McClellan’s Evasive Maneuvers
McClellan’s Evasive Maneuvers
Today in the White House press briefing, Press Secretary Scott McClellan tried a few different tricks to cajole reporters into not asking difficult questions of him. McClellan was taking tremendous heat for refusing to comment on Rove and the leak investigation despite having done so numerous times before (the video will be available here later today; we’d urge you watch at least the first 10 minutes).
McClellan repeatedly turned to the aid of two evasive maneuvers: 1) highlight his personal relationship with reporters as someone that could be trusted, and 2) highlight that he was more than well aware of what he has said in the past and cannot wait to explain himself at some later date. Here are some examples of each:
McClellan Emphasizes Relationship With Reporters
“We know each other very well.”
“You and everybody in this room — or most people in this room, I should say — know me very well, and they know the type of person that I am. And I’m confident in our relationship that we have.”
McClellan Wants To Talk But Can’t
“I remember very well what was previously said. And, at some point, I will be glad to talk about it, but not until after the investigation is complete.”
“I’m well aware, like you, of what was previously said. And I will be glad to talk about it at the appropriate time.”
“I am well aware of what was said previously. I remember well what was said previously. And at some point I look forward to talking about it. But until the investigation is complete, I’m just not going to do that.”
“Again, I’m going to be happy to talk about this at the appropriate time.”
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As Howard Cosell might have said, "Down goes McClellan! Down goes McClellan! Down goes McClellan!"
Time for everyone to pronounce a verdict and sentence on Karl Rove.
July 11th, 2005 at 2:24 pmThis breifing was absolutely atrocious.
July 11th, 2005 at 3:18 pmWonder if scotty needs to use a corkscrew to unwind at night?
July 11th, 2005 at 3:20 pmWow. That was awesome.
July 11th, 2005 at 3:26 pmMike Moore has the video....
July 11th, 2005 at 3:33 pmhttp://www.michaelmoore.com/_images/splash/scotty_rove_71105.wmv
He will have a permanent limp after this one. What brought this on all of a sudden?
July 11th, 2005 at 3:40 pmYou lefties really need to get a life. If Rove did anything wrong your Representatives in DC would have leaked it prior to the Nov. elections. It's amazing... Every time you guys try to take down Bush it blows up on you. Why don't you try to impeach him! That would be great entertainment!
July 11th, 2005 at 3:49 pmYep. I'm real sure that if there was anything we "lefties" would need to know that the Republicans would be happy to tell us about it. BTW, nice goose step, MD. Well executed.
July 11th, 2005 at 3:56 pmof course we "lefties" see people like you Mike as needing to get a clue.
July 11th, 2005 at 4:09 pmThey're all lying the same way as they've been lying for five years. Why is everyone getting hysterical now? Tens of thousands of people have died because of the lies of this adminitration, - for which Rove serves as Puppeteer in Chief, and McClellan serves as nothing more than house eunuch.
The larger questions involve the 'journalists' who are as complicit - and probably moreso, as they'll come out the martyrs to the cause of source protection.
Blogger explains "Why Novak and Miller are CRIMINALS":
Best lines from this blog:
"It was their responsibilty as journalists to inform the public that acts of treason were committed from within an admistration of a president for whom Americans were about to vote.
If the Plame case was about a child molester and not about treason would the public feel more outrage? Would reporters and Bush supporters think that Novak and Miller should spill the beans on the identity of their source had the source been a child molester?"
Read the full blog here:
July 11th, 2005 at 4:11 pmhttp://tvnewslies.org/blog/?p=45
I would have to agree with Mike. I'll bring the popcorn!
July 11th, 2005 at 4:13 pmso far I have seen no attempts to refute any of the items here from the two anti-progress posters. Just alot of lame attacks.
July 11th, 2005 at 4:22 pmTakes one to know one!
July 11th, 2005 at 4:32 pmMike and Bush Jr.
July 11th, 2005 at 4:36 pmYou make it sound like the Republican Pary is a bunch of wonderful, perfect group of people almost. I think both sides have their dark secrets, and I believe that we the people need to hold them accountable for their actions. Tell me, would you want to be an undercover agent and have your cover blown? I'm sure that would be fun, they'd use you as target practice maybe? You can bring the popcorn for that if you'd like! ;)
Comment #13 "Takes one to know one!" Brilliant rebuttal, you truely are Bush Jr.
July 11th, 2005 at 4:48 pmOuch! Take it out! It Hurts!
July 11th, 2005 at 5:25 pmThe grilling of McClellan:
July 11th, 2005 at 6:26 pmThe best television I've seen in a while.
It would be sweet to see that kind of attitude
from the press when it comes to questioning the dictator.
I'm guessing that this will require a response from the
Thief in Chief. I can't wait.
Mike and Bush Jr:
As usual, the conservative shills have nothing relevant to add to the discussion since neither of them have posted anything that even remotely speaks to the topic of the forum.
Way to circumvent the entire point of the discussion. You take your cues well from the top.
July 11th, 2005 at 7:16 pmWhy is it anyone who disagrees with lefty orthodoxy is a Nazi?
This is deja vu all over again. The last time it was Conservatives doing whatever they could to get rid of Clinton.
It didn't work then either. Take some advice from a reformed hater: The more you guys pound away at Bush (Rove is your throw away) the more sucessful he will be. Dig your fox holes, don your helmets, hold your breath and hope you survive the next 3+ years. Then you get to try again!
PS> I should have used a nom de plume, eh?
July 11th, 2005 at 9:23 pmMike-
Do you have anything to say that is relevant to the topic which is Scott McClellan clamming up amidst the clear fact that he and Bush both lied two years ago when they claimed Rove was not involved?
Thus far, your only input seems to be a feeble attempt to demonize anyone who is outraged over this situation.
Oh, and of course to outright lie:
Why is it anyone who disagrees with lefty orthodoxy is a Nazi?
Where did this figment of your imagination come from, exactly?
July 11th, 2005 at 9:36 pmThis is my last post, you lefties have beat me down.
July 11th, 2005 at 10:12 pmThis is what I think. If all you guys have is what has been published by Newsweak, Move-on.tonextscandal.
McClellan? He was just doing his job. Is he the first press secretaty to deflect questions or "stonewall" a hostile press corps? I think not.
Lets get back to "Bush lied, people died." It rhymes and is quite pithy. To my beloved lefties: Take care, bye-bye now!
Sorry, one more thing.
To David Gregory: (I know your reading this) Do you think its good for your career to be nasty, pain-in-the-ass?
Scottie thinks of Iraq every day. And he's going to keep on thinking of Iraq every day.
July 11th, 2005 at 11:27 pmOuch! Take it out! It Hurts! --Comment by Mike Dildomenico
Response to his Schiavoid brain transplant?
Let's get the former Press Sec to come defend the new one.
You know, that Iraqi guy.
July 11th, 2005 at 11:36 pmMike is proof that you can't reason with someone who is unreasonable. But at least we know what supporting the "conservative" side (no matter what) is all about: plausible deniability.
July 11th, 2005 at 11:39 pm