--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When an issue is so fraught with…" description: "\"When an issue is so fraught with partisanship, a special counsel provides some modicum of transparency and accountability rather the the veil of politi..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d4a/valerie-plame-5250_accountability_when-an-issue-is-so-fraught-with-partisa_2859314.png" --- # When an issue is so fraught with partisanship, a special… ![“When an issue is so fraught with partisanship, a special counsel provides some modicum of transparency and accountability rather the the veil of politics.” quote by Valerie Plame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d4a/valerie-plame-5250_accountability_when-an-issue-is-so-fraught-with-partisa_2859314.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d4a/valerie-plame-5250_accountability_when-an-issue-is-so-fraught-with-partisa_2859314.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d4a/valerie-plame-5250_accountability_when-an-issue-is-so-fraught-with-partisa_2859314.png) > “When an issue is so fraught with partisanship, a special counsel provides some modicum of transparency and accountability rather the the veil of politics.” [Valerie Plame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valerie-plame/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. In partisan disputes, a special counsel adds transparency and accountability, cutting through political secrecy. **In simple terms:** Special counsel improves openness. Key Takeaway Support independent oversight. Themes politics law transparency Mood cautious analytical Type political ethical When to use this quote - government investigations - public trust - policy making Key Concepts accountability checks and balances Questions to Reflect On - How effective are special counsels in practice? - What safeguards ensure impartiality? A Different Perspective May be limited by political resistance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Accountability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accountability/) [Partisanship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/partisanship/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Transparency](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/transparency/) ## Related quotes > [Some commentators have attacked the special counsel regulations as giving the attorney general the power to close a case against the president, as Mr.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-katyal/some-commentators-have-attacked-the-special-counsel-regulations-as/) [Neal Katyal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-katyal/) > [The appointment of a special counsel, I think, helps assure people and the Justice Department that they are going to go do their jobs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-ryan/the-appointment-of-a-special-counsel-i-think-helps-assure-people-and/) [Paul Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-ryan/) > [The special counsel has not advised Mr. Rove that he is a target of the investigation and affirmed that he has made no decision…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-luskin/the-special-counsel-has-not-advised-mr-rove-that-he-is-a-target-of/) [Robert Luskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-luskin/) > [Appointing special counsel Robert Mueller to probe Russian meddling in the 2016 election (and any possible ties to President Trump's campaign) was the only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-katyal/appointing-special-counsel-robert-mueller-to-probe-russian-meddling/) [Neal Katyal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-katyal/) > [The special counsel regulations were written to provide the public with confidence that justice was done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-katyal/the-special-counsel-regulations-were-written-to-provide-the-public/) [Neal Katyal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-katyal/) > [They haul you up there for, you know, week after week in this kind of star chamber proceeding. Then at the end of it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-babbitt/they-haul-you-up-there-for-you-know-week-after-week-in-this-kind-of/) [Bruce Babbitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-babbitt/) > [I don't think the special counsel can avoid that question based upon the president's Donald Trump own statements. But I'm not charging obstruction of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angus-king/i-don-t-think-the-special-counsel-can-avoid-that-question-based-upon/) [Angus King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angus-king/) > [The idea that the special counsel regulations, which were written to provide the public with confidence against a coverup, would empower an attorney general…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-katyal/the-idea-that-the-special-counsel-regulations-which-were-written-to/) [Neal Katyal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-katyal/) > [At the request of the special counsel, Mr. Rove will not discuss the substance of his testimony.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-luskin/at-the-request-of-the-special-counsel-mr-rove-will-not-discuss-the/) [Robert Luskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-luskin/) > [The special-counsel regulations were drafted at a unique historical moment. We were approaching the end of President Bill Clinton's second term, and no one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-katyal/the-special-counsel-regulations-were-drafted-at-a-unique-historical/) [Neal Katyal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-katyal/) > [When it comes to investigating a president, the special counsel regulations I had the privilege of drafting in 1998-99 say that such inquiries have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-katyal/when-it-comes-to-investigating-a-president-the-special-counsel/) [Neal Katyal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-katyal/) > [By definition, a Special Counsel is charged with investigating particular potential crimes, not all potential crimes wherever they may be found.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-barr/by-definition-a-special-counsel-is-charged-with-investigating/) [William Barr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-barr/) > [Racial discrimination in elections in Texas is no mere historical artifact. To the contrary, Texas has been found in violation of the Voting Rights…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-bader-ginsburg/racial-discrimination-in-elections-in-texas-is-no-mere-historical/) [Ruth Bader Ginsburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-bader-ginsburg/) > [You should govern not by partisanship, but by leadership.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-faulconer/you-should-govern-not-by-partisanship-but-by-leadership/) [Kevin Faulconer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-faulconer/) > [Partisanship is our great curse. We too readily assume that everything has two sides and that it is our duty to be on one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-harvey-robinson/partisanship-is-our-great-curse-we-too-readily-assume-that-everything/) [James Harvey Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-harvey-robinson/) ## More by Valerie Plame > [My father was an air officer in the Second World War. My brother was a marine in Vietnam. When I was given this opportunity,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valerie-plame/my-father-was-an-air-officer-in-the-second-world-war-my-brother-was-a/) [Valerie Plame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valerie-plame/) > [Hair and make-up always helps. I did always try to be well-groomed, professional at all times. Take your job seriously - but not yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valerie-plame/hair-and-make-up-always-helps-i-did-always-try-to-be-well-groomed/) [Valerie Plame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valerie-plame/) > [The Cold War has ended. It's very simple. We are no longer living in a bipolar world. The chances that we will go to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valerie-plame/the-cold-war-has-ended-it-s-very-simple-we-are-no-longer-living-in-a/) [Valerie Plame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valerie-plame/) > [We in no way are naive to think that just because Russia and the United States agree to reduce their arsenals, that everyone else…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valerie-plame/we-in-no-way-are-naive-to-think-that-just-because-russia-and-the/) [Valerie Plame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valerie-plame/) > [I can tell you, all the intelligence services in the world were running my name through their databases to see did anyone by this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valerie-plame/i-can-tell-you-all-the-intelligence-services-in-the-world-were/) [Valerie Plame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valerie-plame/) > [These are issues we've been grappling with since the Constitution was written: how you hold your government to account for its words and deeds.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valerie-plame/these-are-issues-we-ve-been-grappling-with-since-the-constitution-was/) [Valerie Plame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valerie-plame/) > [I think a nuclear detonation is society-altering in ways that other attacks, even as horrific as 9/11, are not. This isn't because we have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valerie-plame/i-think-a-nuclear-detonation-is-society-altering-in-ways-that-other/) [Valerie Plame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valerie-plame/) > [One characteristic that I hope I never relinquish is an intense curiosity about the world around me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valerie-plame/one-characteristic-that-i-hope-i-never-relinquish-is-an-intense/) [Valerie Plame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valerie-plame/) > [Joe was being called a liar and a traitor; I'm being accused of nepotism, of being a glorified secretary. The stresses that that places…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valerie-plame/joe-was-being-called-a-liar-and-a-traitor-i-m-being-accused-of/) [Valerie Plame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valerie-plame/) > [The entire intelligence community is so bloated and so reliant on contractors. There's no question there's many tasks that make sense to outsource, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valerie-plame/the-entire-intelligence-community-is-so-bloated-and-so-reliant-on/) [Valerie Plame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valerie-plame/) > [For me, I thought I had the best job in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valerie-plame/for-me-i-thought-i-had-the-best-job-in-the-world/) [Valerie Plame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valerie-plame/) > [I have always been appalled by the depiction of female CIA operatives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valerie-plame/i-have-always-been-appalled-by-the-depiction-of-female-cia-operatives/) [Valerie Plame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valerie-plame/) > [I think human intelligence is the only one that will actually tell you intent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valerie-plame/i-think-human-intelligence-is-the-only-one-that-will-actually-tell/) [Valerie Plame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valerie-plame/) > [There's no way you can possibly intellectually justify, 'Well, it's okay for the Western Judeo-Christian countries to have nuclear weapons, but not for a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valerie-plame/there-s-no-way-you-can-possibly-intellectually-justify-well-it-s-okay/) [Valerie Plame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valerie-plame/) > [Of course the job has a lot of glamour. But it really is about being smarter than your average bear. Your mind is your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valerie-plame/of-course-the-job-has-a-lot-of-glamour-but-it-really-is-about-being/) [Valerie Plame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valerie-plame/) [Explore all 102 Valerie Plame quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valerie-plame/) ## More Accountability quotes > [Think of these things, whence you came, where you are going, and to whom you must account.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/think-of-these-things-whence-you-came-where-you-are-going-and-to-whom/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [In the battle for police reform, accountability and justice, Americans don't have to re-invent the wheel. We just have to revoke the thing that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-johnson/in-the-battle-for-police-reform-accountability-and-justice-americans/) [Jason Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-johnson/) > [Transparency pertains to impartial behavior, implies openness, communication, and accountability. Inculcate transparency in attitude and experience a life free of controversy and blame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-anil-kr-sinha/transparency-pertains-to-impartial-behavior-implies-openness/) [Dr Anil Kr Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-anil-kr-sinha/) > [Democracy must be built through open societies that share information. When there is information, there is enlightenment. When there is debate, there are solutions.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/atifete-jahjaga/democracy-must-be-built-through-open-societies-that-share-information/) [Atifete Jahjaga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/atifete-jahjaga/) > [Democracy is not being well served as we're accustomed to. There is less information, there's less investigation, there's less analysis, there's less accountability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-greenspon/democracy-is-not-being-well-served-as-we-re-accustomed-to-there-is/) Edward Greenspon > [I come from a world where accountability and accomplishments matter, and where titles and rhetoric take a back seat to results.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carly-fiorina/i-come-from-a-world-where-accountability-and-accomplishments-matter/) [Carly Fiorina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carly-fiorina/) > [It means a lot. It means I'm accountable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/champ-bailey/it-means-a-lot-it-means-i-m-accountable/) [Champ Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/champ-bailey/) > [Our particular principles of religion are a subject of accountability to our god alone. I enquire after no man's and trouble none with mine;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/our-particular-principles-of-religion-are-a-subject-of-accountability/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [This strongly asserted but ill-defined license to kill without accountability is not an entitlement which the United States or other states can have without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-alston/this-strongly-asserted-but-ill-defined-license-to-kill-without/) Philip Alston > [Responsible Development shares many practices with XP but the roots are different. Responsible Development's values are honesty, transparency, accountability and responsibility. These lead me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kent-beck/responsible-development-shares-many-practices-with-xp-but-the-roots/) [Kent Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kent-beck/) > [“Opinion is really the lowest form of human knowledge. It requires no accountability, no understanding. The highest form of knowledge… is empathy, for it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-bullard/opinion-is-really-the-lowest-form-of-human-knowledge-it-requires-no/) Bill Bullard > [The American people deserve accountability over wasteful spending, and we accomplish that by prioritizing taxpayer dollars in a responsive and responsible manner.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-britt/the-american-people-deserve-accountability-over-wasteful-spending-and/) [Katie Britt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-britt/) > [If torture is going to be administered as a last resort in the ticking-bomb case, to save enormous numbers of lives, it ought to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-dershowitz/if-torture-is-going-to-be-administered-as-a-last-resort-in-the/) [Alan Dershowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-dershowitz/) > [“There are many professions that require individuals, on an ongoing basis, to pass drug tests, physicals and psychological evaluations in order to keep their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-hopkins/there-are-many-professions-that-require-individuals-on-an-ongoing/) [Gary Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-hopkins/) > [“Expecting accountability from the UN system was akin to expecting a blind dog to catch a flying Frisbee.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-soussan/expecting-accountability-from-the-un-system-was-akin-to-expecting-a/) Michael Soussan [Browse all 860 Accountability quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accountability/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When an issue is so fraught with partisanship, a special counsel provides some modicum of transparency and accountability rather the the veil of politics.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Valerie Plame" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valerie-plame/when-an-issue-is-so-fraught-with-partisanship-a-special-counsel/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Accountability" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valerie-plame/when-an-issue-is-so-fraught-with-partisanship-a-special-counsel/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d4a/valerie-plame-5250_accountability_when-an-issue-is-so-fraught-with-partisa_2859314.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d4a/valerie-plame-5250_accountability_when-an-issue-is-so-fraught-with-partisa_2859314.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d4a/valerie-plame-5250_accountability_when-an-issue-is-so-fraught-with-partisa_2859314.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When an issue is so fraught with partisanship, a special counsel provides some modicum of transparency and…” — Valerie Plame", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Valerie Plame", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valerie-plame/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "When an issue is so fraught...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valerie-plame/when-an-issue-is-so-fraught-with-partisanship-a-special-counsel/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valerie-plame/when-an-issue-is-so-fraught-with-partisanship-a-special-counsel/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```