BREAKING: McClellan Throws Rove & Scooter Under The Bus
BREAKING: McClellan Throws Rove & Scooter Under The Bus
A significant moment during today’s White House Press Briefings:
QUESTION: Scott, a couple of years ago you told us that Scooter Libby and Karl Rove had nothing to do with the CIA leak. It appears that you may have gotten bad information before you made that statement.
Now today we learn through extrapolation that, when the vice president said in September of 2003 that he didn’t know who sent Joe Wilson to Niger to investigate the claims that Iraq was trying to buy yellow cake, that he was not speaking the truth.
My question is: Can we be confident that when we hear statements from the White House in public that they are truthful?
MCCLELLAN: I think you can be, because you know that our relationship is built on trust. And I have earned that trust with you all.
As you pointed out, you pointed back to some past comments that I made, and I’ve talked to you about the assurances that I had received on that.
McClellan is emphasizing to the reporter that he was just relaying the assurances he received from Rove and Libby. In other words, they lied to me.
McClellan’s answer differs significantly from when he was asked the same question back on July 11, 2005:
Q Well, you’re in a bad spot here, Scott, because after the investigation began, after the criminal investigation was underway, you said — October 10th, 2003, “I spoke with those individuals, Rove, Abrams and Libby, as I pointed out, those individuals assured me they were not involved in this.” From that podium. That’s after the criminal investigation began. Now that Rove has essentially been caught red-handed peddling this information, all of a sudden you have respect for the sanctity of the criminal investigation?
MR. McCLELLAN: No, that’s not a correct characterization Terry, and I think you are well aware of that. We know each other very well, and it was after that period that the investigators had requested that we not get into commenting on an ongoing criminal investigation. And we want to be helpful so that they can get to the bottom of this, because no one wants to get to the bottom of it more than the President of the United States. 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.
Note, McClellan doesn’t try to pass the buck. He just says he can’t comment. Here’s a copy of the transcript from October 7, 2003 when McClellan assured the press that Scooter and Rove weren’t involved:
Q Scott, you have said that you, personally, went to Scooter Libby, Karl Rove and Elliot Abrams to ask them if they were the leakers. Is that what happened? Why did you do that, and can you describe the conversations you had with them? What was the question you asked?
MR. McCLELLAN: Unfortunately, in Washington, D.C., at a time like this, there are a lot of rumors and innuendo. There are unsubstantiated accusations that are made. And that’s exactly what happened in the case of these three individuals. They’re good individuals, they’re important members of our White House team, and that’s why I spoke with them, so that I could come back to you and say that they were not involved. I had no doubt of that in the beginning, but I like to check my information to make sure it’s accurate before I report back to you, and that’s exactly what I did.
Q So you’re saying — you’re saying categorically those three individuals were not the leakers or did not authorize the leaks; is that what you’re saying?
MR. McCLELLAN: That’s correct. I’ve spoken with them.
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67 Responses to “BREAKING: McClellan Throws Rove & Scooter Under The Bus”
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Of course he did, would we really think he’d do anything else?
“My question is: Can we be confident that when we hear statements from the White House in public that they are truthful?”
I love this question. Anyone know who asked it?
October 25th, 2005 at 2:04 pmWell he could only take a beating every day from the press corps for so long before he just snapped. It had to happen eventually.
Now, this is hardly him “throwing them under the bus” but it’s a start and it’s a slippery slope that ends with people tossing anything and anyone under the bus including their own grandmothers if necessary.
October 25th, 2005 at 2:07 pmMCCLELLAN: I think you can be, because you know that our relationship is built on trust. And I have earned that trust with you all.
HAHAHAHA!!! When exactly was that, Scott? In special world of your imagination?
October 25th, 2005 at 2:08 pm“And we want to be helpful so that they can get to the bottom of this, because no one wants to get to the bottom of it more than the President of the United States.”
Then tell your NeoCon attack dogs to stop playing the smear game and let’s get to the bottom of this thing. Even the NeoCons have to agree with that, since George Bush is all fo it.
October 25th, 2005 at 2:08 pmSo, Fatty McChipmunk is basically saying “We are telling the truth, except when what we are saying isn’t truthful.”
October 25th, 2005 at 2:09 pmWhere’s the “will not comment on an ongoing investigation” disclaimer? I think Scott’s comment qualifies as a comment, does it not?
October 25th, 2005 at 2:12 pmJust another case of the BushCo Newspeak that says nothing.
October 25th, 2005 at 2:13 pm“Think of me a just a ’speaker’, the tape recorder is in the back room, if it is ‘un-truthfull’, is not me’..is what he is really saying. Opps…I commented on an ‘on going’ invistigation.
October 25th, 2005 at 2:21 pmI saw that exchange and I have to think you are reading into his response. He sounded like the typical broken record “Well there is an ongoing investigation and we are not going to comment on that”. That was simply his reply to every question that was asked by the reporters in the press room. What a weenie McCLELLAN is.
October 25th, 2005 at 2:21 pmSo he can cooment on the “ongoing investigation” now? Now that himself and Cheney are being called liars to their faces…he can comment?
Interesting.
October 25th, 2005 at 2:22 pmHa! A sign of the crumbling occurring in the White House. They are turning on one another. They are tripping on their own words. They contradict themselves and each other.
October 25th, 2005 at 2:29 pmOh what a tangled web we weave…..
I agree with
Zookeeper.
The question is very telling of the times.
October 25th, 2005 at 2:31 pmWell they’re both road kill by nature, why shouldn’t McClellan throw them under the bus…
October 25th, 2005 at 2:40 pm#12 and #1 — the press has been dissed so often, they are locating their backbones? Democrats should take a lesson.
October 25th, 2005 at 2:45 pmI just don’t see how Scooter Mac’s comments are throwing anyone anywhere. If THAT’s throwing under the bus, than how do you qualify Wilkerson’s statement a few days back?
I do agree, though, (and this is truly sad for the gov’t of the world’s superpower) that the mere fact he didn’t go all “no comment” on that is a sign he’s tired of the bullshit
October 25th, 2005 at 2:48 pmit’s called “plausible deniability” (brought to you by the people who brought you Watergate) … of COURSE Rove et al didn’t tell him way back in 2003 that they were the ones who leaked Plame’s name. This way he can say “to the best of my knowledge no one in the WH leaked her name” and be perfectly honest.
now … if W did, in fact, blow up at Cheney for the Plame leak as the papers were saying yesterday, then continued to stand up in front of the American people and say he had no idea who did it … well … that just proves him to be he liar we know him to be …
October 25th, 2005 at 2:49 pmCNN Reporting US Iraq Death toll hits 2,000.
October 25th, 2005 at 2:49 pmOh, I see that it’s already posted. My apologies.
October 25th, 2005 at 2:52 pmif Scotty’s smart (ok, he’s not) he WILL throw the Bush staff under the bus and claim ignorance about all the scandals… “They just tell me what to say. I know nothing - honest!”
October 25th, 2005 at 3:17 pmIf Doughboy gave a damn about the truth he would resign in protest for being the mouthpiece for these criminals.
October 25th, 2005 at 3:23 pmbeep beep beepbeep beep beep KARL beepbeep beepbeepbeep beepbeepbeep beepbeepbeep beep beep beep SCOOTER beepbeepbeep beepbeep beep beep beep beep MUST DEFEND PRESIDENT AT ALL COSTS beepbeepbeep beepbeepbeep beep beep MUST DEFEND PRESIDENT AT ALL COSTS…
October 25th, 2005 at 3:28 pmDoes it feel like Christmas eve for many of you out there waiting for Fitzgerald’s announcement? Hope you all get what you deserve!
October 25th, 2005 at 3:29 pmLa Repubblica’s Scoop, Confirmed
October 25th, 2005 at 3:32 pmItaly’s intelligence chief met with Deputy National Security Adviser Stephen Hadley just a month before the Niger forgeries first surfaced.
http://www.prospect.org/ web/ page.ww?section=root&name=ViewWeb&articleId=10506
As I’ve indicated on my blog, Scott McClellan is the worst White House press secretary of all time. We have a name for him at Americanlogic: Baghdad Scott. His detachment from reality is staggering. Today’s press conference is no different than the dozens he’s given over the past couple months.
October 25th, 2005 at 3:34 pmEnough already, I can’t take the he said this, they did that, did you know that this happened when. This game of guess the indictment has been going on for over 2 weeks, when is the Fitz actually going to do something Friday at 5:00pm?
October 25th, 2005 at 3:51 pmAlot on Rove and Libby….
Why did ThinkProgress stop following Mother Sheehan? Is it because you now realize that Cindy is going to divide Democrats more than Republicans? For the record, the GOP universally finds her repulsive and shameless. I wonder how Hillary feels about her……
October 25th, 2005 at 4:14 pm#26 It’s not so much about what Cindy Sheehan has to say as it is that she is guaranteed the right to say it. She’s getting coverage for talking about things that were refused discussion at the highest levels of our government, and that’s newsworthy.
October 25th, 2005 at 4:22 pmHence all the activity…
New on EWM: White House Sets Job Fair
Among the many other advertisements for job vacancies, we found:
FEMA Director: “heck of an opportunity for a self-starting problem solver; training in equestrian helpful but not mandatory.â€
Supreme Court Nominee: “seeking ‘best Supreme Court nominee ever’ to replace ‘worst Supreme Court nominee ever’; no prior judicial experience needed, but candidate should possess a good heart and have James Dobson on their speed dial.â€
White House Press Secretary: “successful candidate will demonstrate the ability to generate positive news stories about a lying buffoon and bitch-slap Helen Thomas when needed.†Curiously, the job description contains the passage “casual Friday does not include drag attire,†which was inserted to dissuade former White House correspondent/male escort Jeffery Gannon from applying for the position.
October 25th, 2005 at 4:22 pmA loss of credibility
I’ve been wrestling with this issue and how to illustrate it in a reasonable fashion for a few weeks now.
October 25th, 2005 at 4:26 pmSince I do have a day-job that takes more than the “normal” amount of intellectual effort, I have had some difficulty in expre…
#27 - why has this site stopped covering Cindy? Is it because you can’t use her to attack Bush?
This is an important question and it brings in the credibility of this site.
October 25th, 2005 at 4:29 pmI like “Scotty the Lying Bushtool”
October 25th, 2005 at 4:31 pmWhat did Cindy say about Hillary the other day….
October 25th, 2005 at 4:38 pmOctober 25, 2005
Indictments Coming Tomorrow; Targets Received Letters Today
An uber-insider source has just reported the following to TWN:
1. 1-5 indictments are being issued. The source feels that it will be towards the higher end.
2. The targets of indictment have already received their letters.
3. The indictments will be sealed indictments and “filed” tomorrow.
4. A press conference is being scheduled for Thursday
October 25th, 2005 at 4:48 pmHere is why ThinkProgress has stopped covering Cindy-
http://www.suntimes.com/ output/ novak/ cst-edt-novak23.html
October 25th, 2005 at 4:50 pmas I recall, Cindy fell out of the news when Hurricane Katrina hit… until then she was still waiting on W… he cut his vacation short to get back to DC… it seems the press, MSM or otherwise, can only juggle so many stories at once…
I think everyone’s well aware what the GOP thinks of Sheehan… as a thorn in their side, it’s no surprise…
October 25th, 2005 at 5:01 pmLooks like the “leakers” have “leaked” on alot of
people.. They leaked (or pissed) on the American people by “selling” us a useless war, the military, who are doing the fighting and dying, Ms. Wilson, and the CIA, the Iriqi people, and now poor Scott McClellan… Dumbya and Cyborg Dick are STILL pissing on us. ( Not only overseas but here at home as well.) They say that’s “it’s better to be pissed off then pissed on”…and alot of people are pissed off…and none of it will matter unless some, or all of these arrogant, overbearing, “geniuses” are marched off to jail..!
Gene Campbell
October 25th, 2005 at 5:03 pmCentral Florida
Novak doesn’t have any credibility with liberals, and shouldn’t with anyone else… what he says about Sheehan may be true, but it will take someone else saying it for us to believe it…
“I think that’s bullshit, and I hate that. Just let it go.”
October 25th, 2005 at 5:06 pmso randy, are you saying think progresss only promotes people who want to elect hillary? i’m confused.
October 25th, 2005 at 5:06 pmNED,
This site covers the biggest stories as they arise, it’s not a 100% of the available news, nor does it pretend to be (unlike faux news which pretends to be, but in fact is the opposite). The current topics are about how this administration lied, perjured, obstructed justice and smeared anyone who tried to hold them accountable.
It’s also about how 2000 americans DIED because of those lies.
Try to keep up you pathetic rebublican losers! Learn to use your brains, and shut your mouths, and you might actually realize that you’re fools!
October 25th, 2005 at 5:08 pmhere’s something for you NED and randy…
http://www.mercurynews.com/ mld/ mercurynews/ news/ world/ 12993718.htm
Posted on Tue, Oct. 25, 2005
Peace activists to “die symbolically†outside White House
ELISABETH GOODRIDGE
Associated Press
WASHINGTON - Cindy Sheehan and other peace activists plan to “die symbolically†for the next four days outside the White House to represent the American soldiers who have died in Iraq.
Sheehan, whose son Casey died in Iraq last year, organized the vigil as the U.S. military death toll in the war neared 2,000.
“I’ll be laying down and not getting up,†Sheehan said Tuesday to a small crowd in which the number of journalists exceeded the number of protesters. “When they let me out, I’ll do the same thing if I get arrested.â€
She said she hoped 2,000 people would attend the vigil throughout the week to represent each American death. Each participant was to receive a wrist bracelet with the name of a fallen soldier.
Sheehan brought attention to the anti-war effort last summer by camping outside President Bush’s ranch in Crawford, Texas. She was arrested outside the White House in a protest last month.
Sheehan also said she would visit Arlington National Ceremony, Walter Reed Hospital and the Iraqi Embassy this week.
“Two thousand families have been destroyed for nothing,†Sheehan said. “Enough is enough. The killing has to stop sometime.â€
thank you, cindy
October 25th, 2005 at 5:15 pmFitzmas is coming–tomorow! ? Good.
October 25th, 2005 at 5:16 pmNote to repubs-don’t forget to turn off the lights.
—Two thousand families have been destroyed for nothing,†Sheehan said. “Enough is enough. The killing has to stop sometime.â€
thank you, cindy —
And—an unknown number whose death occurred going away from the battlefield, and a known but unpublicised number whose wounds will last a lifetime, and an unknowable number whose mental health is a scar to be lived with as best it can until death do them part.
October 25th, 2005 at 5:31 pmFor a complete collection of the latest PlameGate news, briefings, timelines, statutes and other essential documents, see:
“The Rove/PlameGate Scandal Resource Center.”
October 25th, 2005 at 5:44 pmOn September 23, 2003, press secretary Scott McClellan pitched this fiction to the White House press corps:
Q: All right. Let me just follow up. You said this morning, “The President knows” that Karl Rove wasn’t involved. How does he know that?
MR. McCLELLAN: Well, I’ve made it very clear that it was a ridiculous suggestion in the first place. I saw some comments this morning from the person who made that suggestion, backing away from that. And I said it is simply not true. So, I mean, it’s public knowledge. I’ve said that it’s not true. And I have spoken with Karl Rove…
For the full story, see:
“What the President Knew and When He Knew It.”
October 25th, 2005 at 5:47 pmI frankly feel sorry for us Americans both those who voted for and voted against the current administration.
Just like a hurricane is indiscriminate…hurting friend and foe alike is the style of the current administration.
Sadly even after Nixon and Iran-contra the Republicans have not understood this one simple fact….you do not betray the trust the American people put in you when you accept some of the highest positions in the land.
October 25th, 2005 at 5:58 pmNeD, you only speak for yourself. Always using yourself as part of a “grand picture” is juvenile and very telling of your character. We, the GOP, we the republicans, we…There is no more “we”, you are splintered into moderates, neocons and, of course most recently, criminals. Which one are you? You aren’t “one” anymore. Who do you align yourself with anymore?
You do know, NeD, that you are very alone right now. The GOP that you trot alongside isn’t watching you and doesn’t care what you think. It seems so sad to me to want to be a part of something so exclusive of you.
October 25th, 2005 at 5:59 pmThat better be a big bus, apparently they plan to issue 5 indictments. It sounds like Rove might get his zipper caught in that throw since Libby undoubtedly has Rove by the shorts as well!
October 25th, 2005 at 6:10 pmCool, a full house!
October 25th, 2005 at 6:39 pm1) Bush
2) Cheney
3) Rove
4) Rumsfeld
5) Libby
Like NE Dilemma says, and he really gets to the point of the Fitzgerald Investigation with his observation: “Look over there! It’s Cindy Sheehan!” Always the chucklehead.
October 25th, 2005 at 7:06 pmMy guess is Libby, Rove and Cheney, with Bushieboy and Scottie as unindicted co-conspirators. Rummie gets off.
Coming post-indictments: More ponies for Holden?
October 25th, 2005 at 7:08 pmComing up, post-indictments: More ponies for Holden?
October 25th, 2005 at 7:08 pmIs it true that the WH is panning to smear Fitzgerald? Well, why doesn’t thaat surprize any of us? It will be interesting how they try to do it. After all, they gave him cart blanch when they appointed him. It will be a hard sell, maybe even to the reichwing wackos!
October 25th, 2005 at 8:04 pmI just love that comment about being able to trust the White House because “we have a relationship built on trust.” Who? You must be joking, Scott. As soon as anyone remotely connected to this administration opens their mouth, I not only assume that they are lying, but that they are going to try to back up their lies with 1000 ridiculous diversions in the news cycle. Visualize the entire pathetic bunch behind bars.
October 25th, 2005 at 8:09 pmBad boys, bad boys..whatcha’ gonna do?
October 25th, 2005 at 9:01 pmWhatcha’ gonna do when they come for you?
“Rummie gets off.”
Please! I do NOT want this image in my head!
October 25th, 2005 at 9:29 pmI think perhaps the saddest fact in all of this is that THIS is the “America” Bush and Co. have sent our soldiers and sailors to die for, the “America” they have lied to without hesitation, and the “America” they claim WE all want. How pathetically clueless can these people be?
October 25th, 2005 at 9:57 pmP.S. I’m beginning to miss Nixon.
Would yo like it???
A white “Christian” army is set to do a crusade {administrations early language} in a Muslim nation…
starting a war by definition was and still is a civil war (i.e., attacking mostly Sunni areas) …
… by bombing and destroying 70% of all buildings (homes) in Fullajuh for a 1,000 or so fighters {and never}…{?}… finding who they were looking for … repeating this again on a 200,000 people town in the west…
ANNND
Next Fallujah battle: hearts, minds
Marines converted a mosque into a food and medical distribution center for residents Monday.
hmmmm… a Christian army in a non-Christian land…. h-ear-ts and mIIIIInds…
It is given that one’s actins in the world are often a reflection of one’s internal state… this should draw questions…
finally … even if Iraq was close to getting WMD’s nothing … I mean nothing would have changed if the decision was delayed (even a couple of years) to start a civil war in Iraq….
Where are the voices and pictures and stories of the war in Iraq… why do you think the soldiers in the world report over 30-40% suffer from PTSD… that’s because their belief systems do not align w/ what they are doing!?!
October 25th, 2005 at 10:00 pmIf I were Snotty McChipmunk, I would go home each night in tears, walk into the kitchen and throw up into the sink just before fixing myself several stiff ones. What a frigging nightmare of a job he’s chosen to do!!
October 25th, 2005 at 10:51 pmThe two stenographers for the Washington Post, Pincus and Milbank, are attempting to re-introduce the familiar Rove/WH red herrings about Joseph Wilson again in article they wrote today — apparently because the integrity of Fitzgerald is totally unassailable.
October 25th, 2005 at 11:01 pm“I THINK you can be”? So we have to just accept the fact that statements made in public by this White House might be outright lies? That’s comforting.
October 26th, 2005 at 1:39 amMR. McCLELLAN on 11 July 2005: “No, that’s not a correct characterization Terry, and . . . we want to be helpful so that they can get to the bottom of this, because no one wants to get to the bottom of it more than the President of the United States.”
That’s one wish that G.W. Bush will have no trouble accomplishing these days since he’s always been right there! All the time! And I am shocked . . . shocked, do you hear?
October 26th, 2005 at 2:56 amNorthpest # 26, Cindy’s a great lady. I worked with her last year, helping to raise money to put her on TV so people could hear her call bush out for what he is: a liar. I commend her for having the balls to speak the simple truth: we were drawn into war based on total lies and fabrications, and we’ve opened the gates of hell. The knuckledragging neocons you worship armed and polished hussien for a reason.. they understood the concept of “lesser of two evils”. That simple concept is something chest thumping, flaghumping little ladyboy’s that can’t even sign their real name to a post don’t understand. Oh, and dont worry about us democrats being divided. If the worst thing we’ve got going for us is Sheehan, I think we will be ok. When this war turns into an even deeper mess, (and it will), I dont think many democrats (or sensible people at all) will disagree with her. Your own ship is sinking, the rats are jumping ship northpest… so fiddle on deck all you want, truth is, you and your hipocritical, neaderthallic, violent, biblehumping kind are going down for a looooong time, and your going to have to learn have to suppress votes and rig elections better than you do now before that will change.
October 26th, 2005 at 7:54 amThis has got to be the worst job in the world. I almost feel sorry for the guy, because you kind of get the impression that he’s trying to avoid lying. (He does deliberately mislead the press and shade the truth. But if those were off limits, the position of press secretary wouldn’t need to exist.)
Lets bring back Ari. At least he was as big a jerk as the people he was working for.
October 26th, 2005 at 11:13 amMcCellan says that he wants “trust” with his peers. How can they trust him when Dumbya doesn’t tell the truth? Remember, the stupid slogans, the ones from the old T.V. westerns , about getting bin Laden? “Wanted dead or alive”..and “we’ll smoke him out” blah, blah, blah..! He never got him, and doesn’t seem to care..! I have a little ditty I made up from the tune from a 50’s T.V. series called “Wyatt Earp” it can be seen on “T.V.Land” a cable newark..here goes.
Dump as dirt…
and boy does it hurt
how did we get a nitwit like this..?
one coupt d’ etat
and one rigged election..
ask Scalia, that, son of a b—-
Gene Campbell
October 26th, 2005 at 12:25 pmCentral Florida
oops…mis-spelled a word or two.. should be “Dumb as dirt…and coup d’ etat..
October 26th, 2005 at 1:18 pmNED #26- I would like to personally thank you for poking the rabid ferret-like lefties with a stick. I’ll recap their statements for your amusement, Righties are “neanderthal, biblehumping(?), dumb as dirt, knuckle-dragging, nitwit election stealers” who happen to have won 7 of the last 10 Prez elections, most of the state governorships and majorities in both houses as well as defeating the “undefeatable” Soviet Union without firing a shot. There NED, I bet you feel stupid now!
October 26th, 2005 at 6:51 pmcycle shorts
I found your post comments while searching Google. Very relevant especially as this is not an issue which a lot of peaople are conversant with.
April 6th, 2008 at 8:20 am