Commuted Justice
Reading over the prepared White House statement released with the commutation order for Lewis Libby's sentence, I noticed something not yet highlighted in any of the multitude of blog posts I've perused. Here is the relevant graf where President Bush tries to lay out the case that even though Scooter will avoid jail, he still faces a hefty punishment.
That may be so. But I ask this: If Bush and anyone who defends his actions are so concerned about the damage done to Libby's reputation, why have no similar concerns ever been expressed about Joe and Valerie Wilson? What about their reputations and professional status? Joe Wilson has been maligned for years now by Bush defenders as some nepotic opportunist. Valerie Plame has been called everything in the book, not the least of which is a liar and a traitor. And that's leaving out the damage done to her life's work in the CIA, years spent cultivating networks of informants.
Yet everyone's so concerned about poor Libby. Such a sentiment is made all the more callous when you consider that unlike Scooter, who knew full well what he was doing when he lied to leak investigators, the Wilsons didn't have a say in having their lives turned upside down.
(Filed at State of the Day and All Spin Zone)
My decision to commute his prison sentence leaves in place a harsh punishment for Mr. Libby. The reputation he gained through his years of public service and professional work in the legal community is forever damaged. His wife and young children have also suffered immensely. He will remain on probation. The significant fines imposed by the judge will remain in effect. The consequences of his felony conviction on his former life as a lawyer, public servant, and private citizen will be long-lasting.
That may be so. But I ask this: If Bush and anyone who defends his actions are so concerned about the damage done to Libby's reputation, why have no similar concerns ever been expressed about Joe and Valerie Wilson? What about their reputations and professional status? Joe Wilson has been maligned for years now by Bush defenders as some nepotic opportunist. Valerie Plame has been called everything in the book, not the least of which is a liar and a traitor. And that's leaving out the damage done to her life's work in the CIA, years spent cultivating networks of informants.
Yet everyone's so concerned about poor Libby. Such a sentiment is made all the more callous when you consider that unlike Scooter, who knew full well what he was doing when he lied to leak investigators, the Wilsons didn't have a say in having their lives turned upside down.
(Filed at State of the Day and All Spin Zone)
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