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A group of Republican senators led by Arizona Sen. John McCain sought to stir up outrage on Tuesday in hopes of having a special counsel named to investigate classified intelligence leaks from the Obama administration.
"Where is the outrage?" the senators asked at a press conference on Capitol Hill.
J. Scott Applewhite / AP
From left, Sen. Saxby Chambliss, R-Ga., vice chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., and Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, take turns at the microphones to assert their belief that President Obama's administration has orchestrated disclosure of classified information for political gain, during a news conference on Capitol Hill.
"We need a special counsel. We need someone who the American people can trust, and we need to stop the leaks that are endangering the lives of those men and women who are serving our country with valor our courage. And they deserve a lot better," McCain told reporters.
McCain read excerpts of David Sanger's book that, he said, indicated senior Obama administration officials had publicly discussed classified information. He pointed to a meeting Sanger had in the presidential suite at the G20 in Pittsburgh in 2009 where officials shared intelligence on Iran's nuclear program.
"How does a person be brought up to the presidential suite and be briefed by quote 'national security personnel' unless they are at the highest level?" he asked.
McCain said the professional, non-political intelligence officers he has spoken with are "distraught" and "outraged" by the leaks.
The senators said at issue are reports about the NAVY Seal raid on Osama bin Laden, U.S. missions in Pakistan, the outinf of a Yemeni double agent and details of a cyberwar against Iran and the U.S. drone program.
McCain called the new rules to stop leaks announced by Director of National Intelligence James Clapper yesterday "important," but not enough.
The ranking Republican on the Senate Intelligence Committee, Georgia Sen. Saxby Chambliss, said the president needs to step up his concern.
"What the president ought to be saying is, this is very damaging to the country and we're going to do everything we can to get to the bottom of it," he said.
He warned: "Is it going to take one of our sources not just having his life put in danger but being injured, who knows what else may happen to somebody out there now, before this administration gets serious about this and does get outraged? ... What's it going to take to get this administration outraged about this?"
"where is the outrage in this administration?" added Mississippi Sen. Roger Wicker (R). "Where is there any indication that within the Obama administration officials are outraged at the criminal leaks of classified information that put our agents and our friends at risk?"
The senators are calling for a special prosecutor because they say it is nearly impossible to have an independent investigation of the leaks by U.S. attorneys who report to Attorney General Eric Holder.
"Now do we really think in spite of the capability of these two US attorneys that when you have somebody who is appointed by the administration, are they really going to be unbiased in their investigation of the administration that appointed them?" Chambliss asked.
Texas Sen. John Cornyn, who has clashed publicly with Holder, calling for his resignation at a Senate hearing earlier this month, said "this administration cannot be trusted to investigate itself."
Cornyn said a congressional investigation may be necessary. California Sen. Dianne Feinstein, the chairwoman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, has expressed support for the U.S. attorney’s investigation. She said she does not believe a special prosecutor is necessary and would take too much time.
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Are these guys seriously this far over the edge??? It's going to be pretty hard to damage the mission of capturing Bin Laden when the mission is over and Bin Laden is dead, Does anyone think the Seal Team is worried about retribution?? I'm pretty sure everyone worldwide knows about the drone attacks in Pakistan by now. What "intelligence" about Iran's nuclear program? The fact that no one has ANY actual evidence they are trying to build a nuke and there is NO reason to declare war on them?
Is the GOP running out of ideas to slow down the economy and jobs and just need something to fill their time?
How many individuals or foreign operatives are going to want to cooperate with US in ongoing and future operations if the are going to wind up in prison in places like Pakistan or dead because of some big mouth in the WH.? And why confirm that we are conducting ongoing operations, like cyber warfare, so that our enemies can clearly point to US for retaliation? Is that somehow good for the country? Or are you just another partisan hack engaging in thoughtless party line talking points?
Even more I have to wonder how many operatives are going to be loyal to the US when they can be outed due to some personal vendetta... like Valerie Plame and Dick Cheney.
No matter what you say about the Obama administration, the George W. Bush administration was filled with more betrayal, corruption and dirty business! Why should we elect these a$$holes back into power?
Idiots, like Feisty, are incapable of understanding national security issues. Moreover, they could careless if our national security is compromised and individuals in the field lives are endangered by operatives in the WH disclosing classified information. As long as Obama gets to stay in the WH they are all good with what ever happens. For them it is all about slavish adherence to the party line, The good of the country is a mere afterthought. That is why they back Obama for president, he could give a crap about the laws of the country. Particularly if they don't square with his political agenda.
To king"""
leaks lies...
We have sources that tell us that Saddam Hussein recently authorized Iraqi field commanders to use chemical weapons -- the very weapons the dictator tells us he does not have.
George Bush
Radio Address
February 8, 2003
You really make it too easy! Dick Cheney, Valerie Plame... 'nuff said!
Republicans have no scruples when it comes to disclosing sensitive information for personal vendettas. Why the hell should we elect these a$$holes again?
Two examples of corrupt thinking, Idiots like you two seek to justify Obama's corruption by pointing to the corruption of others. This should be an area where all Americans can agree. Leaking classified information is not acceptable, especially when it is for political gain. But I guess in your lame minds it is all about party politics and not the nations best interests. If you are representative of the typical Obama supporter than it is no wonder members of the Dem party are jumping ship. Some people, regardless of party affiliation have morals and put the good of the country ahead of the political agenda. The fact that you two don't makes your credibility ZERO.
you really don't want to push to hard, just stir the pot, otherwise they will find out it was some rethuglican staffer in their office who leaked it, rather than the White House
Where was your outrage when then name of a covert officer for the CIA was broadcast to the world? Every asset/person she contacted, would now be viewed as a U S agent. How many of the those persons are no longer among the living? While John and Politicians pander for votes, they consistently loose honor and the respect of independent voters....This will be the first time I vote with the Dems...I vote, I'm a Vet, I'm black, and I'm ashamed of some of the things that have come out of the Republican Party over the last 3.5 years...The Grand Old Party is no more; now hatred and lies are their bread and the destruction of the union is their wine.
So your logic is that it is all right to compromise national security because others may have done so in the past. Glad you made that clear.
No, his point is that Republicans have clearly had no problem leaking these things in the past, why should we trust them anymore now? And, really, the Valerie Plame incident was nothing more than a personal vendetta... why should we trust Republicans when they are so willing to violate national security over a personal matter?
That is really the issue, isn't it? This whole idea of obtructionism, voting against anything that is Obama's idea, releasing the name of a CIA operative over a personal vendetta, virtually everything that is a Republican idea, puts personal and party matters over the good of the country! Then why in the hell were they elected?
Kiss my shiny metal ass! I'll be voting Democrat this fall!
Engineer
You say we should not vote Repub because they leaked classified information but than you say that you will be voting for Obama even though he is allowing classified information to be leaked out of the WH. HYPOCRITE MUCH?
We already have mechanisms extant to deal with this issue. Once the parties are identified beyond reasonable doubt, charge them with violation of Articles 793 and 74 of Title 18, of the US Codes. Article 793 deals with the compromising of national defense information. Article 794 does the same, but with the difference that it deals with information that has been compromised to the benefit of a foreign power (AKA espionage). The penalties ae commensurately severe to the violation; 793 carries sentences up to ten years, 794 life in prison and, in time of war, death.
Let's find out who the violators/perpetrators are, and then prosecute them If they are found guilty, punish them accordingly.
Exactly, no matter what political connections he/she has.
Hey ! Where is the outrage against our DO-NOTHING congress !
yes, the party of bed-wetters and drama queens need to know, not because, you know, they are worried about national security. oh, no. they need to know this stuff so that they can try to score a few more cheap political points as they try to take back the mantle of being strong on national security - rather than be forever known as the incompentent know-nothing blow hards that they have proven to be - well, at least since reagan.
Just a bunch of political lifers who never ask where is the outrage when it counts, but now try to defame and denounce their competition on the other side of the isle. Maybe it is time to limit exposure to influence peddling and lobbying by limiting terms to a single one, and please do not give them lifelong care packages like the current practice. No wonder they want to get elected so bad. Making their own laws so insider trading is a whisper and a wink. Don't think that the silent majority is aware and getting pretty fed up with your nefarious demeanor.
Chambliss..Cornyn..McCain oh my.. too funny
No need for outrage. Obummer is the leaker. He is protected by lib media.
They are trying to gin up controversies to keep us from asking "WHERE'S THE JOBS?"
This is a far more dangerous scandal than Fast & Furious or Solyndra. But we can't allow the fox (Holder) to investigate the hen house (White House). Obama is turning into a socialist tyrant (ala Chavez) making new laws by executive order every day. But this WH leak is the worse of all. He clearly has an agenda, and it's not pro United States. Wake up voters, this man is dangerously out of control.
Where is the outrage? Apparently over at the RNC, and in Boehner's office. Outside of that, it's just standard GOP outrage-of-the-day politics.
Dick Cheney and Valerie Plame. Where was the outrage then? Oh wait, that was under a Republican President! Now I see...
Republicans have been more corrupt than any party in hsitory of democracy since Nixon got his power started in the 1940s. Books are coming out with showing they all have been committing and covering up big crimes since the 1950s, won't name them they will have heart attacks reading this. Every repub with a conscience will be in shock when they find out and understand what their party has done. I feel sorry for them, they will have a tough decision if they want to stay with their party. Lincoln and Ike would crucify repubs for what they have done and covered up since WWII.
Bigbearcatbill, you need to study history. Illinois and Louisiana, two of the most states in history of the United States have been majority of the time ran by democrats. Also, look at senators and congressman that have been sent to jail like James Traficant of Ohio.
Or there's Nixon and Reagan- two federal law breakers that got away with it.
Lincoln was a GOP railroad thug. His incompetence- and that of his administration- led to the deaths of 20% of the freed slaves after 1865- one million of the five million freed- and untold thousands of Americans before his death.
Romney does what is best for him , always.
Veterans, military retirees; note that Romney PROMOTED THE DRAFT, then skipped out to France for extraordinary lenth of time when church missionary tours were limited. When Romney came home, he sided with his dad that the whole Viet Nam War was a scam and that he was against the war. His early flip flops, he is good at.
Promoting the draft, while Americans were dieing, he skipped out, then says he wishes he could have participated. Pro church, Anti Americam.
I don't know.....where was the gop's outrage when geedubya threw the cia agent to the wolves, when her husband criticised Bush policy ?
The GOP was never concerned about the thousands of civilians the Bush-Cheney Cabal was killing in Iraq nor the lies, abuse, and waste of the Iraq invasion, so why do these jumbo butter roll-faced, old white men get their boxers tied up now?
I don't recall the GOP getting their panties in a bunch when members of the Bush Administration deliberately leaked intel on the identity of an undercover CIA agent, Valerie Plame. In fact, I recall Bush giving one of the only people held responsible, Scooter Libby, a pardon.
Wow that really put peoples lives in danger. The latest WH leak could end a declaration of war from Iran on the US and Israel. Don't think you can compare the two.
For outrage, tune to Fox News. EVERYTHING'S an outrage to THEM.
"We need someone who the American people can trust, and we need to stop the leaks that are endangering the lives of those men and women who are serving our country with valor our courage. And they deserve a lot better," McCain told reporters."
Isn't that the issue, someone we can trust? No one is trusting conservatives these days, at least not if they are smart!
Was it the Secretary of State under President Clinton that was caught putting classified documents down his pants and trying to sneak them out of a secure area?
I can't remember for sure.
the reason you can't remember is it never happened and you just made it up
Looks like the GOP forgot about the intel leaks that ruined Valerie Plame's career back in the Bush days !!! funny how they flip around as it suits them, disgusting, Oh and I'm remembering that no one took any heat for that !!! The Republicans just plain suck !!!
Some of you may be singing a different tune when Iran and others strike back with their own cyber attack, of course Obamaites had to leak anything they can to make him look better. Exporting illegals is not a immigration policy, blowing up potential sources of information and the 20 people next to them is not a foreign policy. Helping Egypt, Libya and Syria go to the muslim brotherhood is their foreign policy.
The "Intelligence Leak" is a Republican problem. It has become so severe during past few years that they are now essentially just a collection of dim-witted simpletonians.
I guess we just got used to leaks, and the outing of CIA operatives, flase intel on weapons of mass destruction, etc... for eight years during George W's years that we were told that was no big deal. Now if the other party is in power you can't make people believe it is.
Outing an agent is really bad, handing over secrets to our enemies or the NYT is Treason. There is a huge difference. BOTH deserve independent investigations.
Here's your outrage:
rethuglicans have trashed the economy and most likely were the sources of the leaks in a vain effort to sabotage President Obama and elect a useless, thoughtless corporate toadie to the White House. They are frauds and deserve to be tarred and feathered for the actions they have taken.