Bush Homeland Security Adviser Blames Reporter For "Cash For Access" Scandal

Talking Points Memo:

It was the reporter's fault.

That's pretty much what Homeland Security adviser and Houston businessman Stephen Payne said.

Payne claims he never meant to suggest -- as a video from the Times of London suggests -- that he could arrange meetings with high-level Bush Administration officials in exchange for a large contribution to the Bush presidential library fund.

...

Payne told the Dallas Morning News that the paper edited out his remarks that would absolve him of suspicion.

"Over the course of an hourlong conversation in a social setting, isolated comments can be taken out of context," he said in the statement. Mr. Payne accused the paper of "manufacturing" the news and making him the victim of a "confidence game."

Read the whole story: Talking Points Memo

Comments

[MissingAmerica]

Once again, it is someone else's fault. With this administration and it's cohorts, it is always someone else's fault. Information is always taken out of context. We always misunderstand and twist what they say. I no longer believe in or trust anything they say. Therefore, based on past performance, I would say it is highly probable that Bush's library will be paid for by money received through bribery, deceit and cooked funds.

[thegreatgiginthesky]

Yea I am sure the media made you do this. What has happened to personal responsibility in this nation? Every time some dope does something wrong it is the media's fault for reporting it? For more information on this look at Larry Craig.

[iheardthisbefore]

Stephan Payne.....another useless political appointee of one
of the most bizarre bunch of cretins ever elected.

[TheIndependenceParty]

We had better beef up the DOJ budget for the next four years. It is going to be a Field Day for the new AG and the new DOJ staff!

It will make Tamany Hall look like ticket fixing!

[broadsword]

Ah, yes. The 'party of personal responsibility' once again steps up, like men, and blames their criminality on someone else. Thank God the adults are in charge, eh?

[w&cheneysuck]

Just like blaming our troops for the war? What a joke! This guy should shut his pie hole before he digs his hole deeper.

[patriotic008]

i was hoping the MSM would have paid more attention to this. i think its pretty disgusting

[mscriblerus]

Whaaaaat??? Edited?...out of context?..­..LOL....H­e just guaranteed that the video will be aired on The Daily Show, following the lead in "Payne told the Dallas Morning News that the paper edited out his remarks".

This stuff writes itself.

[keepemhonest]

Favorite quotes from Bush Lobbyist-Stephen Payne:

Payne: "[Bush] doesn't meet with a lot of former presidents ... I don't think he meets with hardly anyone."
-- HA HA HA HA HA ... "hardly anyone."

Payne: "donate a couple of Hundred Thousand Dollars ... not a huge amount."
-- say what? That explains a lot about the Bush/McCain economic policy.

Payne: "I'd have to go back and think about what our Firm would want to TAKE for this in compensation."
-- compensation for brokering Money for Propaganda deals?

... deals that would result in a staged White House response .. like:
Payne: "The most important thing is WHAT the White House is going to say."

... here comes the Money for Propaganda deal...
Payne: "I think that we can ... get some positive statements released ... we can send possitive statements about him ... he wasn't such a bad guy, many people have done worse ... those kinds of statements from people in the Administration ..

... Now the propaganda intensifies:
Payne: "I understand what he wants, he wants VINDICATION from the United States, He wants the United States to simply say he wasn't a bad President ... AND THE PEOPLE WERE MISLED."
... hmmm... that line, "the people were misled" sounds familiar? ... hmmmm... The Adminstration was "misled" with bad intelligence on Iraq?

... the money will show what again, Mr. Payne?
Payne: "We're interested, we're your friends, we're still friends."

Wow! Next time I hear a McCain supporter say

[shivadas]

If it weren't for those pesky camera- phones there wouldn't be a torture scandal. Those darned whistle blowers are responsible for the bribery and corruption,. America haters: each and every one.

[TheIndependenceParty]

Perfect KeepEmHonest! I wonder how these men think they will live quietly and safely in America after they have ravaged our economy, our reputation, and our self-respect?

The People, ... We The People, are getting very angry at what is occurring at the moment. Or do I speak only formyself?

[RabidRightRebel]

It is true if only that damn reporter hadn't been there nobody would of ever known about this. Just another day at the office for a dis-honest slimey rabid right operative.