Armitage Wins Contest, Downplays Article

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- In what the Democratic Underground called an obvious attempt to divert attention from his involvement in the Valerie Plame affair, former Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage today announced the creation of the first annual "Uncle Fester Look-Alike Contest", and then proceeded to take first place. The radical Move-On.org denounced the contest as a "stunt" that was designed to evoke in Americans fond memories of the fun-loving avuncular character from "The Addams Family" TV series, while down-playing his truly sinister nature.

In an article entitled "The Man Who Said Too Much", Michael Isikoff reported in the September 4th, 2006 issue of Newsweek magazine that Richard Armitage was the original source for Robert Novak's piece outing Valerie Plame. Isikoff also reported that Armitage had told Bob Woodward of Plame's identity in 2003, and that special counsel Patrick Fitzgerald investigated Armitage's role "aggressively," but did not charge Armitage with a crime because he "found no evidence that Armitage knew of Plame's covert CIA status when he talked to Novak and Woodward."

"I talked to Novak and Woodward regularly", said Armitage. "They enjoyed pretending to be part of the Addams Family cast. Bob Novak liked to play Lurch (he's pretty stiff you know). And Woodward liked to play the unsuspecting neighbor that came to the front door. It was loads of fun!"

Armitage had no comment on the Isikoff article in Newsweek.