Media

Tom Hamburger, Los Angeles Times - April 12, 2007

The White House said Wednesday that it may have lost what could amount to thousands of messages sent through a private e-mail system used by political guru Karl Rove and at least 50 other top officials, an admission that stirred anger and dismay among congressional investigators.

The e-mails were considered potentially crucial evidence in congressional inquiries launched by Democrats into the role partisan politics may have played in such policy decisions as the firing of eight U.S. attorneys.

Democrats in Congress want to sit down with the President to talk about the best way to both fully fund our troops and move forward in Iraq. We have sent him repeated requests to do so, the most recent today. We have been disappointed with the President's decision to avoid a serious, substantive discussion with Congress on Iraq.

We will be at the White House on Wednesday to talk with the President. We will listen to his position, but in return we will insist that he listen to concerns of the American people that his policies in Iraq have failed and we need to change course.

Extending the tours of all active-duty Army personnel is an unacceptable price for our troops and their families to pay.

Democrats have offered a new direction in Iraq -- one that would bring our troops home safely and soon. We encourage President Bush to sit down with us to find a solution to bring this war to an end.

Majority Leader Steny Hoyer:

Members of the media must be mindful of their enormous responsibilities and they must understand that words do matter. Words have power, and they must use words with respect for that power. On that count, Don Imus has failed, and his apology and suspension are in order.