Perino To Reporters: ‘From Where I Stand And The Questions I Get,’ You Are Clueless About FISA

During today’s White House press briefing, spokeswoman Dana Perino announced that the Bush administration will be holding a “background briefing” on wiretapping this afternoon. Resisting their calls to have the briefing on the record, Perino claimed that it was for reporters to “understand the complexities of the issue and where we stand.”

The briefing, however, seems intended to brainwash reporters with White House talking points, rather than clear up any so-called “confusion.” Reporters quickly said that they are “quite clear” on the White House’s positions and the facts. Perino then snidely replied, “I don’t think so.” From today’s exchange:

QUESTION: I mean, the president’s made quite clear his position on retroactive liability and so on and so forth. I mean, what specifically is the point of confusion that you might be trying to address?

PERINO: I could go back to yesterday’s transcript. … There’s confusion as to what — what are the implications and the consequences of not having the Protect America Act. [...]

QUESTION: What’s the big mystery here? Don’t we know what this is about?

PERINO: From where I stand and the questions that I get, no. I don’t think so.

Watch it:

Perino pointed to the transcript of yesterday’s briefing as evidence of the reporters’ ignorance. The only one who appeared confused by the facts, however, was Perino.

Yesterday, Perino repeatedly claimed that because Congress refused to pass the administration’s version of the Protect America Act, U.S. intelligence collection was impaired. One reporter pointed out, “You’re still collecting intelligence.” Another charged that the government’s wiretap orders will last until at least August. Someone else stated that new targets can be pursued “as long as you come back within three days and get a warrant under FISA.”

Perino eventually gave up and responded with equivocations such as, “I’m not a lawyer” and “It’s a little bit more complex than that.” Seems like she’s the one who needs the “background briefing.”

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Transcript:

QUESTION: Finally, on FISA, could you just talk about what’s behind this afternoon’s background briefing?

Is there something specific that prompted that?

Because the president’s made quite clear his position on retroactive…

PERINO: Here’s what’s prompted it, actually. In my experience, having been following this issue for a long time and quite intensely, I think it is a very complex issue.

PERINO: And I believe that people here think that they would like to learn more about this issue so that they can have more background and understand the complexities of the issue and where we stand and the positions that the Department of Justice and the — I’m sorry — the director of national intelligence have taken. We thought it would be something that we should provide to you.

(CROSSTALK)

QUESTION: I mean, the president’s made quite clear his position on retroactive liability and so on and so forth. I mean, what specifically is the point of confusion that you might be trying to address?

PERINO: I could go back to yesterday’s transcript. There’s a lot of issues in terms of — this law has been in place since 1978. There’s a lot of history here with this law. There’s a lot that’s happened between April of 2007 and August of 2007 when the Protect America Act first passed. There’s confusion as to what — what are the implications and the consequences of not having the Protect America Act.

Now, I am not a lawyer. And this is a highly legal issue. You also have people at Department of Justice and the director of national intelligence who are directly working with the general counsel of the telecommunications companies that we need to have working with us. And they’re the ones that are in communication with them and understand their concerns and their needs.

And so this is an opportunity if people want to attend to get more information about that.

QUESTION: (OFF-MIKE) on the record?

PERINO: These are lawyers who — I’m on the record all the time. The attorney general and the director of national intelligence, who is testifying tomorrow, will be on the record.

This is background for your information and for your education. And if you want to attend, that would be great.

QUESTION: What’s the big mystery here? Don’t we know what this is about?

PERINO: From where I stand and the questions that I get, no. I don’t think so.