Conservative commentator Robert Novak is back in the news. This time it is not for mowing down pedestrians in his sports car. Instead, Novak has refuted all of those defenders who insisted that he would never have intentionally blown the cover of a CIA operatives. In a new interview, Novak says that he would out CIA Valerie Plame again despite knowing that she was under cover. While he previously indicated that he should not have revealed her name, he now says that he would have knowingly blown her cover despite the violation of federal law and impact on national security. Why? Because of the bad things people have said about him.
It would seem hard to be a self-righteous voice for the hard right when you are dismissing national security laws and relishing the outing of an undercover agent. This is certainly not the repentant image of Novak when he was under criminal investigation and spinning his mean-spirited column as an unintentional disclosure. Where was this open and unrepentant stance when Novak was interviewed by prosecutors over the months of criminal investigation? Instead, Novak refused to speak with media and went into virtual seclusion until the investigators landed on Scooter Libby as the designated defendant in the scandal. It is like showing up ten years after a bar fight and proclaiming that you are ready to rumble now.
Here is Novak’s most recent position:
NOVAK: I’d go full speed ahead because of the hateful and beastly way in which my left-wing critics in the press and Congress tried to make a political affair out of it and tried to ruin me. My response now is this: The hell with you. They didn’t ruin me. I have my faith, my family, and a good life. A lot of people love me — or like me. So they failed. I would do the same thing over again because I don’t think I hurt Valerie Plame whatsoever.
Despite the fact that the disclosure triggered a criminal investigation and a public condemnation by the President as harmful to national security, Novak would do it again just for spite. He also does not care about statements from CIA officials that the outing of Plame hurt their efforts and made “it harder for other CIA officers to recruit sources.”
Where is the outrage from the right? Novak has always used mean-spirited crank using formula commentary to maintain his niche in the media. However, one would think that there would be some evidence of contempt or opposition after this interview. Instead, CNN and FOX have embraced him as a responsible voice from the right even after repeated cases of contradictions and on-air outbursts. As someone who has done classified work since the Reagan Administration, I find Novak’s position to be appalling. Novak’s peevish war against his critics appears to trump any national security laws or national security interest. I liked him better when he was clearing the streets of pedestrians in his black corvette.
For the full story, click here.
“A douche”. I’m so glad I’m not the only potty-mouth who comments here. Yeah, a big ass-clown douche-bag. It’s too bad a “real war” isn’t going on, then Novak would’ve been hung for treason a couple of years ago along with his pals Scooter, Carl, Binky, and Buffy.
A douche to the very end. You would have thought his brain tumor might have made him interested in getting right with his god.
I’ve got a feeling some cranky neocon water carrier will be visited this Christmas Eve by three ghosts. Good old Bob will probably try to run them over with his black vette, though. Then he’ll write an op-ed on December 26 about how ghosts are just a bunch of bleeding heart liberals.
Imagine that, a cranky, conservative, white guy making an outlandish statement about a female or member of a minority. Where have we seen this before? Where’s his pet monkey?
“CNN and FOX have embraced him as a responsible voice from the right..”
At least CNN should be way past cowering before the neocons. Novak is not only admitting treason, he’s bragging about it.
But Novak didn’t out Plame by himself. Ironically, this comes out at the same time Rove is in the headlines for saying that they would not have gone to war if they had known more about WMD. Well guess what Karl, Joe Wilson tried to tell you. Richard Clarke tried to tell you, and many others were mocked and vilified, with their patriotism questioned.
Yes, where is that right wing outrage? They can’t credibly blame the “liberal bloggers” anymore. The right wingers would have to admit they were wrong before they could feel any outrage. In their minds, Novak is still somehow the good guy and Joe Wilson is the outlaw. Really looking at this might cause too much cognitive dissonance.
I’m betting Marcy Wheeler (Anatomy of Deceit) has a few choice words about Novak and Rove.
Novak has been a hack and a tool for his entire career. I would draw attention to the man’s demeanor, especially the permanent scowl on his face. He is a mean, non-empathetic individual, whose main interests are his personal selfishness and being the tool of the extremely, wealthy class.
Buddha Is Laughing said :Especially since his logic is that he would be a traitor and a Neocon puppet all over again because he’s been called a traitor and a Neocon puppet for acting like a traitor and a Neocon puppet.
that’s some logic, that logic-22
it’s the best there is
Bob Novak is just a sick excuse for a human being. This guy would sell his soul for a false headline. This guy belongs in jail along with Scooter Libby. He has a warped sense of justice and he epitomizes the lies of the Bush regime this past 8 years.
Feel sorry for Bob?
Especially since his logic is that he would be a traitor and a Neocon puppet all over again because he’s been called a traitor and a Neocon puppet for acting like a traitor and a Neocon puppet.
Riiiiiight.
The only regret Novak has is that he got caught. The only sympathy he deserves is for his illness. The punishment he deserves is to let every field operative stand in line to give him a swift kick in the ass.
Mean, bitter, nasty old fascist criminal. Glad to see you are wallowing in it, Bob.
After everything, he still doesn’t ‘get it’, does he?
Amazing…
There are diseases that one wouldn’t even wish on their worst enemy. Being Bob Novak is such.