Card's comedy appearance angers Waxman

WASHINGTON -- When former White House chief of staff Andrew Card appeared on Comedy Central's "The Daily Show" last Monday, host Jon Stewart was so taken with Card's dry humor that he marveled, "You are the nicest man I ever didn't want to like I've ever met."

But when Representative Henry Waxman of California saw Card on television, the influential chairman of the House Government and Oversight Committee was not amused.

Two weeks earlier, Waxman, known as one of the Democrats' most feared investigators, had asked Card to appear before Congress about the leak of the identity of former CIA officer Valerie Plame Wilson, but the White House, citing executive branch policy, rejected Waxman's request. After Card's appearance, Waxman promptly dashed off a stinging, three-page letter to Card.

"You appeared on 'The Daily Show' with Jon Stewart and discussed the leak of Ms. Wilson's identity," Waxman wrote. The White House's position, he told Card, "appears to be that it is appropriate for you to discuss these matters on 'The Daily Show,' but not before a congressional committee. You will not be surprised to learn I take a different view of the matter."

Waxman once again implored Card to appear before the committee, and strongly hinted that a subpoena might follow if Card declines.

The letter is the latest indication that Democrats plan to leave no thread of the Wilson matter untouched in an investigation that is still proving to be an embarrassment to the White House.

On the show, Stewart asked Card why presidential adviser Karl Rove and I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby, Vice President Dick Cheney's former chief of staff, denied leaking Wilson's name. A federal jury convicted Libby of perjury for telling a grand jury that he learned about Plame Wilson's identity from reporters.

Card, referring to the White House, told Stewart, "I don't think we knew her name." Card said he thought it was former deputy secretary of state Richard Armitage "who gave the name" to reporters.

When Waxman first asked Card to testify, White House counsel Fred Fielding wrote a letter to Waxman denying the request. Fielding told Waxman that if Card appeared before the oversight committee it would violate "longstanding Executive Branch policy" that prohibits "current and former senior White House officials such as the Chief of Staff to the President" from congressional testimony or interviews "about their activities in serving the President."

Waxman said that was untrue. He noted in his letter to Card that three of President Clinton's chiefs of staff appeared before Congress in the course of investigations into campaign finance activities, the use of the presidential holiday card list, and Clinton's executive pardons. Waxman said he wanted Card to come before the committee because Card was "in a unique position to explain the White House's response to the leak."

Card did not respond to a request for comment.

A former Massachusetts legislator who served President Bush for more than five years, Card resigned in March 2006. He has since joined at least one corporate board and has given paid speeches.

In his "Daily Show" appearance, Card played off his image as the ultimate Bush loyalist, playing along with Stewart's suggestion that he try to put a positive spin on negative perceptions about Bush.

"I would see arrogance; you would see . . . ?" Stewart asked.

"Quiet confidence," Card replied.

"Stubborn insistence on not accepting reality?" Stewart asked, to much audience laughter.

"I would say, 'The capacity to make a tough decision without perfect knowledge,' " Card responded.

Stewart looked at Card incredulously, then asked: "Will you be my chief of staff?"

Unlike others who appear on Stewart's show, Card was not promoting a book, a movie, or other project.

Despite his top job at the White House, Card took pains to keep a low personal profile while working for the president. He may be best known as the man who delivered the news of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks to Bush during the president's classroom appearance with schoolchildren in Florida.

Card is a member of the board of directors of Union Pacific Corp., which paid him $133,840 and granted him stock in fiscal 2006, according to the company's proxy statement.

On the lecture circuit, Card is represented by the high-powered Washington Speakers Bureau, which promotes with the promise that he will regale audiences with tales from "the Real West Wing . . . Card escorts the audience through a memorable, dawn-to-dusk day in the life of the president." A representative of the Speakers Bureau did not return a call seeking comment, but the organization's website said it charges $1,000 to $40,000, and sometimes more, per event.

Last week, Card was heckled by protesters when he spoke at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, according to the college newspaper. Earlier this year, Card found a friendlier audience at a meeting of the National Pest Management Association. "He was awesome," said Cindy Mannes, the association's vice president. "He was just a very, very nice man."