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Sunday letters: Associated mess
Copyright 2013: Houston Chronicle | May 17, 2013 | Updated: May 18, 2013 2:48pm
Regarding "GOP, Dems challenge Holder on subpoenas to AP" (Page A4, Thursday), U.S. Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., has shown himself to be biased in the past against the Obama administration and especially against Eric Holder.
But one fact he ignores is that Issa himself voted against the shield law, which was called "The Free Flow of Information Act," that would have made stronger rules requiring the Department of Justice to protect journalists' rights.
Ron Curtis, Houston
Regarding "Feds secretly got AP journalists' phone records" (Page A3, Tuesday), the AP has only itself to blame for the illegal wire taps of its phones. By not honestly covering this administration and digging into every incident, cover-up, steam roll, misdirection, implication, etc., to ensure a complete vetting of this president prior to the first election and of his policies since being elected, the AP has emboldened this administration to the point where (it appears) that whatever they want to do is considered legal.
And now, the American people are expected to believe that the Justice Department will honestly investigate the IRS targeting of conservatives?
An honest, impartial, independent press is the primary safeguard of our country and our liberties.
Pat Wetusk, Kingwood
If the AP story was the result of a very serious leak, then why did AG Holder recuse himself from this case in the first place?
Where was the conflict of interest that would justify Holder recusing himself if it was that important to find the source of that leak? By recusing himself, was Holder telling his subordinate to do what you got to do to find out about the leak but don't tell me because I want to insulate myself from any fallout if something bad happens from your actions?
This seems to be standard operating procedure for Holder: blame a subordinate for something that goes wrong in his department, like what happended in the "Fast and Furious" case.
If Holder cannot supervise or control his subordinates, then maybe he shouldn't be attorney general.
Robert M. Louie, Houston
I can understand Holder recusing himself from the AP investigation, but he should've had some knowledge of the path the Justice Department was going down.
He characterizes the actions of one representative questioning him as "unacceptable and shameful." Look in the mirror, Mr. Attorney General.
Bob Gayle, Houston