Has Obama done enough to combat leaks?

This week on Due Diligence, Mitt Romney's attacks on President Obama over leaks of classified information.

"I can tell you that the idea of leaking top secret information to the media from The White House for clear political advantage is something the America people are not gonna cotton to and that's why I've called for a special consul to look into this matter," Romney said in Las Vegas on Tuesday. "I think the idea of having a Presidential appointee who reports to the President's attorney general investigating The White House is not something which would give the American people the kind of confidence they should expect."

What's this all about? Both Democrats and Republicans have expressed alarm over leaks to the media of classified national security information, including revelations that the U.S. was behind cyberattacks on Iran's nuclear program.

Attorney General Eric Holder has appointed two federal prosecutors to investigate the leaks, and the FBI is also investigating. But Romney and Republicans want a special prosecutor to look into this, arguing that Holder will be tainted by election year politics and try to protect his boss: the president. The president and his aides have denied leaking the info and say there is no need for a special prosecutor.

The Obama administration has reason to be wary. Investigations by special prosecutors can explode in unpredictable ways: The Whitewater investigation, for example, led to the Lewinsky scandal. The investigation into the Valerie Plame leak led to a top aide to Dick Cheney being convicted of perjury.

But when a possible transgression is serious enough, politicians in both parties acknowledge that a special prosecutor makes sense. So does this rise to that level? Both Romney and Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein have suggested the leaks have put American lives at risk, which is debatable. It was long assumed, for example, that the cyberattack on Iran came from either the United States, Israel or a combination of the two. Iran's confirmation of that fact does not appear to have had repercussions.

In addition, intelligence experts say the leaks may not have actually been illegal - if they came from senior officials with the authority to declassify information. It's also worth noting that the Obama administration has been harder than any previous administration on alleged leaks, invoking the obscure 1917 Espionage Act six times to go after alleged leakers.

The Obama administration's zeal, however, would seem to reinforce Romney's point: If leaks are so potentially damaging, then you should do everything you can to get to the bottom of them - including appointing a special prosecutor, despite the inherent risks.

Thanks for watching.

[BOJOKER-Obama_]

What does this Obama shill and apologist, Brian Montopoli mean by
'Has Obama done enough to combat the leaks?
Hey Brian, Obama is the source of the leaks!!!
I never take Montopoli's stories seriously or as credible.

[fiddlestickawshucks]

Eric Holder has proven multiple times how crooked he is.

Obama supported him using some claptrap ( it might have been Executive Privilege) every step of the way.

What makes anybody think that Holder is going to go against the very person who appointed him in the frst place.

Holder has his head shoved so far up Obama's a** that when Obama comes up on a traffic light; Holder can tell if it's red or green.!

Both of them should go on safari in Kenya, and make it a one way trip.!!

[Bucky4U]

This is just some tabloid gossip started by McCain and perpetuated by Romney.

[novotesobozo]

Eveyone knows who's behind the leaks now when will obozo be charged with espionage

[Silly_liberals]

More jobs lost since taking office, fewer people in the workforce or the unemployment rate would be 11.6%.
Housing markets are still in the basement.
DOW s doing better despite Obama policies because investors understand he will be gone.
Iraq is still a dangerous haven for our enemies.
Auto industry is floundering and is on taxpayer funded life support with 45 plus billion still owed to the taxpayer.
Gas prices are higher than when Obama took office.
Many of the banks did not need the bailout, but were forced to take it by the Obama admin. Wall St regulations do not address the failures that lead to the meltdown. Obama made sure execs got there multi-million dollar bonuses.
Largest debt is US history
First US credit downgrade ever
More people on welfare than anytime in US history
Millions still out of work, highest extended unemployment since WWII
100's of billions f handouts unaccounted for.
Numerous violations of the constitution
Largest power grab in history.
All of this failure despite spending almost 6 trillion in just over three years. BTW, threat is more than Bush spent in 8.
"too much information is dangerous" Obama. I see you listened.
"unemployment creates jobs" Pelosi
"Welfare creates jobs" Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack
"Americans are lazy" Obama
With an economic policy like these, no wonder this nation is failing.
Auto industry is floundering and is on taxpayer funded life support with 45 plus billion still owed to the taxpayer.
Gas prices are higher than when Obama took office.
Moany of the banks did not need the bailout, but were forced to take it by the Obama admin. Wall St regulations do not address the failures that lead to the meltdown. Obama made sure excecs got there multi-million dollar bonuses.
Largest debt is US history
First US credit downgrade ever
More people on welfare than anytime in US history
Millions still out of work, highest extended unemployment since WWII
100's of billions f handouts unaccounted for.
Numerous violations of the constitution
Largest power grab in history.
All of this failure despite spending almost 6 trillion in just over three years. BTW, theat is more than Bush spent in 8.
"too much information is dangerous" Obama. I see you listened.
"unemployment creates jobs" Pelosi
"Welfare creates jobs" Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack
"Americans are lazy" Obama
With an economic policy like these, no wonder this nation is failing.
You should continue to let someone else do your thinking. You may hurt yourself.