The Bogus AP Scandal..

[Nbadan]

GOP Calls for Holder’s Resignation Over investigation They Demanded
by Mark Lippman

It was predictable.

A year ago when Republicans in Congress demanded an investigation into leaks of sensitive information to the press, allegedly from inside Obama’s administration, the President could have responded with the use of his two middle fingers, both of them standing straight up.

Instead, he took the bellowing of Republicans seriously, and he went all in to discover the source of the leaks that were causing so much concern.

Here’s what the President said:

“Since I’ve been in office, my at ude has been zero tolerance for these kinds of leaks and speculation,” Mr. Obama said at a news conference. “Now we have mechanisms in place where, if we can root out folks who have leaked, they will suffer consequences. In some case, it’s criminal. These are criminal acts when they release information like this. And we will conduct thorough investigations, as we have in the past.”

There was a reason why the President needed to demonstrate his serious intent. These weren't just any leaks. The Republicans were accusing the President of instigating the leaks to get favorable press coverage in return.

Today, Reince Priebus called for Attorney General Eric Holder’s resignation because the President kept the promise he made about a serious investigation.

"Because Attorney General Holder has so egregiously violated the public trust, the president should ask for his immediate resignation. If President Obama does not, the message will be unmistakable: The President of the United States believes his administration is above the Cons ution and does not respect the role of a free press."

For the sake of sanity, it's never a good idea to pay attention to everything that gives Republicans a bellyache. Last year, when they were howling about security leaks designed to make the President look good, it sounded something like dogs barking at the moon. Bin Laden was dead. What did they mean about making the President look good?

When every Republican in Congress had taken his shot at the President and they all agreed that they had never seen anything so egregious as these security leaks, they called for an investigation by a special prosecutor.

Attorney General Holder appointed Ronald C. Machen, the United States attorney for the District of Columbia, and Rod J. Rosenstein, his counterpart in Maryland, instead, to take over direction of existing investigations by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Senators McCain and Graham complained in a joint statement that Holder wasn't taking the need for an investigation far enough.

"This investigation involves some of the most serious breaches of national security in recent memory and any investigation must be done in a manner free and clear of political considerations. The recent decision of the Attorney General falls far short of what is needed and is not an adequate subs ute for an outside special counsel."

Now we learn that the investigation has been taken too far with the collection of phone records with two months of calls made by Associated Press reporters. Unless the source of the leaks is identified, the President can still be accused of encouraging them himself.

Would it have been more noble for the President to take the heat for the sake of the First Amendment? That's a tough call. It isn't just the President taking the heat. It's the 66 million people who voted for him, too. Their choice is being disrespected by the Republicans as much as anything.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/0...-They-Demanded

Recap: GOP calls on Holder to investigate leaks. Holder appoints US Attorney. US Att. subpoenas AP records. GOP calls on Holder to resign.

[Winehole23]

so, it's the GOP's fault that Obama overreached?

[Wild Cobra]

so, it's the GOP's fault that Obama overreached?

Wow...

They went off message...

Why isn't it Bush's fault?

[TeyshaBlue]

so, it's the GOP's fault that Obama overreached?

Pre-Existing Narrative Magic Eight Ball: "signs point to yes".