The American Public Doesn't Buy It

This from ABC News:

July 18, 2005 — Just a quarter of Americans think the White House is fully cooperating in the federal investigation of the leak of a CIA operative's identity, a number that's declined sharply since the investigation began. And three-quarters say that if presidential adviser Karl Rove was responsible for leaking classified information, it should cost him his job.

Skepticism about the administration's cooperation has jumped. As the initial investigation began in September 2003, nearly half the public, 47 percent, believed the White House was fully cooperating. That fell to 39 percent a few weeks later, and it's lower still, 25 percent, in this new ABC News poll.

This view is highly partisan; barely over a tenth of Democrats and just a quarter of independents think the White House is fully cooperating. That grows to 47 percent of Republicans — much higher, but still under half in the president's own party. And doubt about the administration's cooperation has grown as much among Republicans — by 22 points since September 2003 — as it has among others.

There's less division on consequences: 75 percent say Rove should lose his job if the investigation finds he leaked classified information. That includes sizable majorities of Republicans, independents and Democrats alike — 71, 74 and 83 percent, respectively.

**GOI Comment: Now, today we find out that the President is going to announce his nominee for the Supreme Court spot opened after the O'Connor retirement. Do you not find it interesting timing to announce the nominee now? At the apex of the Rove/Libby leak scandal??

Don't pay attention to the man (Rove) behind the curtain is the message we get with this timing.

Meanwhile a recent survey says that 25,000 Iraqi civilians killed since the start of the Iraq War and injurying more then 42,000.

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