Not just Plame

The Center for American Progress has come out with an interesting collection of examples of how the White House has fired, intimidated or defamed anyone who didn't get on board for the war on Iraq ("Intimigate" Scandal at the White House).

WASHINGTON - September 30 - The Center for American Progress has released the attached is a one-page document detailing “Intimigate”, the White House’s latest scandal. As the document shows, the White House has developed a pattern of firing, intimidating and defaming anyone who has had the courage to tell the truth about Iraq. In fact, the Iraq policymakers whose influence has grown in the White House are largely those who parsed and distorted intelligence and misled the American people.

The recent story of the Bush Administration leaking classified information in an effort to defame a WMD report is just the latest in a well-established pattern. A look at the historical record shows that the Bush Administration has summarily fired, intimidated and defamed anyone who has had the courage to tell the truth about Iraq. In fact, the Iraq policymakers who have remained in the White House are largely those who parsed and distorted intelligence and misled the American people.

Drawing on another parallel to Watergate, it is important to remember that that scandal was not just about one break-in at DNC headquarters but about a whole pattern of abuse by people working for Richard Nixon and his re-election campaign. "Intimigate" (catchy) could open the door on a similar pattern of harassment by this administration against its opponents, political or otherwise.

(tip-o-the-hat to Talk Left).