Scott McClellan: "That is my job." "I'm not aware." "I don't know."

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2005/01/20050110-8.html

Q How many journalists does the administration have on its -- under contract to promote its programs? And what are the guidelines that you spoke of earlier this morning? You were very vague, and I'd like to know what they are.

MR. McCLELLAN: I'm not aware of any others that are under contract other than the one that's been reported on in the media. And questions have been raised about that arrangement. It ought to be looked into, and there are ways to look into matters of that nature. As a matter of principle, we believe very strongly that the media ought to be reporting in an objective, unbiased and fair manner. And so that's the principle upon which we believe people should be guided. And the government certainly has a responsibility to help when it comes to providing accurate information and helping to adhere to that principle.

Q It's your job, too, isn't it?

MR. McCLELLAN: That is my job.

Q The point is you have hired someone. And why did you, and who would do this investigation?

MR. McCLELLAN: In terms of the specific contract you're referring to, I don't know all the details of that contract. The Department of Education can provide you with information on the specific details within that arrangement. But I think I made it very clear as a matter of principle what our view is, and I think the Department of Education Counsel's Office looked into the matter and reviewed it. There are also questions about whether or not this commentator should have been disclosing this information publicly. And so those are all legitimate questions.

Q So he wasn't properly supervised in that respect, or he didn't have the proper guidance to know how he was to behave?

MR. McCLELLAN: Well, see, that's one of the questions you might want to direct to Department of Education because I'm not sure about the specific details within this arrangement. But as a matter of a principle, I think our view is very clear.

Q Just to follow up, will you check as far as you can to see if you're paying any other journalists?

MR. McCLELLAN: I don't know of any. Obviously, decisions are made by individual agencies. I'm not aware of any other arrangements of that nature.



White House Says Reporter Hire Was Isolated

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,143922,00.html



CHICAGO — The White House said Monday that the case of the Education Department (search) paying a conservative commentator to plug its policies was an isolated incident, not a practice widely used by the Bush administration.

With the Education Department still defending its $240,000 contract with syndicated columnist and TV personality Armstrong Williams (search), White House spokesman Scott McClellan was cautious in choosing his comments.

"Questions have been raised about that arrangement, it ought to be looked into, and there are ways to look into matters of that nature," McClellan said. The spokesman did not say precisely who should look into it, and stopped short of backing an inquiry by the department's inspector-general, as some lawmakers have sought. He noted that department lawyers have taken up the matter.

McClellan said the news media "ought to be reporting in an objective, unbiased and fair manner."

[BlueEyedSon]

1. Q: Scotty, if you knew of any, would you actually tell us?

[BrainRants]

2. "There are also questions about whether or not this commentator

should have been disclosing this information publicly."

He fuckin' knows who's on the take. Bet on it!

[arcane1]

3. wow, they are actually ASKING????

SWEET! :bounce:

[Inland]

4. "I don't know, I didn't ask, I won't ask, and no,

you can't talk to anyone else."

Thanks for all that information, Scott.

[The Backlash Cometh]

7. LOL!

A twist on the three monkey syndrome. See no evil, hear no evil, but speak reems of evil.

[SillyGoose]

5. hmmm...

"There are also questions about whether or not this commentator should have been disclosing this information publicly."

which is just a polite way of saying "Armstrong Williams should have kept his big fat mouth shut."


crooked bastards :grr:

[tanyev]

9. Yep.

The problem is obviously not that he took money, it's that he revealed that he took money. Just like the problem at Abu Ghraib was not the torture, but that they took pictures and those pictures were made public. Remember how Bush promised when he took office that his administration would take every precaution to avoid the appearance of impropriety? That's not actually a promise to avoid impropriety.

[jimshoes]

6. Ah... the dummy up defense...

and basically what this amounts to is, they've been caught red-handed.

[troubleinwinter]

8. Do NOT answer the question!

Q Just to follow up, will you check as far as you can to see if you're paying any other journalists?

MR. McCLELLAN: I don't know of any. Obviously, decisions are made by individual agencies. I'm not aware of any other arrangements of that nature.