::Saturday, October 29, 2005::
THE "RACE" EFFECT
.. The press has blown out proportion the role of two previously unknown White House aides in the ongoing investigation of Karl Rove to find out his role in the outing of CIA operative Valerie Plame Wilson. They are painting a picture of the two aides being main characters in a possible cover-up. I find this to be highly unlikely. There are piles of examples in the history of the White House where well-intentioned aides have been unwittingly caught in the web of scandals spun by officials in their abuse of power. Ms. Ralston being a Filipino might not have helped in the press' portrayal of her as overly protective of her ex-bosses. Everybody knows how loyal to a fault Filipinos can be professionally. It does not serve her well here but I doubt if she was even involved closely in policy-making. Strategizing how to win the Asian vote for Bush is one thing, conniving to destroy his political opponents is another. However, what she might have inadvertently heard will put her in trouble if she chooses to lie about it under oath. That would be, in the words of Special Counsel Fitzgerald, a betrayal of the American public.
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