Conservatives agree: no "amnesty" for Scooter Libby

WASHINGTON (Alternate Universe News) - Conservative activists and politicians fanned out across the country today amidst new developments in the Scooter Libby case, insisting that the President not give the convicted felon what amounts to "amnesty" for his crimes.

"I don't care what you call it, pardon or whatever, this is amnesty," said Duncan Hunter (R-CA), conservative candidate for President. "We cannot tell those who work hard and play by the rules that somebody who broke the laws of this country can simply 'cut the line' and be set free."

Libby, convicted of perjury and obstruction of justice for lying to FBI agents and a grand jury in the outing of covert CIA operative Valerie Plame, has become a cause celebre among "law and order" conservatives, who are demanding that he not be given special treatment.

"What do our laws mean in this country if they are not equally applied," queried Jim Gilchrest, head of the Minuteman Project, an anti-Scooter Libby group. "We have no problem with legal White House officials. It's the ones who break the law that must be stopped, and they certainly can't be given amnesty."

Conservative talk-radio hosts, bloggers, and grassroots organizations were working at a fever pitch to advocate against any amnesty for Libby. The website noamnesty.com is collecting signatures for a petition asking the President to take a "no amnesty" pledge. A crowd rallied in Lafayette Square yesterday, shouting "No Amnesty!" while holding up pictures of the former Chief of Staff to Vice President Dick Cheney. One attendee said, "they should enforce the laws on the books. If you lie to a grand jury, you face the consequences. I didn't lie, why should I have to suffer with having Libby out in the country, taking a job I want to do?"

The White House has been surprised by the fierce reaction from conservatives against the proposed amnesty for Libby, and tried to spin what a Presidential pardon would actually accomplish. "Make no mistake, this would not be amnesty," said White House Press Secretary Tony Snow. "This would be a process whereby someone who was convicted by a jury and sentenced by a federal judge would be set free. I can't see how you call that amnesty in any legitimate way."

Even the President's staunchest allies, conservative editorial boards like the National Review and the Weekly Standard, have been unyielding in their desire not to see amnesty for Libby. In his editorial, Another "No Amnesty" Amnesty for Libby, Mark Kirkorian wrote:

There’s only one way Congress and the president can earn back the public’s trust on Scooter Libby: Enforce the law — comprehensively, confidently, unapologetically. Then, after several years have passed and enforcement mechanisms are in place and working ... Washington will have proven that, this time, it’s not lying about Scooter Libby.

Until then, no deal.

It is unclear what the President will decide to do regarding Libby, but one thing is clear; his conservative base is abandoning him because they are taking a principled stand of no amnesty for people who break the law, no matter who they are.