ProgressOhio

The Dispatch has a story in today's paper that includes a round-up of Ohio politician's and legal scholar's responses to the Bush-Libby Communtation. I've added some responses that were and some that were not included within the article:

Robert T. Bennett, chairman of the Ohio Republican Party:

Bush was "absolutely right. The sentence was out of line. I think most of the voters, when they analyze it, will feel fine about it. Will it be a political football for the next few days? Absolutely right."

Joshua Dressler, chairman of Ohio State's Moritz College of Law and a criminal procedure expert:

"Bush's commutation argument doesn't make sense.  The 2 1/2 -year sentence was well within federal guidelines and is close to the national average, To call it excessive is to suggest the guidelines are wrong,"

But when it comes to federal sentences for perjury and obstruction of justice, prison time is the rule, not the exception.

Three out of four people convicted of obstruction of justice serve time in prison, federal court records show.

And 69 percent of those convicted of perjury are given time behind bars.

The length of the typical stay varies. With an obstruction, the average sentence is more than five years; with perjury, the average is 21 months, records show.

House Minority Leader John Boehner:

"Given the fact that the prosecutor in this case never charged any individual with breaking the law in regards to the disclosure of (covert CIA agent) Valerie Plame's name to the media, I agree with the president's decision.

"It ensures that the interests of both justice and fairness are served."

Special Prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald:

Special Prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald said during his news conference Friday (October 28, 2005) that the charges against Libby are a "very, very serious matter" and should not be dismissed simply because they do not deal with the underlying alleged crime of outing a CIA agent which started the process two years ago.

"That talking point won't fly," Fitzgerald said flatly.

Libby's series of lies to the FBI and the grand jury amounted to throwing sand in the umpire's eyes and prevented investigators from finding out the truth about how and why the name of Valerie Plame was leaked, he said. Obstruction of justice is a "very, very serious crime" and should not be regarded as less serious than the leak itself, he said, because "The truth is the engine of our judicial system."

Rep. Pat Tiberi, R-Genoa Township:

"exercised his constitutional authority" -- "something virtually all presidents have done for a generation."

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid:

“The President’s decision to commute Mr. Libby’s sentence is disgraceful.  Libby’s conviction was the one faint glimmer of accountability for White House efforts to manipulate intelligence and silence critics of the Iraq War.  Now, even that small bit of justice has been undone.  Judge Walton correctly determined that Libby deserved to be imprisoned for lying about a matter of national security.  The Constitution gives President Bush the power to commute sentences, but history will judge him harshly for using that power to benefit his own Vice President’s Chief of Staff who was convicted of such a serious violation of law.”

Rep. Deborah Pryce, R-Upper Arlington:

Presidents Clinton, Reagan and Carter all "utilized the powers of executive clemency hundreds of times." She said Bush's decision "will be evaluated ultimately by the American people for its appropriateness."

Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers:

“Until now, it appeared that the President merely turned a blind eye to a high ranking Administration official leaking classified information. The President’s action today makes it clear that he condones such activity. This decision is inconsistent with the rule of law and sends a horrible signal to the American people and our intelligence operatives who place their lives at risk everyday. Now that the White House can no longer argue that there is a pending criminal investigation, I expect them to be fully forthcoming with the American people about the circumstances that led to this leak and the President’s decision today.”

Please provide other quotes you have found from Ohio Politicians and Politicos in the comments, we'd love to see them!