Robert Novak, CIA Identity Leaker Dies
18 August 2009 3:59 pm by Taylor Marsh
The “Prince of Darkness” has died.
By the way, Novak reportedly “relished” his title. He certainly earned it.
More than anything, Robert Novak will be remembered as being representative of the Bush-Cheney years and the lengths people would go to in order to tar their political enemies. This was particularly true when it came to the Iraq war, which Mr. Novak opposed, though that didn’t keep him from outing a CIA operative, also putting many people in danger.
I’ve never been one for remembering people as they weren’t, which troubled some when I proved the point on former Pres. Gerald Ford’s passing. But if you prefer puff pieces, by all means read “Giant of Journalism.” Though my own perception is colored through the fact that I’ve interview Ms. Plame (as well as her husband Joe Wilson), and know, on at least a small level, what Mr. Novak’s wrecklessness wrought.
So, around here Mr. Novak will be known as the man who outed Valerie Plame for spite, in his 2003 newspaper column, which by the way was at the very least a felony.
From Conor Clarke over at Andrew Sullivan’s place:
Novak was, to be perfectly honest about it, the least pleasant person I’ve ever interviewed. He didn’t shake my hand upon entering or leaving his office, and expressed fairly open contempt when I asked him a question about the Valerie Plame affair. His response was: “You can’t imagine how tired I am of answering those questions.” And then he proceeded not to answer the question.
Novak will not be missed by those of us who thought his reprehensible actions in outing Ms. Plame, inspired by his ideological blindness, led to ruining years of work by Valerie Plame, but also the possible exposure of many people, as well as scuttling a very important program on which Plame was working, which was nothing less than a political hit job.
Whatever respect Mr. Novak earned over his lifetime as a Washington player and insider, long-time writer and television host of was obliterated by this, some would say, treasonous act. The contempt many of us feel for Mr. Novak today was earned.
On the human side, it is, however, heartening to hear about Sen. Ted Kennedy’s reach out to Novak at his darkest hour. Having lived through both parents suffering from cancer and watching unspeakable pain, I’m sure his family is grateful that a fellow sufferer shared and encouraged Mr. Novak to fight. Prayers offered to all.
