Republican Justice -- Libby And The Judicial Hypocrisy of the American Right

Today marks two weeks since the jury delivered a "Guilty" verdict in the case of US v Lewis Libby, handing down the first conviction of a high ranking Bush Administration official. Though the news cycle has moved on to the exploding "Attorneygate" scandal, nothing in politics, not even a has-been story is without spin and counterpoint, back burner or otherwise. Even distracted by the ongoing Department of Justice scandal, the Republican Party and its media machine is more than equal to the challenge of a conviction for perjury, even one linked as closely to the White House as Lewis "Scooter" Libby.

A short visit to Free Republic, Red State, or Little Green Footballs reveals a veritable gallery of spin, the hard fought efforts of some of the best media and political consultants money can buy echoed and repeated by a legion of willing political foot-soldiers. Three main critiques of the Libby conviction shone through the frenzy of point and counterpoint.

Many conservatives argue that Libby's jury was biased and unrepresentitive of a "jury of his peers." As one commenter at Little Green Footballs wrote: [I am] not surprised, the trial and the jury pool came from DC, so much for that whole jury of your peers thing.

In other cases the charge of perjury itself is contested. Libby was largely convicted based upon his testimony and the difficulties in corroborating it. A RedState commenter quipped Libby's memory and testomony [sic] differed from Russert's - and that's what triggered the charge.

Finally, and perhaps most indisputably, Libby's defenders note that he was never on trial for the outing of CIA Agent Valerie Plame. Rather, Libby was on trial for obstruction of justice and perjury. Though certainly serious crimes, these are not offenses in the same scope as the traitorous, indeed treasonous charge of betraying a CIA agent's identity. As user "Erick" posted in RedState's article "Should He Be Pardoned," Let's be clear here. Libby was not convicted of outing Valerie Plame. In fact, I do feel strongly that he got a raw deal. Libby was not charged with or convicted of anything related to the actual purpose of the investigation.

Most conservatives would be shocked to learn that few on the Left disagree with these very legitimate and very serious problems with the Libby conviction. Certainly there is some vicarious glee in seeing a high ranking member of the Bush Administration brought down and there are doubtless more than a few sour grapes from the Clinton witch-hunt in evidence in the response to this conviction; but by and large the American Left shares these same concerns voiced on these hardline conservative discussion boards.

Libby deserves a fair and open trial - just like everyone else charged with crimes against the United States of America.