Continued from page 1
The Advocate described Bush's strong support for legislation prohibiting gay adoption:
Bush said in a March 22 news conference, "I believe children ought to be adopted in families with a woman and a man who are married." But the bill would not simply ban future gay adoption and foster care; it would also strip gay parents of the children who have already been placed in their homes.
Testifying Before the Grand Jury
The New York Times provided only skeletal details of Hernandez' July 29, 2005, appearance before the federal grand jury. However, one can imagine the pressures weighing down on the assistant secretary of commerce as he swore to tell the whole truth and awaited the questions that the grand jury had prepared for him.
The aides, Susan B. Ralston and Israel Hernandez, were asked about grand jury testimony given on July 13 by Matthew Cooper, a reporter for Time magazine, the person who was briefed said. Mr. Cooper has said that he testified about a July 11, 2003, conversation with Mr. Rove in which the C.I.A. officer was discussed.
The aides' grand jury appearances were first reported by ABC News and provided the first sign that the prosecutor in the case was interested in following up on Mr. Cooper's testimony with more questions for the White House about Mr. Rove.
...At one point, the aides were asked why Mr. Cooper's call to Mr. Rove was not entered in Mr. Rove's office telephone logs. There was no record of the call, the person who has been briefed said, because Mr. Cooper did not call Mr. Rove directly, but was transferred to his office from a White House switchboard.
The aides have worked closely with Mr. Rove, screening his calls and coordinating his activities with other White House officials.
... In an article in Time last month about his grand jury appearance, Mr. Cooper wrote that he had telephoned the White House and been transferred to Mr. Rove's office.
"I believe a woman answered the phone and said words to the effect that Rove wasn't there," Mr. Cooper wrote, "or was busy before going on vacation. But then I recall she said something like 'hang on,' and I was transferred to him."
Hernandez is only one of many long-time Bush administration officials who have been called to testify. Each has brought with him a unique personal history of loyalty and the rewards that accompany it. For Hernandez, the ties are particularly strong. His entire adult life has been spent in close contact with a single employer who encouraged Hernandez to establish close bonds with his family. Hopefully, he has not been placed in the unenviable position of needing to weigh the value of loyalty with the value of telling the whole truth to a nation.
End Notes:
1Herman, Ken, "Longtime Bush aide leaves White House ; Eagle Pass native has worked with president since days as Texas governor." Austin American Statesman. January 15, 2005: A16
2Herman, Ken, "Once the 'Altoid boy,' loyal Bush aide now a well-placed insider." Austin American Statesman. February 19, 2001: A1
3Beach, Patrick, The first son // George W. Bush had his rebellions. But he always returned to the family path. Have Andover, the oil patch andnobless oblige produced another president?" Austin American Statesman. June 13, 1999: A1
4"Bush passes the "squishy" test a series of private interviews indicates that George W. Bush is rock ribbed enough to suit conservative Christians." Greensboro News Record, October 7, 1999: A13
5Elliot, David, "Bush promises to veto attempts to remove sodomy law." Austin American Statesman, January 22, 1994: B3
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