Beck falsely asserted that Libby "went to jail" for obstructing Plame investigation
SUMMARY: On his CNN Headline News show, Glenn Beck stated: "I said that Scooter Libby should go
to jail and he should pay the price for lying to prosecutors. ... He lied to prosecutors. The guy went to
jail." In fact, just after a court rejected Libby's request to remain free while
he appealed his conviction, President Bush commuted all of Libby's 30-month
prison sentence.
On the October 9 edition of his CNN Headline News show, Glenn Beck falsely asserted that former vice-presidential chief of staff I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby "went to jail" after being convicted on charges of perjury, lying to the FBI, and obstructing justice in connection with the leak of the identity of CIA operative Valerie Plame. Beck stated: "I said that Scooter Libby should go to jail and he should pay the price for lying to prosecutors. ... He lied to prosecutors. The guy went to jail." Beck's guest, Republican strategist Amy Holmes, replied, "Right." In fact, on July 2, just after a federal appeals court rejected Libby's request to remain free on bond while he appealed his conviction, President Bush commuted all of Libby's 30-month prison sentence.
Beck's assertion came during a segment on former Clinton national security adviser Sandy Berger, who pleaded guilty on April 2, 2005, to a charge of knowingly removing classified documents from the National Archives. Beck was comparing the two cases -- Libby's and Berger's -- and their fallout. Beck said, "This thing [the Berger case] stinks from high heaven. I mean, Scooter Libby, everybody was screaming about Scooter Libby." He continued: "I said that Scooter Libby should go to jail and he should pay the price for lying to prosecutors, but it was over a CIA name thing, which was nothing. Nobody was held responsible. He did nothing wrong on that. He lied to prosecutors. The guy went to jail. ... This guy [Berger] is stealing documents for the 9-11 Commission."
In addition to the now-commuted prison term, Libby was also sentenced to two years of supervised release and fined $250,000.
From the October 9 edition of CNN Headline News' Glenn Beck:
BECK: But first, welcome to "The Real Story." Tonight, I've got a very special "Real Story." It's an edition of America's favorite new game show: Name That Criminal! That's right. Today's category is presidential candidate advisers. And you can play at home because you might be a big loser.
Here we go. This presidential adviser to a current presidential candidate once paid a $23,000 conflict-of-interest civil penalty after he, quote, "forgot" to sell a stockholding prior to taking over a high-ranking White House position. Hint number two: This adviser once faced allegations that as national security adviser, he withheld information from the president of the United States about the Chinese government stealing nuclear secrets from Los Alamos for over a year. Oh, that crazy adviser.
Now, the last clue: This person once stuffed classified documents meant for the 9-11 Commission on, you know, "what did you know and when did you know it?" into his pants and socks. He snuck them out of the Archives, hid them under a construction trailer, destroyed them, lied about it to investigators, and was fined a whole whopping $50,000, stripped of his security clearance -- I think for two years when he was put on probation -- and now is a, quote, "unofficial adviser" to Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign, but still an official friend.
Republican strategist Amy Holmes, you're today's lucky contestant. Can you name that criminal?
HOLMES: For 5,000, I say Sandy Berger.
BECK: Yes, Sandy Berger!
Amy, what is wrong with America? What is happening to us? When we got a guy going into our National Archives stealing documents, not for any hearing, not for any session of Congress, but for the 9-11 Commission, stealing documents, and nobody seems to care in America. Nobody seems to care.
HOLMES: Glenn, I wouldn't blame America. I'd blame Hillary Clinton who, after all, took his telephone calls. And I'm saying, why is she taking his phone calls? Not only did he have to plead guilty to these charges, but he didn't even tell her husband about a matter of supreme national security interest about the documents stolen from Los Alamos.
BECK: But hang on, Amy. I mean, you know, I'd like to throw you a bone on this one, because, I mean, here's this guy, he's a scumbag that has been in the Clinton administration, and he's going to be moving into the next administration, God forbid, if she wins. But I can't do it. I can't give you this bone because George Bush was president. And I never saw George Bush coming out and saying, "We need to lay the hammer down on people who are stealing documents, presidential documents from the National Archives." Where were the Republicans on this one?
HOLMES: Well, you know, I have to tell you, I asked myself the same question: Why weren't they, you know, raising a clamor over this? Why did Sandy Berger seem to just sort of just skate by on all of this? I really don't -- I don't have a good answer for that, other than perhaps they didn't want to get down into the dirt with the Clintons.
BECK: Oh, come on. This thing stinks from high heaven. I mean, Scooter Libby, everybody was screaming about Scooter Libby.
HOLMES: Sure.
BECK: OK, even I said that Scooter Libby should go to jail and he should pay the price for lying to prosecutors, but it was over a CIA name thing, which was nothing. Nobody was held responsible. He did nothing wrong on that. He lied to prosecutors. The guy went to jail.
HOLMES: Right.
BECK: This guy is stealing documents for the 9-11 Commission.
HOLMES: Documents that could have helped us understand what led up to 9-11.
BECK: Exactly right. So it leads you to believe that -- I mean, this is like somebody going in right before the Warren Commission and stealing documents on the mob.
HOLMES: You know, Glenn, I couldn't agree with you more. And I also wondered, why didn't the national press make more of a story of this? I mean, this was completely buried in the news press, in the print -- in the television media. Sandy Berger, I mean, that name should be on every person's lips for synonymous with stuffing documents in your socks.
BECK: It's the corruption of our political system. Real quick, she says, "I have a ton of friends that are unofficial advisers." How stupid does she think Americans are?
HOLMES: Well, you know, this whole story, it just raises the question, you know, here we go again. Are we going to get this all over again?
BECK: Please. And then we can run Jeb Bush. And by that time, Chelsea will be old enough to run. Thanks, Amy.
Why is Beck still even on the air at CNN? Are they THAT desperate for filler?
This bit of misinformation alone should be enough for CNN to hand Beck his walking papers.
Beck should be handed his walking papers period. The thing he said about Dennis Kucinich and his wife is more than enough justification for him to be canned.
Personally, I would prefer "caned", then canned; but, have it your way!
Conley,
Glen Beck 'caned' for being a blabering idiot..... If it were only that easy, to bad we live in a 'civilized' country =),
Hmmm.... In the Philliapean Islands one only has to spray paint on the side of a building to be caned...... remember that American kid back in the 90's
I am not sure its misinformation but more of a slip of the tounge. Beck does tend to lie though but I see what he is saying. I also do not like the idea of Sandy Berger on Senator Clintons staff. The man carries baggage. The Right will use this and it becomes a distraction. To Becks credit he does say and I agree with him that Libby should have been punished.
Yes, but Berger was investigated, and the findings were that he took COPIES!
He may have gotten a slap on the wrist, but at least he was put under scrutiny. Very unlike Bush/Cheney, who testified together in secret to the 9/11 Commission.
So? He missaid something, why is this on here? I guess if you speak out against stealing 9/11 documents somehow you are targeted. I do not like Beck but I agree, Berger should be in jail. Stealing is wrong. Libby should be in Jail now and Berger should be in jail. Scum like this think the rules do not apply to them.
So? He missaid something, why is this on here?
Maybe you should read, again, what it says under "Who we are." And if you're unable to click on the link, here you go.
As Beck was being relativistic and wrong about his relativism, it's well within MMFAs mission statement.
Berger didn't lie to the FBI, thus he struck a plea bargain and his case is over and done with. Of course, in the alternate universe of conservatives, lying about a blowjob is grounds for impeaching a President, lying about blowing the cover of a covert CIA operative, working on WMD proliferation in Iran is no big deal.
I am not sure what your lying about WMD has to do with this thread.
Both Berger and Libby violated the nations trust and should be in jail. Beck has never supported Libby or supported his clemency from Bushie. Again seems kind of partisan. Where was MMFA stories when Beck was calling for Libby to be sent to prison? Oh I forgot , that is not important.
Why would MMFA doa a story on Beck calling for Libby's imprisonment? Is that conservative mis-information?
Also, SFNOMAD said nothing about lying about WMD's. He commented on the lying about outing a CIA operative who was working on WMD proliferation(which righties refer to a a "desk jockey").
Beck said "The guy went to jail." He did not - Bush commuted his sentence in payment for his silence.
They should all be tried for TREASON - Libby, Rove, Cheney, and Bush.
Beck advocated him going to jail for months and was against the clemency .
Which is irrelevant to the FACT he said the guy went to jail. Since the guy DIDNT go to jail I would say that is pretty much textbook misinformation
Why is This Here? Because it is a prime example of conservative misinformation, MMFA's stated purpose. Beck didn't "mis-say" anything. Libby didn't serve the time for the crime for which he was convicted. Beck was either inexcusably ignorant of the facts he was feeding to his audience (very odd considering how big a story Bush's commutation of the sentence was) or he was intentionally deceiving them.
or he misspoke. If Beck was saying and advocating that Libby was innocent and should not be punished I would agree with you. but he wanted Libby in jail throughout the trial.
Sueeld. I dislike Beck for a host of reasons, but want to be fair here, so I will concede that he did indeed slam Bush over the commutation (link below), which makes his most recent statement all the more baffling. Maybe he'll make a correction/retraction on his latest characterization of the case, which is clearly factually wrong. Beck, unlike many righty hosts, has shown at least some ability for self examination from time-to-time.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YzxYisoKb8I
Thats why i think he misspoke, the guy wanted to see Libby rot like most americans.
I don't think he misspoke, I just think he's an idiot who will say anything to fire up his base viewership (whoever that may be).
Oh he only misspoke, which itself would be misinformation. Then he corrected himself? Where did he do that again? When he does I will cut him some slack on THIS. Until then since I cant read his mind I will stick with what he SAID which was flat out wrong
I think even liberals should be outraged over Berger's new role as an advisor to Hillary's campaign. In addition to destroying classified documents and losing his law license, Berger was incompetent as national security advisor. Al Qaeda struck us with impunity several times on his watch. http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=YjRmNDNhZjYzYjRkYTg0NmI2NWU5ZTc0MjUxNTBlMmM=
http://www.mrc.org/BozellColumns/newscolumn/2007/col20071009.asp
destroying classified documents
Kozakid, Berger destroyed 'copies' which are the only things made available for anyone with the security clearance to see them.
Boom, shake tha' room.
Every document that Berger took was recovered. AND "The documents that were removed were copies; the National Archives retained the originals."http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A64379-2004Jul20.htmlhttp://www.usatoday.com/news/politicselections/nation/president/2004-07-21-berger-kerry_x.htm
Even Bill "The Awful Falafel" O'Reilly got it right for once:
You, sir, are not allowed to lie about Berger anymore.
Ever.
Now go to your room and think about what you've done.
But Deeznuts, he linked to National Review and Bozell.Who you gonna trust?
BT, thanks for leaving the link addresses visible, a real time saver.
Doznumnutz,
We conservatives must face it, this conspiracy to fool the American public and hide this critically important issue, one that will turn opinions of all free thinking peoples of the world, the same conspiracy to purposely deflect attention away from the democrat (Sorry Nail solon) ticket and make voters literally puddy in our hands all the while lulling baby seals into a false sense of security before Canadian (you know, the ones with perfect health care) Eskimos turn them into fashionable gloves and hats, yes, that very same, very important, even classified (We tried to stuff this whole conspiracy into Sandy Burgler's pants but it was just too big of a conspiracy to fit in there with all those other documents) diabolical plan to overtake the world and corner the market on Halliburton stock HAS BEEN OUTED!!!
That's it, you've found us out. We must surrender. How could this serious and so untrivial-like media matters (very little) story have so exposed us? Woe, agony and a pax upon our house!
C'mon MM(vl), at least make a decent effort to do something a tad more meaningful in the future.
Its ok we all understand you are too ignorant to know what the name of the largest party in America is. What is puddy anyway? Are you also too ignorant to spell putty?
demokrat solon,
Once again, your knowledge of building and trade skills wins the day. So sorry for the misspelled word, putty. I meant to write caulking.
Thanks again for keeping me on my toes!
You mean he destroyed COPIES for which he was punished. And he has no role in the campaign. They said they would listen to him not that he had any job on the campaign staff.
This doesn't make any sense.
The fact is Beck was VERY critical of President Bush for commuting Libby's prison sentence. He talked about it at length on his radio show when it happened a few months ago.
I think he simply misspoke. I'm not so sure there's a story here.
That is exactly what I thought. This seems very minor. He wanted Libby in jail.
So? He missaid something, why is this on here?
Maybe you should read, again, what it says under "Who we are." And if you're unable to click on the link, here you go.
As Beck was being relativistic and wrong about his relativism, it's well within MMFAs mission statement.
Berger didn't lie to the FBI, thus he struck a plea bargain and his case is over and done with. Of course, in the alternate universe of conservatives, lying about a blowjob is grounds for impeaching a President, lying about blowing the cover of a covert CIA operative, working on WMD proliferation in Iran is no big deal.
Why are you posting things twice?
Because you rarely understand anything the first time around.
Ok, that is a good one. You at least have wit.
Reality, what a concept! R Williams.
Please, stop defending Beck on this as a "slip of the tongue". This is another attempt to spread misinformation, to play the victim, oh woe is us, we poor, poor white power holders who control the country, when will we ever get a break?
O'Reilly has done this before, condemned something Bush or his administration did, then changed his position later.
Short memory syndrome is endemic in the Republican mindset.
For example, the canard that EVERYONE thought Saddam had WMD is popular with Beck and his ilk.
It's a lie. I didn't think he had WMD. So I guess it can't be EVERYONE then, can it?
How is this any different? Changing the facts after the matter is the Republican Party's mission statement as it pertains to the Iraq war, so why not attempt to warp reality as it pertains to Plame-Gate?
By next year, a poll will reveal that half of Americans think Libby went to jail. Why not? Over 30% polled still believe Saddam attacked us on 9/11, that he had WMD and we found stockpiles of WMD in Iraq.
Modern myths are easy creations with a public as ambivalent and mentally lazy as this one.
Randy
Libby is a convicted felon .
Beck mocks the blind.
What does that have to do with the topic?
Goes to credibility with me. I don't accept falsely asserted truths from that kind of tripe. But please, you have at 'em.
Then when he screamed for months that Libby should be in jail, I guess he was wrong then.
Have you assigned me to that assertion?
not yet. Should you be assigned?
So tell me if he screamed for months that he SHOULD go to jail, I would assume he was outraged he DIDNT go to jail. Why then was it so easy for him to make this slip of the tongue instead of saying he SHOULD have gone to jail?
Beck said Libby went to jail...but Libby was expressly PROTECTED from jail...and some of you pinheads claim Beck is not guilty of spreading misinformation???
Holy smokes...what are we up against here anyway? Maybe I'm just trying too hard to take you guys seriously, eh? My mistake?
Beck and CNN Headline News are guilty of dumbing down political discourse in America. If he paid even the slightest bit of attention to the opinions he pretends to have on the various issues of the day, he'd know Libby did not go to jail. Whether it's misinformation or just plain stupidity is beside the point. Beck opens his mouth and America gets its daily dose of dumb.
Until Jan 19, 2009 anyway.
So convicted equals SERVED TIME IN JAIL, which he didn't.
Or are you incapable of reading Beck's assertion that he served time in jail?
If the RIF van pulls into your town, seek it out at once.
Randy
Yeah, the defenders here are pretty amusing. It's wrong to cite misinformation, if there's a possibility that it was an accident?
Reminds me of Steve Martin's old "I forgot..." bit.
If I've said it once I've said it a hundred times...The Beaver should not be allowed next to serious news. Yes, he's given it the old college try but it's really a capacity issue for him.
The lil' guy should stick to puff pieces. Instead of CNN Headline News, how about....CNN Puff Pieces with The Beaver.
It's a lot more important than Beck simply misspeaking. Scooter Libby was convicted of a ‘felony’, never served time in jail and had his sentence commuted by Junior. Sandy Berger pleaded guilty to a ’misdemeanor’ for removing ’copies’ of classified documents and each document was produced to the 9/11 Commission. Beck is trying to downplay Scooter’s convection and pretend that what Berger pleaded guilty to was far worse. Both were wrong however, Scooter=Felony………..Berger=Misdemeanor
"Why did Sandy Berger seem to just sort of just skate by on all of this? I really don't -- I don't have a good answer for that, other than perhaps they didn't want to get down into the dirt with the Clintons."
Uh right Amy-Karl Rove didn't want to sully his reputation "down in the dirt with the Clintons".Once again I think this shows why this site is important.
As stated above (twice I think) - he removed COPIES. Stupid? No doubt. But he didn't obscure evidence from the 9/11 commission.
It's like the repeated contention that Saddam wouldn't allow inspectors into Iraq in 1998. Revisionist clap.
And somebody will post both of those "facts" at this very site in the not-too-distant future, Old Ben. Another reason for this site.
I suppose Ollie North and Elliot Abrams shared Contra history is beside the point. Abrams is, or recently was working for the government. Doesn't Ollie have his own radio show? I remember him standing up for Rush last week.
The reason the "he just misspoke" excuse is not valid is the following:
Beck is stating that SINCE Libby did something wrong (felony) and was sent to jail (in Beck's world), THEN it is perfectly normal to be appalled by the fact that Berger did also break the law (misdemeanor) and yet he did not receive the same punishment.
It is also important to note how both Mr. Beck and Ms. Holmes refer to the stolen documents as if they were never recovered and as if because of that, we will never know the whole truth of what led up to 911.
"BECK: This guy is stealing documents for the 9-11 Commission.
HOLMES: Documents that could have helped us understand what led up to 9-11.
BECK: Exactly right."
So you guys are defending the addition of Sandy Burger to Mrs. Clintion's campaign staff?
PC,
How many times do you have to be told the truth? Berger has not been "added" to Clinton's campaign.
Get past the talking points, please!
Why does this pile of garbage still have a TV show?
Coy and Quesy,
Here are 3 stories relating to the 'no comment' or 'unofficial' status of Sandy Berger. I am also waiting to see the story of how all the money bundled by Norman Hsu was handed back to the contributors.
http://www.examiner.com/a-977346~He_s_back__Sandy_Berger_now_advising_Hillary_Clinton.html
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/opinions/documents/the-war-over-the-wonks.html
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20628439/site/newsweek/page/0/