Think Progress

McClellan: Media Should “Publicly Apologize” For Reporting On Mobile Weapons Lab Story»

On May 29, 2003, President Bush said “We found the weapons of mass destruction. We found biological laboratories.” This morning the Washington Post revealed that a Pentagon field report transmitted to Washington on May 27, 2003 “had already concluded that the trailers had nothing to do with biological weapons.”

Today during the White House press briefing, Scott McClellan demanded a public apology from the news media for covering the story:

You know, I saw some reporting talking about how this latest revelation — which is not something that is new; this is all old information that’s being rehashed — was an embarrassment for the White House. No, it’s an embarrassment for the media that is out there reporting this.

I brought up with some of you earlier today some of the reporting that was based of this Washington Post report. And I talked to one of network about it…they expressed their apologies to the White House.

I hope they will go and publicly apologize on the air about the statements that were made, because I think it is important given that they had made those statements in front of all their viewers. So we look forward to that happening as well.

McClellan’s complaint is that the Washington Post and others suggest that President Bush may have known about the report before he made definitive statements that the trailers were for the purpose of building biological weapons.

When McClellan was asked when the White House became aware of the Pentagon field report, however, McClellan couldn’t say. He told the press corps “I’m looking into that matter” but the answer was “not the point.”




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228 Responses to “McClellan: Media Should “Publicly Apologize” For Reporting On Mobile Weapons Lab Story”

  1. unbelievable Says:

    Is Scottie getting worse at lying, or are we just getting better at seeing the truth?


  2. Krazny Says:

    This is part of the smoke screen to discredit the report. Instead of answering the charges, just saw that it’s old news, and he is not going to bother, and the media needs to be more responsible.


  3. crazy canuck Says:

    Yeah, blame the media. Hell blame anyone as long as it means not taking responsibility for your actions.

    Hypocrites.


  4. bobcat_grad Says:

    “And I talked to one of network about it…they expressed their apologies to the White House.”

    You all get one guess which network he spoke to that caved and tripped over themselves to try aplogizing.


  5. Zookeeper Says:

    You first, Scottie.


  6. Jane E. Schneider Says:

    Gee, which network did Scott talk to and get an apology from, FOX? Scott (and the White House) will just never understand that the news media is supposed to report facts, whether they reflect badly on the administration or not. I really hope that no other news outlet apologizes for reporting facts.


  7. unbelievable Says:

    Thanks Snottie. I think I’m gonna try this technique with the next parent who tries to blame me for the reality that their child is apathetic. I’ll blame the media. After all, if it works for the government at this level, then that should be the shining example that I’m following as a good government employee, right?


  8. bobcat_grad Says:

    Hey, Scotty. All the news media will apologize for reporting something that makes the administration look like liars as soon as George Bush goes on prime time television and apologizes for most everything he’s touched in the past 6 years.

    Oh, and he could go ahead and apologize in advance for the Iran War, too.


  9. Ryan Neat Says:

    You can always spot the children of alcoholics. They always want those that speak the truth to apologize, while those that commit the acts to go unpunished. What a sick bastard.


  10. Spudge_Boy Says:

    Up is down.

    Black is white.

    War is peace.

    Hate is love.

    George Bush is smart.


  11. Ryan Neat Says:

    Oops, I meant to write:

    You can always spot the ‘dysfunctional’ children of alcoholics.


  12. Rob Says:

    Scottie, with little due respect, go fly a kite.


  13. drtomaso Says:

    Lemme get this straight: the administration knew about this months before the presidents final public comments on this, and their defense is that he personally did not know. What part of Bush being the ‘commander in chief’ don’t these people get? If he didnt know, someone should have told him.

    Honestly Righties: how long a time before correcting this is appropriate? Is the president allowed to just make any old bold-faced lie as long as he doesnt actually know the truth? Why is he spewing out assertions that he doesnt ‘know’ anything about?


  14. TimeForAChange Says:

    This guy has been drinking way too much of the kool-aid and he is beginning to scare me. He thinks the media should apologize for reporting what they were told by this administration. He’s got more balls than Lucca Brazzi, this guy. I can’t believe he would have the nerve to say such a stupid thing. I think we should apologize to the illegals that are coming across the border illegally too. We should apologize to Iran for saying tlhey are trying to develop nuclear weapons. The media shoud apologize for leading us into the war in Iraq in the first place. If this isn’t the biggest bunch of bullsh-t I’ve ever heard I’ll eat my hat in wallstreet while wearing a grass skirt and no shirt, wearing a dunce cap. Get over it Scott, you two bit, not integrity having, I’ll lie to protect my boss, there is not shame in lying, I don’t have a honest bone in my body jerk. I hope he stands there in the press room and waits for the apologys to come rolling in.


  15. Spudge_Boy Says:

    When is someone in the White House Press Corp gonna stand up and say:

    “Fuck you Scott, you lying sack of shit!”


  16. Shannon Says:

    Read the transcripts. He’s such a baby.


  17. Mark H Says:

    you gotta be fucking kidding, right?


  18. r@d@r Says:

    Rob @ 2:55 - couldn’t you dirty that up a little bit?

    Scottie, you ignorant slut… etc.


  19. watou Says:

    Awwww, poor Scottie. Wooks wike the pwess hurt his wittle feewings by reporting that the Administration is either incompetent or liars. Sucks to be Scottie.


  20. fnordboy Says:

    You know, you should really be obligated to finish the pre-emptive war you started before you can pre-emptively start another one. “But Mom, THIS war is boring already; the NEW war is gonna be great!”


  21. Dr. Van Nostrand Says:

    What’s “embarrassing” is that Bush called empty trailers “WMDs.”


  22. MS Says:

    Today Condi says that we should invade Iran. Wonder if the Senate will agree to that — or if the White House will consider that permission to run a “war on terror” permits them to invade Iran and anyplace they’d like !


  23. unbelievable Says:

    You can always spot the children of alcoholics. They always want those that speak the truth to apologize, while those that commit the acts to go unpunished. What a sick bastard.

    Comment by Ryan Neat — April 12, 2006 @ 2:54 pm

    That would include me Ryan. Most of us do deal with the bad hand we’ve been dealt and get past it. After all, it wasn’t anybody’s fault that it happened.


  24. DrSinker Says:

    He’s basically trying to say that it takes a while for intelligence to get vetted through the system, and so they reported what they were being told by top brass at the time. However, given the nature of the report (we found WMDs!!!) - wouldn’t these bozos want to be ABSOLUTELY SURE? Shouldn’t the release to the public also take time to vet? Scottie??? Scottie?? Beam me up?


  25. madrino Says:

    Isn’t the media doing everything they can at being incompetent? WaPo is the administration’s biggest chearleader. The media can’t shill 100% of the time or else the sheeple might catch on.

    IMHO there is much more going on behind the scenes than what we sheeple are allowed to see. I’m sure we will be seeing much more temporary super military bases in other countries in the future, after all, Sept 11 changed everything. Ya, sure, you bet.


  26. Litz Says:

    Let me guess: this is Scottie’s attempt to drum up a wellspring of outrage at the big, bad, liberal media which they hope will prevent news outlets from reporting on anything over 3 weeks old, and thereby kill any further Bush Administration embarassment.

    Nice try but it ain’t gonna work.


  27. wisedup Says:

    #5…we’re all still waiting, go ahead scotty….zzzzzzzzzz…meanwhile…condi, you go first,strap on the body armor and jump in there, we’ll all be there later….zzzzzzzz


  28. Litz Says:

    Let me guess: this is Scottie’s attempt to drum up a wellspring of outrage at the big, bad, liberal media which they hope will prevent news outlets from reporting on anything over 3 weeks old, and thereby killing any further Bush Administration embarassment.

    Nice try but it ain’t gonna work.


  29. Unemployment Rate - 4.7% Says:

    yawn…. Wake me when we invade Iran.


  30. oldtree Says:

    hard to believe that they are upset about the lies that they told about the lies that they told.

    even little kids finally realize that they can’t lie forever, but usually kids realize at about 5 or 6 that they can’t make up lies about lies and get away with it. Pretty darn funny when adults try to do something like this, and then blame someone else for their lies.

    something is obviously wrong, their is notable insanity in the whitehouse


  31. Prissy Patriot Says:

    Does he EVER stop lying??

    Interview of the President by TVP, Poland

    For Immediate Release
    Office of the Press Secretary
    May 29, 2003

    Interview of the President by TVP, Poland
    The Library

    2:28 P.M. EDT

    Q And aren’t you afraid that we may fail in Iraq, or are you absolutely sure that you made the right decision?

    THE PRESIDENT: I’m absolutely sure I made the right decision.

    Q Why?

    THE PRESIDENT: Because I’ve seen the Polish troops in action. And I know President Kwasniewski and I know the spirit of the Polish people. And there’s no doubt in my mind that Poland will be able to accomplish the objectives we set out together.

    And it was also — the critics need to watch very carefully what’s happening. NATO is going to support the Polish efforts inside of Iraq. Poland will not be alone. Poland will have plenty of support. Poland is a member of this coalition of the willing, who stood up for freedom and stood up for peace and stood up for security. And Poland also recognizes that there’s more work to do. And I’m — also I’m going to Poland to thank the Polish people for caring about freedom in other parts of the world.

    Q But, still, those countries who didn’t support the Iraqi Freedom operation use the same argument, weapons of mass destruction haven’t been found. So what argument will you use now to justify this war?

    THE PRESIDENT: We found the weapons of mass destruction. We found biological laboratories. You remember when Colin Powell stood up in front of the world, and he said, Iraq has got laboratories, mobile labs to build biological weapons. They’re illegal. They’re against the United Nations resolutions, and we’ve so far discovered two. And we’ll find more weapons as time goes on. But for those who say we haven’t found the banned manufacturing devices or banned weapons, they’re wrong, we found them. “


  32. Wisco Says:

    Now the media should be ashamed for reporting the truth? It’s Scott who’s shameless - I seriously don’t know how he can sleep at night.


    http://griperblade.blogspot.com - grumblings from the heartland


  33. bobby walsh Says:

    scuck fotty and the whores he rode in on…..indict and impeach the entire bunch now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


  34. buzzbomb Says:

    According to a couple of pro war ass clowns on my campus today a couple of rusted out MIG fighters buried in the sand in Iraq is clear proof of WMDs. I laughed and called their display a fucking joke! I can’t belive some people still buy the Bush spin. Pathetic!!


  35. vigilant Says:

    Scott,

    Meet me by the flagpole after school and I’ll apologize.

    Better yet, F*CK YOU, you lying bastard.


  36. Spudge_Boy Says:

    yawn…. Wake me when we invade Iran.

    Comment by Unemployment Rate - 4.7% — April 12, 2006 @ 3:10 pm

    The fact that you don’t mind your president lying to you on a regular basis prove what a lap dog you are. I hope you get exactly what you want.

    Did anyone see Blade?

    Remember how tha vampires had slave humans that worked for them, because they were promised that they too would be turned into vampires, but it never happened?

    That is exactly how I picture these retarded trolls. They think that they will be rewarded for blindly following these treasury vampires, but they won’t they will be discarded too.

    I pity them really. They are sick mentally.



  37. William Cormier Says:

    Good Grief! When will the American public get an apology for being lied to continually these many years??? Apologise my ass - put the bums in jail where they belong! Grrrrrrrrr


  38. Badmoodman Says:

    #29: “yawn…. Wake me when we invade Iran.” — U.R.4.7
    - - You’ll be able to tell…..by the smoking gun………that could come…….in the form of a mushroom cloud.


  39. Heynow Says:

    I’m sure FOX is going to get right on that for an apology.


  40. Lev Raphael Says:

    Okay, let’s take him at face value.

    Say it does indeed take time for this information to get through the system. Maybe it’s not sent in DC by fax or email or even courrier when it’s important, but sits around, and eventually goes via, what?, bulk mail? Media mail? Parcel Post?

    Even if that were true, the administration claimed those trailers were WMDs for months.

    I wish the WH press corps would follow the sick logic instead of battering away at one point. Hosit him on his own petard.


  41. Ahmad Chalabi Says:

    Fine, I’m sorry, too.

    Are you happy now?

    -


  42. Paul Says:

    He also put the media on double-secret probation.


  43. beep52 Says:

    I got stopped for speeding the other day and blamed it on the press. Officer asked me if I was some kind of wise guy.


  44. Dumb Fox Says:

    Scottyboy, why is it you guys won’t hesitate to declassify intelligence that supports your arguments, but won’t declassify anything else?

    btw, go cry to your f#cking bosses who keep on scripting your lies.


  45. Democrat Soldier Says:

    #36 - When “UR 4.7″ wrote “yawn…. Wake me when we invade Iran.”

    The first thing that ran through my mind was: yeah, wake you up. heaven forbid you put your lazy partisan a$$ on the line in support of YOUR President and his pathetic attempts at bullying the nation into supporting his was for oil and whoring for corporate special interests.

    Then i remembered that he doesn’t have to actually support the troops, all he’s got to do is support the corrupt administration that’s sending our troops to die for oil. He’s one of those arm-chair generals who would probably crap himself if he ever got close to a tank in motion.

    It’s just sad that the mettle of the neo-con partisan trolls is “You die for my freedoms, because I’m too much of a panty-waist to stand up for my country!”


  46. Fusioner Says:

    I meant to say… Help impeach this crew:

    http://tinyurl.com/a6erq


  47. shieldvulf Says:

    Really, folks, we can’t ask the opposition to raise the level of dialog if we respond on the very low level they’ve opted for. Stop flaming & start thinking, please?

    I was struck that McClellan said he saw “some reporting,” not identified, that called this revelation an “embarrassment.” And I doubted it at once, since it is an indictment, an accusation, a j’accuse!

    So I searched the WaPo article, and it says nothing of embarrassment. I wonder if someone here with a subscription to Lexis-Nexis would search for something like [”biological laboratories” Iraq “White House” embarrass] in coverage since yesterday. Because i suspect he’s even lying about that.


  48. Django Says:

    Surprised? Really? Being Bush or Cheney means never having to say you’re sorry. On the contrary, if you shoot someone in the face, or if someone points out your lies, they are the ones that owe you an apology.


  49. Solitaire Says:

    If he doesn’t know when the President was informed, then what does he want an apology for? From who? He says that’s not the point. What is the point? That he wants an apology just for the hell of it?
    This guy is losing his cookies I fear.


  50. foxbot Says:

    If the media reported that Bush knew what he was doing, or any relevant facts, then they certainly owe him an apology.


  51. Unemployment Rate - 4.7% Says:

    #46 - we need oil. Why not go to war for oil? You don’t want to drill domestically, that’s for sure.


  52. Zimzone Says:

    WMD’S
    Weapons of Mass Deception
    Weird Male Dumbshits
    Wild Meandering Derelicts
    Whores Making Destruction
    Wholly Misinformed Dumbya
    Where Men Die
    Winter of My Discontent
    W Means Dope
    Where’s My Deibold
    With Mad Dishonesty
    Hydrogen Toilets!


  53. Hughes for America Says:

    Scott McClellan wants an apology…

    Why? Because somebody reported the truth. From Think Progress:You know, I saw some reporting talking about how this latest revelation - which is not something that is new; this is all old information that’s being rehashed - was an embarrassment…


  54. johng Says:

    I can bet the Post’s response could have gone like this:

    “Well, sir, we’re sorry you feel that way, but with all due respect, we stand by our story.”

    and the White House got:

    “We’re sorry for being irresponsible, you know we have the utmost respect for your wishes.”


  55. e_five Says:

    The high art of blaming others. What a bunch of incompetent, spoiled cowards.


  56. appletree » Blog Archive » Reports of White House Deception Anger White House Says:

    […] The Washington Post reported today that President Bush told Americans that biological weapons laboratories had been found in Iraq, even after the White House knew that no such labs had been found. Other media outlets have begun reporting the story, leading Press Secretary Scott McClellan to say this: You know, I saw some reporting talking about how this latest revelation — which is not something that is new; this is all old information that’s being rehashed — was an embarrassment for the White House. No, it’s an embarrassment for the media that is out there reporting this. […]


  57. e_five Says:

    This is like Dick Cheney demanding an apology from Harry Whittington.


  58. Jack Says:

    I thought one of the low points for our Democracy was when then Press Secretary Ari Fleischer said,

    “There are reminders to all Americans that they need to watch what they do, and this is not a time for remarks like that; there never is.”

    , in regards to a statement Bill Maher said on his Politically Incorrect show which always included a panel of 4 people with diverse views (I would not know who Ann Coulter was, if it weren’t for Bill Maher), and backgrounds.

    Will Bush and Cheney apologize to the country for taking us to war on lies and the war propaganda?


  59. owlbear1 Says:

    Ah, how CLEVER Scotty. The ‘We’re retarded and its VERY MEAN to make fun of us” Defense.

    Come up with that one on your own or did Karl slip you a note?


  60. theDocker Says:

    It just gets curiouser and curiouser.


  61. Just Plain Bother Says:

    ScottyMac Attack!…

    In a completely confounding attack on the media today, McClellan requested that media outlets who carried a story on W knowingly misrepresenting some junk as WMDs apologise.

    Funny thing, to me, about this is one of their biggest fans is carrying the s…


  62. Mark-Alan Lynch Says:

    It’s amazing how this administration wants to bury yesterdays news, but when it was Clinton in the White House old news was DAILY news for 2 years. And the news wasn’t even newsworthy! Billy lied about a sex act. Dumbya lied us into a WAR and that’s not newsworthy enough to remember?! We CANNOT forget that this administration is responsible for the deaths of 2,359* of our countrymen and women who are fighting, and dying, for the lies of the cowards in this administration.

    * This figure obtained at: http://www.antiwar.com/casualties/


  63. frank Says:

    They want the media to always have “a robust respect and awe of the President, unless he is a weak-willed Democrat.”

    That’s from Department of Homeland Decency: Decency Rules and Regulations Manual It’s a hilarious satire of how they want us to live.

    marching proudly backwards to the future.


  64. Haz Says:

    There are two possibilities here, both bad for the white house. The first is that they knew about the report and still claimed the trailers were mobile labs. The second is that they did not check their claim with the very people entrusted with the task of determining whether they were indeed mobile labs. I don’t know which is worse.


  65. owlbear1 Says:

    Still Scotty, don’t you understand how bad it looks that George Declared the find and then NEVER followed up on the RESULTS?

    Did anybody there really think about that? You know even ONCE?

    No one asked, “What kind of WMDs Saddam was making? Let’s look at the report that was filed and find out.”

    When McClellan was asked when the White House became aware of the Pentagon field report, however, McClellan couldn’t say.

    Nope, guess not.


  66. Terry Tanner Says:

    Twit!!!!!


  67. devin Says:

    is McClellan high?! Apologize?! (Scottie are you that in love with the boypuppet?!)
    YOU ARE ALL LIARS so pipe down!


  68. conservativeshateAmerica Says:

    Unemployment Rate - 4.7%

    Why do you hate America? Why do you hate the truth? I’m curious…


  69. Maximum Pundit » LIES! Says:

    […] Thats an interesting tidbit.  It’s embaressing for the media?  Where’s the response to the issue?  That’s probably a bit much to ask at this stage of the game; during the lamest of lame duck second terms.  Thinkprogress has more on this, including extended quotations. […]


  70. Trammell Says:

    I don’t want an apology from Scottie or any of the rest of them. How in hell can anyone apologize for all the death and destruction these idiots have caused?

    Besides, they are such pathological liars, who could blieve anything they say, including an apology?

    I want them in prison, just like Saddam, and for the same crimes: committing a war of aggression and torture.

    Impeachment, Trial by the senate and Rendition to the Hague. Nothing less will do.


  71. regal Says:

    You also must apologize if you’ve been shot in the face by anyone in the administration.


  72. quicksand Says:

    Attackng the media is just another species of ad hominem. Cons eat it up, of course. This is pre-school apologetics at best. At worse, it’s just tiresome.


  73. moeman Says:

    but, but love is never having to say you’re sorry.


  74. srivlin Says:

    Yesterday on FOX, those apologetic truth-seekers, explained to their viewers why gas prices are sky-rocketing. They have brought an expert on the economy who declared that the price increase is actually ‘good news’ since it in response to the strong American economy.


  75. cynicalgirl Says:

    Didn’t the orginal claim of “mobile labs” come from a guy who was being tortured and later recanted? We learned of this a few months ago. They had to have an excuse for the UN inspectors not finding anything and the “mobile labs” story fit the bill.


  76. Ryan Neat Says:

    “That would include me Ryan. Most of us do deal with the bad hand we’ve been dealt and get past it. After all, it wasn’t anybody’s fault that it happened. Comment by unbelievable”

    That’s why I posted the ‘dysfunctional’ modification below. I know lots of children of alcoholics that have become very well adjusted individuals. However those that retain their dysfunctional upbringing seem particularly drawn to reichwing ideology. It’s the ’strong daddy’ and ‘don’t make waves’ upbrining of a hidden alcoholic culture.

    While it may not be anyone’s fault, those who don’t ‘fess up’ to it and deal with rationally as you have end up being dry drunks like gw, or their dysfunctional enablers like Condi and Scootsie.


  77. Yachts and Lattes Says:

    I wonder if someone here with a subscription to Lexis-Nexis would search for something like [”biological laboratories” Iraq “White House” embarrass] in coverage since yesterday. Because i suspect he’s even lying about that.

    Comment by shieldvulf — April 12, 2006 @ 3:28 pm

    I did it and got nothing. WaPo has the scoop; no other paper will report it until tomorrow. So theirs is the only article Scotty could be talking about. Of course, lots of ppl have been talking about it and he only said “reporting.”


  78. Independent Says:

    UR 4.7%:

    We DONT need oil. YOU need oil. We could have been off the sh*t years ago if wasn’t for the filthy degenerate GOP oil lords making sure we don’t get off the crap. It’s like a drug and they’re the pushers.

    And by the way, if you think we need to invade our way into oil. Get in line and be the first to go. I think we should wake you up NOW.


  79. Yachts and Lattes Says:

    Scotty’s screeching sounds like that of a cornered dog. Does he want the media to say that the President didn’t know about the report that was filed before he went out and trumpeted the opposite of what it said? That’s better?


  80. Snark Says:

    Come on folks, we all know those trailers were Weapons of Mass Destructions.

    The thing is, the person wielding those trailers as WMDs was George W Bush.

    I mean, those trailers have sure done a number on Iraq, I tell ya.


  81. Anne Kim Says:

    McClellan wants an apology?!?! Yeah right! Not before people in Hell get ice water! Bush and his administration owes Americans, Iraqis, and the rest of the world an apology for destabilizing the world system as we know it.


  82. Jules Says:

    I am sorry Scotty - I am sorry that your boss’s administration is full of lying, theiving, murdering, sacks of sh*t that care nothing about the American people.


  83. RC Says:

    is it too late to bring back the old fashioned “tar and feathers?”

    somehow, they do always find a way to lower the bar- although by now it’s gotta almost be in China.


  84. Larry Says:

    Typical Whitehouse GOP bullshit

    Attack The Messenger…………YEEOWWW!!!


  85. Propagandee Says:

    Seems the Amin spin is that the report didn’t arrive in time enough to preclude Bush’s second Mission Accomplished moment. Which begs two questions :

    1. If the official report wasn’t in hand, how can Bush justify reporting success when success wasn’t known?

    2. How much harder would it have been to report the truth of the report once Bush had gone on record belying it? I’m mean, you wouldn’t want to embarass the Commander in Chief in a time of war, now, would you? Think of what that would do the morale of our brave troops, yada yada yada…


  86. srgtick Says:

    Hey Scottie, go fuck yourself. If I ever see you in real life, I’ll take the assault charge to slap your pasty lying face.


  87. RC Says:

    Come on folks, we all know those trailers were Weapons of Mass Destructions.

    If you mean the ones we’re paying $120K apiece for so they can sit and rust unused outside of New Orleans, I suppose they are Weapons of Mass Destruction against our BUDGET.


  88. unbelievable Says:

    While it may not be anyone’s fault, those who don’t ‘fess up’ to it and deal with rationally as you have end up being dry drunks like gw, or their dysfunctional enablers like Condi and Scootsie.

    Comment by Ryan Neat — April 12, 2006 @ 4:20 pm

    Easier said than done. It’s a very difficult thing to admit to yourself that one of your parents was dysfunctional. It’s something I only somewhat recently came to terms with. Accepting that you’re a codependent isn’t easy either. You blame yourself. And you do self-destructive things in an attempt to assuage your feelings of inadequacy. As a result of living through it, I have a lot of sympathy for people who were subjected to ’significantly less than ideal parents’ during tehir formative years. It can be much like a handicap until you get it under control, Life is difficult enough without an additional cross to bear in life. I was just surprised that you made a less than compassionate comment, that’s all. You’re usually the epitome of defending those who are products of unfortunate circumstances like that.


  89. vigilant Says:

    OK,
    I’ll stop flaming;
    I’ll stop being angry;
    I’ll even stop worrying (and learn to love the bomb).

    I do not expect anything but derision from the extreme right.
    I do not (or want, or see the value in) an apology from the WH mouth.
    I do not want any more oil;
    I do not want them to tell me what to think;

    I want them arrested for fraud and RICO

    Luck to all of us,


  90. Ann Arky Says:

    Actually Saddam Hussein should apologize for NOT having WMD’s. If he’d had them in the first place then all our soldiers and all the innocent civilians we murdered would have actually died for something other than a lie.


  91. xristim Says:

    Mr. McClellan has raised his asshood to absolute ineffability and indescribability.

    It’s nice the poor boy has managed to achieve stand-out status at SOMEthing.


  92. Rabble Rouzer Says:

    I’m with srgtick…you hold him down and I’ll kick his balls through the roof of his lying suck hole.


  93. Aurore Says:

    As the folks at the Washington Post used to say during Watergate -

    It was a non-denial denial.


  94. angryspittle Says:

    When the fuck are reporters going to come to these lie-fests armed with rotten tomatoes?


  95. Alexander King Says:

    WHAT?????? NOW SCOTTIE TALKS. he says nothing when it turns out that when Bush did his life imitates art thing (MAMET’S “wag the dog”) and now they want an apology? Perhaps Bush should have been watching the WEST WING TEE VEE SHOW!


  96. joeblow Says:

    “you’ll have to pry my cold, dead fingers off my weapons ob mass destruction.”

    George W. Bush (But you can call me Biff)
    POTUS


  97. Jeffrey Stewart Says:

    I don’t get it. For what is the media supposed to apologize? Is the story false? He didn’t deny its veracity. He said it was old news. So what if it is old news? Like a joke, it is new if it is the first time one hears it.

    The administration, starting from the President on down, owes the people of this country and the world an apology for all the death and misery their policies cause!


  98. Mr. America Says:

    Let’s see, what you really mean Scottie is for newspapers to stop reporting the news when it shows you lie, otherwise, let it roll out of Faux News. Believe it or not, more and more people are finally getting the picture. BUSH AND COMPANY ARE ALL LIARS!


  99. Sven Says:

    #87 You might also get a “Destruction of Gov’t Property” tacked on there too.


  100. Samguy Says:

    So McClellen is saying that W didn’t know about this, then to me, that’s even worse and betrays what a clueless dolt W is. Embarassing and deadly.


  101. Mikey Says:

    The “media” should print a statement that says “I’m sorry, we can’t comment on an ongoing investigation.”


  102. Marie Says:

    How quickly they forget — two days ago, the WaPo ran an editorial which rounded off all the hard edges and supported the White House in the Wilson/Plame/leak case. The paper selectively summarized their version of the truth and McClellan used the editorial to support Bush&Co from his podium.
    Today there is a report critical of Bush&Co so McClellan and the White House get their shorts in a knot and start throwing around charges of irresponsibility.
    Irresponsibility? This White House — the most reckless and irresponsible group of incompetents we have ever seen, charging irresponsibility against someone who contradicts their lies with facts and evidence?


  103. Rick Rettberg Says:

    So, Bush hadn’t gotten the 3/27 memo from the DIA. So, when he later found out that what he had said was mistaken, he promptly issued a correction, right? Yeah, right.

    These yahoos have told so many lies they can’t keep them all straight, and they don’t even know whether up is up or down is down.


  104. Quisp Says:

    I’m sorry Pres. Chimp is a lying sack of crap!


  105. Coppertop Says:

    You’d methink Scotty doth protested reading Shakespeare in college. Too much.


  106. whatacroc Says:

    Maybe Scotties momma and Dubya’a mom never told them that lying will catch up to them if they tell too many. I believe the real question here is has this regime ever spoken a truthful word?


  107. progressive and proud Says:

    #52 Stop drinking the stuff and we won’t need so much. Use your Metrocard, NeD.


  108. Beaumont Jones Says:

    >I’m with srgtick…you hold him down and I’ll kick his balls through the roof of his lying suck hole.

    OMG, you make me laugh! But I think Scottie had his balls snipped off years ago.


  109. thousandaire Says:

    I just heard Cheetah turned 74 yesterday. maybe we can draft him for the next election and bring honor back to government. Most of the animals i’ve know are far better people than our current crop of leaders. Maybe evolution is just a load of crap. It’s an insult to animals.


  110. Druthers Says:

    In this world people get the apologies they deserve, not the apologies they demand.
    This administration deserves none!


  111. Pete Bogs Says:

    funny, Bush never seems to feel obliged to admit mistakes or apologize about anything… one of the WH reporters ought to frame a question that way: “Considering the president… do you still think the press should apologize?”


  112. Gordon Comstock Says:

    the art of confusion is a beautiful, elegant machine. when it works properly, the pistons pump in fluid unison. When the system begins to sputter, passengers begin to bail and the captain looks the fool.


  113. ScotToHavit Says:

    You get the feeling tha Cheney is in the back room right before Scottie gets on the podium, pumping him up Rocky style “You gotta get in there, Scott! You gotta hit eym fiyst! Go to the body with eym Scott! Irresponsible, Scott! That’s what they are!”
    Scott (with towel over his head): Irresponsible!
    Cheney: They gotta pay!
    Scott: Gotta pay!
    Cheney: Apology, remorse is needed! Go get eym!!!!
    Scott: AAAAAAAARRRRRRGGGGGHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!! Good morning all….


  114. •WolfBlog• Says:

    […] If that were the case, that Bush was unaware of the report, why did they do their best to hide the report then continue citing the discovery of bio weapons labs as proof of WMDs in Iraq for months after? Check it out here: McClellan: Media Should “Publicly Apologize” For Reporting On Mobile Weapons Lab Story […]


  115. Bogie Says:

    Oh that’s rich, the WH is telling the media to appologize for making a statement before getting their facts straigt. We ain’t that the pot calling the kettle black.

    By that standard I guess we should all expect an apology from the Leaker/Liar in Chief for all of his “misstatements”.


  116. Thot's Says:

    This is what happens when you weave a web of lies to defraud a nation and her people.


  117. Sue Says:

    Tell Scotty and White House to go F*CK THEMSELVES! AND NOW! IT IS ABOUT TIME THE MEDIA TELLS THE TRUTH! INSTEAD OF ALL BEING FOX NEWS OUTLET! AND MSM NEEDS TO STOP BEATING THE WAR DRUMS AGAIN LIKE THEY DID ON IRAQ, WITH IRAN WHO IS ALLOWED TO HAVE NUCLEAR ENERGY PER THE U.N.’S OWN RULES! AND WHICH ALSO THE SAME GODDAMN PURE EVIL CHENEY, RUMMIE, AND WOLFOWITZ BACK IN 1976 EVEN ENCOURAGED IRAN TO HAVE NUCLEAR ENERGY AND NOW THEY WANT TO BOMB THEM OVER IT? COME ON SHEEP! This is the work AGAIN OF GODDAMN WAR MONGERING ZIONISTS running our nation right into the ground for THEIR benefit and also Bush’s poll numbers being down, and for OIL and EMPIRE! IF the American people don’t put a STOP TO THIS BUSHIT AND NOW! THEY WILL TOTALLYU HAVE DESTROYED OUR NATION FROM WITHIN! LOOK FOR THEM TO PULL ANOTHER FALSE FLAG ATTACK ON U.S. LIKE THEY DID WITH 9-11 AND BLAME IRAN FOR IT!


  118. Jeff Says:

    How much longer can Scotty boy keep this up?


  119. MATTHEW Says:

    Uh,oh,how come your not weighing in iri?where are you now you gutless wonder?




  120. newsreader Says:

    I found this article through Google news:

    The Post did not say that Bush knew what he was saying was false. But ABC News did during a report on “Good Morning America,” and McClellan demanded an apology and an on-air retraction. ABC News said later in a clarification on its Web site that Charles Gibson had erred. McClellan said he had received an apology.


  121. cyberbri Says:

    They said the Downing Street Memos were “old news” too. At least the media is reporting on this “old news” this time, instead of reporting why they won’t report on it, or just ignoring the fat that it was made clear that we were going to war no matter what and the intelligence was being fixed around the policy.



  122. johnndrama Says:

    This line of reasoning from Scotty is getting more and more prevalant.

    Basically he’s saying, How dare the media assume the president knows what’s going on.

    Who cares if reports get to the white house saying that there are no WMDs, Iraq isn’t buying uranium from Niger, the levees broke…

    Everybody knows that nobody tells the president anything, so why blame him.


  123. tahoekevin Says:

    when we storm the gates, ‘lil scotty is mine!


  124. Gregor Samsa Says:

    “I’m looking into that matter” but the answer was “not the point.”

    Au contraire Scott, that is exactly the point.

    McClellan does not dispute the report and refuses to answer what Pres Bush knew and when, instead he goes on the offensive, attacking the media by saying they shuold be “embarrassed”… hhmmm… methinks there’s a whole lot more to the story…


  125. cromulant Says:

    If any media organization apologizes, I will be surprised and dismayed. But seeing as how Fox News is such a loud and enthusiastic supporter of the Administration, maybe they will apologize in solidarity with Scotte McClellan!


  126. cats are flyfishn Says:

    The lies just keep on coming. Everyday it’s a different story. Either he LIED about WMD’s or he is so incompetent at his job as to not know the latest intelligence. It’s a lose/lose situation. If Bush wasn’t so close to THE BUTTON, I would just dismiss him as another lying hollow republican.


  127. Jim Siemons Says:

    Die, messenger, Die!


  128. FreeDem Says:

    This from my Blog

    What about this picture would make one immediately suspect that this trailer was not likely a Secret Biological Weapons lab?

    Well duh, Biolabs need secure space, lest the pathogen escape and wipe out ones own side, much less the researchers themselves. They also require a controlled temperatures, and a clean environment, not only for safety but to keep the critters happy as well.

    Lets see, 120 degree plus outside temperatures, check, dark brown canvas to keep the contents cool in the sun, not check, canvas sides as clean room siding, I don’t think so, canvas tarps as level five pathogen security system, ROFL!

    now what part of this story is the WH upset about again???


  129. .50BMG Says:

    These ignorant bastards are an embarrassment to all real Americans. We need to put them all on trial for treason and if / when convicted, execute them publicly for all the world to witness.


  130. madrino Says:

    I don’t believe that either Democrat or Republican are honest. They have melded with international business, military, k street and “think tanks” creating our “New World Order”(tm). It works much along the same lines of the Roman empire. Common Dreams has a good article on what has been happening for the last four plus decades since Eisenhowers warning.

    In the mean time, what has the US done to reduce dependency on oil since we knew we peaked around 1971? Does the word NOTHING ring a bell. I tried working on renewables in the 70s but no one wanted to hear about it then. Our “leaders” and their “followers” don’t want to hear about it now. According to several kooks, it is just fine to use the CIA and military to set up camp in the sovereign nation of our “leader’s” choice.


  131. Antonios Symeonakis Says:

    Bush started bad and he will finish worst. He has created big problems, (poor Iraqi people and imature american people!!!) The Think Progres is good but we want results!!! People voted Bush of cause your mistakes!! Do your job better, in the next elections!!! You do not decide only for America but for the whole world and you must be mature and responsible!!! Antonios Symeonakis


  132. Eyes Wide Open Says:

    Maybe W. should wiretap the White House so he’ll know what’s going on.


  133. When Pigs Fly Says:

    And what is McClellan’s/Bush’s excuse for not letting the public know *immediately* when he did find out about the error? Very convenient for his war-lust to forget to correct his previous intel mis-statements (lies).


  134. Vaughn D. Taylor Says:

    I wonder what Scottie will be doing after this gig? He had better leave the country and move to a place where nobody recognizes his fat puckered face.


  135. Eyes Wide Open Says:

    Go to Google. Type the word “failure”. Click on “I feel lucky”


  136. RevoNow Says:

    When will WE realize? There are very rarely peaceful regime changes. I have Never in my life felt more like an armed revolution than right now. These pigs in the WH bring vomit to my mouth.


  137. Machiashelly Says:

    Their incompetence, arrogance, and ignorance are truly astounding!!! If the gates are indeed stormed poetic justice would be to parachute every neocon media pundit, Republican congressional member, and fearless leader and his cabinet into Falujah. Talk about a Dumbo Drop!


  138. Terrible Says:

    Maybe they’ll make a law against news agencies reporting the truth. Is that what Scottie is asking for?


  139. Uncle Togarma Says:

    Hahahaha. The Iraq War Lies Crimping your plans for another Wacko Neo-Con War Scotty?


  140. Uncle Togarma Says:

    Because thats what this is about isn’t it Scotty Mac? The Old Lies make the NEW LIES harder to accept?

    LOL, you pathetic fat scared little limp parrot Scotty. Have you got any Huevos Scotty or are you holding Georges?


  141. Toes Says:

    Normally, I wouldn’t hold back, but I will not say what I’m thinking about McClellen in print.

    Too vile for public disclosure.

    How long, O Lord, how long?


  142. Zog the Obvious Says:

    I figger’d it out!

    Scott McClellan is the Mohammed Saeed al-Sahaf of the Bush Administration!!


  143. Karin Says:

    That takes some nerve to ask for an apology .
    I think it’s Bush who should do the apologizing to the American and Iraqi people for killing their loved ones.
    Scott McLellan, you have seen better days!!!!!
    Frogmarch that whole bunch and send them to the Hague and charge them all with war crimes.


  144. Cyra Brown Says:

    Oh Scotty, will you never learn? Stop thinking!!! You are just hurting yourself. It is painful (and how!) to watch you try, over and over again. And, like always, you say something SO stupid, I can’t help but cringe. So please Scotty, it must stop!!


  145. Barbara Says:

    OK, come on folks. You gotta be a little sorry for the guy. How would YOU like to be in his position? Standing up, defending this horrid dude?


  146. james risser Says:

    just a minute…..

    let me reach right down here in my pants…..

    here is your apology scott you lying bastard!!!!!


  147. ljames Says:

    I don’t believe that either Democrat or Republican are honest.

    I often hear this from repugnantcans who just realized they’ve been had.


  148. Judy Christensen Says:

    I am sick to death of the Bush administration and their constant lies. “My God” Is there no end to it? The lie started when he stole the 2000 Election, and it has been nothing but lies every since. Are we actually supposed to believe that Iran has nuclear capabilities because this lying administration say’s so? They’ve cried wolf too many times! Id sooner be blown up by Iran then trust any more of what George Bush has to say. If we continue to listen to him..he will surely get us all killed! When is this creep going to be impeached anyhow? It’s unbelievable that even with all of the things this guy has done we still have’nt been able to get this guy impeached. When I compare Bush to Clinton I get furious!!!!!!!!


  149. Oilfieldguy Says:

    What is this? Some sort of high stakes, “I know you are but what am I?”


  150. beep52 Says:

    This is what Bushco’s penchant for secrecy and disdain for dissent hath wrought. It had to catch up with them sooner or later. A year and a half ago would have been better…


  151. Hellena_Handbasket Says:

    Unbelievable. Simply unbelievable.

    It’s like the entire govt has been taken over by evil borgs. All we need is Arnold Schwarzenegger in office, too…… oh, wait……


  152. gene campbell Says:

    Fuck McClellan..and the garbage barge he floated to Washington on…!

    Gene Campbell
    Central Florida


  153. Jay Jeffries Says:

    I heard this on CNN and he sounded like he couldn’t even convince himself he was telling the truth. Little Snotty needs to take what’s left of his marbles and go home.


  154. Marina In MA Says:

    I’ve been asking about these pictures since they first appeared in May 2003. Friends and family members who were undecided called me that day and said “See? President Bush has to go to war. This decides it!” I said “I don’t believe those pictures. I don’t believe they show anything. I don’t even believe they were taken in Iraq, or taken this year, or anything.” Family and friends were incredulous that I could be so jaded.

    My point is, those pictures were incredibly effective at convincing thousands of Americans that the war was justified. They played on news channels continuously for more than a day. Proof that government agencies KNEW that they were irrelevant at the time that were being used as the sole proof of WMD is news, and should be put on the front page.

    We need to make the point that we have been actively, knowingly lied to again and again. And we have had enough.


  155. Sotiredofthebullshit Says:

    Apologize?? You murdering liars are looking for an apology? Wake up, Scotty, shake your tiny little head, you must be delusional!


  156. Mark Johnston Says:

    Absolutely Herr Himmler.


  157. BobBrown Says:

    Why didn’t Bush wait until the intelligence was vetted before he declared he had found the WMD? I think he is always in Cherry pick mode or rightdown telling lies with a straight face


  158. starislon Says:

    Such unsubstantiated unpatriotic, and irresponsible statements will only bring comfort and aid to our enemies.
    They are even worse than “wild speculation” and serve only to provide a haven for the countless spawning grounds that are, as I speak, germinating seeds of the dark Elihu-axis-Yalete Satanic-Triad. Let there be no doubt, we are not fearful of the cloven hoof, nor do we shrink from our sacred duty to provide all of our democratic friends with the bounty of our ordination, which as I have said before, does not preclude our right of pre-emptive self-defense or universal succor, be it conventional or tactically unconventional.


  159. Hello Dolly Says:

    No Scotty, you have that backwards. YOU and your imcompetents should APOLOGIZE to every single american for everything you have done to destroy this country. How dare you blame the media for your dirty deeds. (With FOX news being the exception) It’s not what you say, it’s what you do. What goes around comes around bucko.


  160. Jay Randal Says:

    Scotty needs to apologize for all the lies that he told to the press as a Bush Regime stooge! And King George the fool must apologize to the entire nation, then resign, or be impeached!


  161. jerry walters Says:

    Scott McClellon is the one who owes America the apology for standing up there day in and day out and lying to us about Bush and Cheney. What a JOKE! The nerve of these people saying someone owes them an apology. How about apologizing to the 100,000 dead Iraqis and the 2,500 dead Americans and the 10,000 or more maimed and injured American military personnel. They lied about why they were taking America to War. They have mismanaged the entire event. they have posted a trillioin dollars of deficit spending in 5 and 1/2 years and they want someone to apologize to them. THE NERVE!


  162. jerry walters Says:

    How about you and Bush & Company apologizing for …

    1. The fraudulent war you foisted upon the world
    2. The 100,000 Iraqis you killed in the porcess of mismanaging the war.
    3. The 2,500 americans you got killed and the 10,000 plus you have maimed
    4. the trillion of deficits you have rung up in 5 and 1/2 short years.

    Apologizing for the above would be a good start. WOW! Someone apologizing to you. Is there no limit to your hypocrisy!


  163. Cathy Harris Says:

    Ready to just say noe more?


  164. NW Guy Says:

    I don’t understand why we, the public, give Scott McClellan any relevance at all?! OK he is the WH spoksman, but what value does he have for the rest of us? He mouths only the crap that has been spun clean of any truth or integrity. Why does the press sit and wait for the drivel that comes out of this guy’s mouth? He doesn’t tell the truth, he puts out only the spin ok’d by Rove, he doesn’t answer questions, he BS’s the answers he does give, so why does anyone waste their time with him?? Why do we spend time and energy fussing over the oral diarrhea that he spews forth?
    As long as the media / WH press corps continues to show up and act like McClellan has something of value to say, he will continue to BS the country. Only when the media and/or the public finally DEMANDS that the WH provides straightforward, honest answers and information will anything change. In the meantime, acknowledge that McClellan is basically irrelevant, that anything that he says has little if any factual value, that he is nothing more than a propaganda puppet, and start getting information from other sources. Why should anyone continue trying to get information from a source you know is going to lie to you??


  165. Laura Lovitt Says:

    how dare the media report the lies that took this country to an illegal war. in fact, i think scotty’s right. the media SHOULD apologize….for not reporting this stuff much much sooner. thanks judith miller, thanks a lot. i’m still waiting for her public apology….and so are the parents of all the dead soldiers. disgusting.

    what a pathetic display from this administration. now, since no body believes their statements about anything, they are resorting to attempts to blame the messenger. it ain’t going to work.


  166. Nick Caine Says:

    Is Scottie getting worse at lying, or are we just getting better at seeing the truth?

    Comment by unbelievable
    ————————————————————————————————-
    Have you seen the size of Scottie’s nose lately?


  167. Matthew J. Price Says:

    Is this guy playing with a full deck?!?


  168. mesnyder Says:

    McClellan wants something new. “This is all old information that’s being rehashed.” Like the JFK assassination, “Shots from the grassy knoll? Give us something new.” McClellan is drawing from a very thin script for a movie that goes straight to video.

    Did Ari Fleischer leave when he did because he had some integrity? Just a thought.


  169. ccgriffin Says:

    If vaudeville were still going Scotty could get a job as a tap dancer. He’s had lots of experience at his so-called briefings. Or else he’s just the artful dodger.


  170. fdgjufg Says:

    our bad. they are in Iran. lez go get’em..


  171. JIMBO Says:

    Porky McClellan needs to apologize for even having the stupidity to think that he was qualified for the job.


  172. Peacemonger Says:

    I like the way Scottie called the media reckless for implying that President Bush knew the trailers had been determined to not be bio labs when he made his little proclamation in Poland. The media and blogosphere should be reminding the world how reckless it was for President Bush to be putting out unverified information (”We found WMDs.”) in his Poland speech.


  173. Shirley Says:

    If this numbnut goes ahead and attacks Iran…I hope Scottie has a bunker like
    all the cowards around him…while the middle class kids in this country go and fight,
    because their Commander in Chief tells them to….
    That is what pisses me off…the fact that not one of those kids of this lying
    administration goes and fights….much like their parents…..our kids, in the middle
    and poor income of this country…do their dirty work for them…I wish to hell they
    would refuse.


  174. Mark Says:

    Scottie lies because he was told to lie.
    The press corps should walk out and stop reporting the lies. All the twisting of the truth by this administration serves no purpose.
    BTW - I am a republican and I am ashamed of my party.


  175. Keeper Says:

    Scotty, hasn’t anyone told you about the little boy that cried wolf? Well its your wolfy time…as no one with an average IQ beleives this admistration on very much…


  176. Constant Says:

    White House should apologize for . . .making others apologize for . . .reporting the White House war crimes.


  177. Carter Stein Says:

    The question is what did he know, and when did he know it?

    There have been so many lies that have been uncovered, reported and then denied, that there is not a sane individual that would support this pattern of abuse of God’s commandments.

    Our government has a responsibility to learn the answer to “the question”.

    Hell has a place for those that ignore God.

    King George II has responsibility to both.