Evidence Emerging Of Cheney-Led Smear Campaign Against Pelosi Over Syria Trip

[babylonsister]

http://thinkprogress.org/2007/04/14/evidence-pelosi-white-house/

Evidence Emerging Of Cheney-Led Smear Campaign Against Pelosi Over Syria Trip

Before Nancy Pelosi left Israel to travel to Syria earlier this month, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert’s spokeswoman Miri Eisin said “Pelosi is conveying that Israel is willing to talk if they (Syria) would openly take steps to stop supporting terrorism.” Pelosi delivered as requested, and this week received a thank you call from Olmert. So why then did the Israeli Prime Minister soon after issue a statement of “clarification” which became the basis for right-wing attacks against Pelosi?

The evidence of White House involvement behind the Israeli Prime Minister’s statement has been growing this past week. Middle East analysts have suggested Bush deputy National Security Adviser Elliott Abrams — a close ally of Dick Cheney — may have been coordinating the attempts to undermine Pelosi’s trip. Rep. Tom Lantos (D-CA) said: “‘It’s obvious the White House is desperate to find some phony criticism of the speaker’s trip, even though it was a bipartisan trip,’ said Rep. Tom Lantos (D-CA), a Holocaust survivor who is considered the Democrat closest to the pro-Israel lobby. ‘I have nothing but contempt and disdain for the attempt to undermine this trip.’”

Rep. Henry Waxman suggested that the White House’s coordinated attempts to smear Pelosi were part of an effort to undermine her on Iraq:

Waxman said the administration is focused on building a case against the Democrats in preparation for a showdown over the Iraq War funding bill. The more they can paint Democrats as weak and irresponsible, the more likely the Democrats will knuckle under and let the president continue the war unchecked. It’s been known to happen.

So Cheney trashes the reputation of men like Lantos and Waxman (who, by the way, has doggedly pursued waste and mismanagement in Iraq by Halliburton, the company that made Cheney rich), and it’s politics as usual.

This is not unchartered territory for Cheney. He has become famous for kneecapping people with whom he disagrees, even individuals within the administration. Middle Experts recalled Cheney’s involvement in a similar situation last year:

Last year, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice talked Olmert into a 48-hour cease-fire during the war with Hezbollah to allow humanitarian relief, but within hours Israeli planes were bombing again, to Rice’s surprise and anger. Olmert had received a call, apparently from Cheney’s office, telling him to ignore Rice.

The Cheney campaign against Pelosi hasn’t let up. This week, the Washington Post editorial board — which has helped drive the Pelosi smear campaign from the beginning — published an attack piece from Liz Cheney, the daughter of the Vice President.

[tanyev]

1. Gosh, I hope her husband isn't an undercover CIA agent.

You know how that would turn out.

[mohinoaklawnillinois]

2. Ain't that the truth....

Cheney literally makes my skin crawl. He's an evil man.

[aquart]

3. The family that preys together............

[MADem]

4. Well, it was pretty clear that some card-carrying Republican was orchestrating the silliness

I mean, really, those baaaastids can't even read the talking points, and then use the occasional SYNONYM to make it appear just a nose-hair less like they were all reading from the same book.

I find it pretty fucking sick that the WAPO is publishing the screed of a child who is a Nepotism Hire in Government. She has NO qualifications to speak on anything other than what Daddy was like growing up. She was shoved into State on a Middle East Desk with absolutely no credentials or qualifications for the job, and her co-workers will tell you she was about as worthless as shoes on a fish.

Of course, old Liz needed to be rewarded by Daddy with a good job and faux credentials. She's one reason he didn't go to Vietnam: http://www.slate.com/id/2097365

What Chatterbox never realized until recently, however, is that Cheney's eldest daughter, Elizabeth Cheney, likely owes her very existence to her father's avoidance of the Vietnam draft.

The Washington Post's Phil McCombs made the intimate calculations in a profile published in April 1991, when Cheney was defense secretary. The timeline:

Aug. 29, 1964: Dick and Lynne Cheney marry.

May 19, 1965: The Selective Service classifies Dick Cheney 1-A, "available immediately for military service."

July 28, 1965: President Lyndon Johnson says draft calls will be doubled.

Oct. 26, 1965: The Selective Service declares that married men without children, who were previously exempted from the draft, will now be called up. Married men with children remain exempt.

Jan. 19, 1966: The Selective Service reclassifies Dick Cheney 3-A, "deferred from military service because service would cause hardship upon his family," because his wife is pregnant with their first child.

July 28, 1966: Elizabeth Cheney is born.

Jan. 30, 1967: Dick Cheney turns 26 and therefore becomes ineligible for the draft.

[acmavm]

5. How come that bastard is still allowed anywhere near the White House?

How come he still roams the halls of the House or Senate? Why is not in a cell somewhere with those screwed of kids and his crazy wife?

I do not understand. He is the very definition of corrupt and evil.

What the hell is wrong with our reps? This man is the poster codger for all that is wrong in the world.

[ClassWarrior]

7. Sure, Cheney's evil, so there must be something "wrong with our reps"...

The criminals pit us against ourselves and we join in gleefully.

:eyes:

NGU.

[progressoid]

6. Golly, color me shocked.

[vssmith]

8. It is a good thing that Rep Pelosi is a strong person who can

stand up and defend herself. She is not intimidated. I believe she would make a very good President.

[blm]

9. Dem party needs its own rapid response team that functions for ALL Dems targeted for smearing.

The GOPs have operated like this for years - as one giant wave. Dem spokespeople have only operated with loyalty and concern for individuals grievances with no widespread coordination.