the possibility that he did not know everything.

Here's the link:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/discussion/2005/11/11/DI2005111101007.html

[Rebel_with_a_cause]

1. Somebody repeated the lie at work. I corrected them ASAP

Libby's lawyer is a thug, but what does one expect?

[rodeodance]

2. so--this editor can not read!!

.John F. Harris: You make a good point. We do not know for sure what--if anything--this does for Fitzgerald's case or for Libby's defense.

It does seem that it makes clear that Fitzgerald's assertion that Libby was the first person in the adminstration to mention Valerie Plame and her marriage to Iraq war critic Joe Wilso was not correct.

[rodeodance]

3. you are right--maybe this editor has some form of reading dyslexia?

My understanding is that Fitzgerald has asserted that Libby was the first official KNOWN to have spread Plame's name...allowing for the possibility that he did not know everything.

[rodeodance]

5. anyone know how to contact this editor??--

[Jacobin]

8. here ya go

goes to the ombudsman who is supposed to take it up with the offending writer:

[e-mail]

[rodeodance]

9. hey--thanks much for the email address----so lets ALL contact him!

[librechik]

4. heh--he's using the "known" word to assert the opposite of what it means!

what a hammerhead.

When did Fitz claim to know everything? If he doesn't, does that mean he should be fired? And what do you mean by "everything" is he supposed to be omniscient?

The investigation is ongoing, fer crist sake. Are you tring to impeach him? Where is your journalistic objectivity, Harris? You sound like you have an agenda besides revealing the truth to your readers.

[maximovich]

6. Why Does This SHit Even Matter

And how are these lies going to aid?

[Jacobin]

7. HERE is what you do about THAT:

[e-mail]

email them and let them know we know that the WaPo is once again, lying and spinning for an agenda to try to preserve the neo-cons in the administration and that that is not the proper role of a newspaper.

I did.

It felt good.