Transcript:Press Briefing by Scott McClellan (?'s Rove/Treasongate Day 3!)

[truthpusher]

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2005/07/20050713-7.html

Press Briefing by Scott McClellan
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James S. Brady Briefing Room
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12:44 P.M. EDT
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(snip)

And with that, I'm glad to go to your questions.

Q Scott, some White House advisors expressed surprise that the President didn't -- did not give a warm endorsement to Karl Rove when he was asked about him at the Cabinet meeting. They had expected that he would speak up. Can you explain why the President didn't give a -- express confidence?

MR. McCLELLAN: Sure. He wasn't asked about his support or confidence for Karl. As I indicated yesterday, every person who works here at the White House, including Karl Rove, has the confidence of the President. This was not a question that came up in the Cabinet Room.

Q Well, the President has never been restrained at staying right in the lines of a question, as you know. (Laughter.) He kind of -- he says whatever he wants. And if he had wanted to express confidence in Karl Rove, he could have. Why didn't he?

MR. McCLELLAN: He expressed it yesterday through me, and I just expressed it again.

Q Well, why doesn't he?

MR. McCLELLAN: He was not asked that specific question, Terry. You know that very well. The questions he were asked -- he was asked about were relating to an ongoing investigation.

Q But, Scott, he defended Al Gonzales without even being asked --

and lots, lots more.....complete transcript: http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2005/07/20050713-7.html

[southernleftylady]

1. oh this one is great..

Q Scott, you know what, to make a general observation here, in a previous administration, if a press secretary had given the sort of answers you've just given in referring to the fact that everybody who works here enjoys the confidence of the President, Republicans would have hammered them as having a kind of legalistic and sleazy defense. I mean, the reality is that you're parsing words, and you've been doing it for a few days now. So does the President think Karl Rove did something wrong, or doesn't he?

[Oreo]

2. David Gregory Rocks

Q Scott, you know what, to make a general observation here, in a previous administration, if a press secretary had given the sort of answers you've just given in referring to the fact that everybody who works here enjoys the confidence of the President, Republicans would have hammered them as having a kind of legalistic and sleazy defense. I mean, the reality is that you're parsing words, and you've been doing it for a few days now. So does the President think Karl Rove did something wrong, or doesn't he?

MR. McCLELLAN: No, David, I'm not at all. I told you and the President told you earlier today that we don't want to prejudge the outcome of an ongoing investigation. And I think we've been round and round on this for two days now.

Q Even if it wasn't a crime? You know, there are those who believe that even if Karl Rove was trying to debunk bogus information, as Ken Mehlman suggested yesterday -- perhaps speaking on behalf of the White House -- that when you're dealing with a covert operative, that a senior official of the government should be darn well sure that that person is not undercover, is not covert, before speaking about them in any way, shape, or form. Does the President agree with that or not?

MR. McCLELLAN: Again, we've been round and round on this for a couple of days now. I don't have anything to add to what I've said the previous two days.

Q That's a different question, and it's not round and round --

MR. McCLELLAN: You heard from the President earlier.

Q It has nothing to do with the investigation, Scott, and you know it.

MR. McCLELLAN: You heard from the President earlier today, and the President said he's not --

Q That's a dodge to my question. It has nothing to do with the investigation. Is it appropriate for a senior official to speak about a covert agent in any way, shape, or form without first finding out whether that person is working as a covert officer.

MR. McCLELLAN: Well, first of all, you're wrong. This is all relating to questions about an ongoing investigation, and I've been through this.

Q If I wanted to ask you about an ongoing investigation, I would ask you about the statute, and I'm not doing that.

MR. McCLELLAN: I think we've exhausted discussion on this the last couple of days.

Q You haven't even scratched the surface.

Q It hasn't started.

MR. McCLELLAN: I look forward to talking about it once the investigation is complete, as the President does, as well. And you heard from the President earlier today.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

3. I wish I had gotten to see this

Q Scott, from Africa, Mrs. Bush says, Karl Rove is a very good friend of mine; I've known him for years. And she's not going to speculate on any other part of the case. Well, does the President feel the same way about Karl Rove, the relationship with Karl Rove, a very good friend for many years?

MR. McCLELLAN: Yes, he does.

Q And at this point, is it ebbing or flowing? Is that relationship with the President ebbing or flowing? (Laughter.)

MR. McCLELLAN: Again, this is a creative way to come out to the same kind of questions.

Q You're right, it is, and I want an answer.

[whosinpower]

4. They are still pounding him

GOOD!!!!!!!!

[Lerkfish]

5. but note his complete avoidness now of even the questions...

I think they need to keep hammering him, and not let him get away with forcing them to ask about other topics.

[Orion The Hunter]

7. RE: Hehehe

That's right Scott...you just keep trying to bob and weave and the Press will just keep treating you like a piñata! Does the White House think these questions are just going to go away...?

[SlavesandBulldozers]

17. in short. yes, they do.

it's what they think, and what they fervently fucking pray for.

[A-Schwarzenegger]

6. Here's a great one in which reporter has to answer her own question.

Q I'm sorry, I wasn't here yesterday, so could you refresh my memory? Was there an ongoing investigation --

MR. McCLELLAN: The briefings are available online.

Q -- at the time that you answered previous questions on this issue?

MR. McCLELLAN: Again, I responded to those questions the past couple of days. Go ahead.

Q The answer is, yes.

[bonofor prez]

8. Please note the hypocrisy

I love it that someone has finally brought out that the re-pugs would have been outraged if a Democratic Administration did this. Could it be that the lies are finally going to wither in the light of day?

[donco6]

12. Ha! That was really loud today.

And the press was just laughing about it - it was so obvious.

[alarcojon]

13. Welcome to DU, bonoforprez!

Good first post. Keep 'em coming.

Yes, they got sooo much mileage parsing Clinton. They wouldn't let it go, like rabid dogs. Now Scotty is getting a tiny taste of that medicine.

Bush the plainspoken has given way to Bush the parser, and Scotty is making it abundantly clear that Rove is hiding under legalistic language and technicalities, and I just hope it keeps on coming. The MSM is even showing it on the news (some of them, anyways). The people are seeing these jackasses for what they are - bullies, punks, and traitors.

[JusticeForAll]

14. Welcome to DU!!

:toast: :hi:

[robertpaulsen]

9. The transcript edited the last Q.

KARL ROVE!

[A-Schwarzenegger]

10. HIS OWN ATTORNEY!

Bush is in this up to his empty forehead.
Whether Rove quits or gets fired (or neither)
will likely be based on how it will protect Bush from or make him more
vulnerable to the law, as well as to the people's perception
of Bush's guilt.

[ticapnews]

11. Scotty dodging questions reminds me of my 3-year-old nephew...

Right after the briefing my nephew decided he didn't want to put on his diaper. Every time I said "diaper", he pointed to something else and wanted to play with that instead. His owl, his frog, a scented candle he carries around, his Matchbox car...anything except the diaper. Seems a lot like Scotty choosing any reporter except those that wanted to ask about Rove's treason.

In the end, my nephew put on his diaper, and Scotty will have to answer these questions. The only question is whether it is from the podium in the White House briefing room or in front of a Grand Jury.

[Roland99]

15. "He was not asked that specific question"

Well, we all know this admin only sees in black-and-white.

[Roland99]

16. And Liar Boy went RIGHT to Goyal to get away from the badgering!

:rofl:



And this passage:

Q The Washington Times editorial page this morning published a cartoon comparing White House correspondents to sharks. My question, do you think that they were wrong to make this comparison? (Laughter.)

Q Go ahead, Scott, let her rip.

MR. McCLELLAN: I have a picture up in my office that everybody can look at.

Q We'll allow you to comment.

MR. McCLELLAN: Go ahead, Olivier.

Q Two quick ones on Iran --

MR. McCLELLAN: It may not look like it, but there's a little flesh that's been taken out of me the past few days. (Laughter.)

Q Where?

MR. McCLELLAN: Like I said, it may not look like it. (Laughter.) I can assure you that it has been.

The press is having a field day! It's like they're on summer vacation and they're letting loose!

[Twist_U_Up]

18. Reporters with spine ?

Bout damn time

Q Even if it wasn't a crime? You know, there are those who believe that even if Karl Rove was trying to debunk bogus information, as Ken Mehlman suggested yesterday -- perhaps speaking on behalf of the White House -- that when you're dealing with a covert operative, that a senior official of the government should be darn well sure that that person is not undercover, is not covert, before speaking about them in any way, shape, or form. Does the President agree with that or not?

MR. McCLELLAN: Again, we've been round and round on this for a couple of days now. I don't have anything to add to what I've said the previous two days.

Q That's a different question, and it's not round and round --

MR. McCLELLAN: You heard from the President earlier.

Q It has nothing to do with the investigation, Scott, and you know it.

MR. McCLELLAN: You heard from the President earlier today, and the President said he's not --

Q That's a dodge to my question. It has nothing to do with the investigation. Is it appropriate for a senior official to speak about a covert agent in any way, shape, or form without first finding out whether that person is working as a covert officer.

MR. McCLELLAN: Well, first of all, you're wrong. This is all relating to questions about an ongoing investigation, and I've been through this.

Q If I wanted to ask you about an ongoing investigation, I would ask you about the statute, and I'm not doing that.

MR. McCLELLAN: I think we've exhausted discussion on this the last couple of days.

Q You haven't even scratched the surface.