Possumblog

Yet more from the tiny violin concerto

Woodward explains silence in leak case

WASHINGTON (AP) — Washington Post reporter Bob Woodward dismissed claims that he should have revealed his role in the CIA leak case when he discussed the investigation on news interview shows.

Woodward said on CNN's "Larry King Live" Monday night: "Every time somebody appears on your show talking about the news or giving some sort of analysis, there are going to be things that they can't talk about." [...]

But what of the public's right to know, there Bobbo?

"Woodward again acknowledged that he should have told his editor at the Post.

I have a great relationship with Len Downie, the editor of the Post, and I was trying to avoid being subpoenaed," Woodward said. "And I should have, as I have many, many times, taken him into my confidence. And I did not."

Oh, well, you know, as long as you had a good reason and all.

The Post's ombudsman, Deborah Howell wrote in Sunday's editions that Woodward erred by publicly commenting on the case on King's show and on National Public Radio without mentioning that a top Bush administration official had told him the name of a covert CIA officer.

Howell wrote that Woodward had committed a "deeply serious sin ... the kind that can get even a very good reporter in the doghouse for a very long time." [...]

Heh. "Sin," huh? Must be using it in the sense of, "It's a sin, but, you know, we don't really BELIEVE in 'sin,' because that's what all those filthy narrow-minded red state Bible-thumpers believe in. But we want to act like we're really angry and mad, and so we'll say he 'sinned' and that he might even get put 'in the doghouse' over it. 'For a very long time.' Stupid bunch o' rubes'll think we actually mean business."

Now you know why they have such high regard for the feckless, dithering United Nations.

Posted by Terry Oglesby at November 22, 2005 08:56 AM