Carlyle Group spokesman Christopher Ullman

Carlyle Group spokesman Christopher Ullman: "Carlyle Group spokesman Christopher Ullman, reacted angrily to questions about a possible conflict of interest posed by George H.W. Bush's work for Carlyle.

Speaking to Terry Gross of National Public Radio last week Ullman said that 'there once was a time when impropriety was the measure of impropriety.'

'Now it's the hint of the hint of the hint of impropriety by someone like Dan Briody who has an agenda or someone like -- you know, some of these self-appointed do-gooder organizations like the Center on Public Integrity (sic) where the facts that they know are facts they read in the newspaper,' Ullman said. 'They don't call here asking for facts because they're not interested in the truth. They have an agenda. And it is wrong to impugn the integrity of a committed former public servant just because of the hint of the hint of the hint of impropriety.'

Briody said that he tried to get Carlyle to answer his questions, but they refused.

'Carlyle has been poked and prodded and people have peered beneath the hood, and for 10 years people have made these types of accusations and for 10 years they have come up with nothing other than hot air about the hint of the hint of the hint of impropriety,' Ullman said. 'You know what? It's about time that people either put up or shut up regarding this issue, because people like George"