Why being White House Press Secretary is no fun..

[SirFozzie]

Because you can't get away with a no comment. The press puts on a full court press, apparently, when he says he's not going to comment, they don't believe him

The president relied on the publicly released intelligence assessment, McClellan said. Yes, but did the president also have the contrary report from the group of experts? You'll have to ask the intelligence community why it said what it said in the intelligence assessment, McClellan said. Yes, but did the president have the contrary report from the experts? These things take a while to work through the system, McClellan said. Yes, but did he have the report from the experts? It was reckless of ABC to use the Post story as a basis for saying that Bush knew his statement was false, McClellan said.

An ABC reporter tried again: "Was the president aware of the faxed field report?" McClellan snapped back: "I think it's reckless reporting for ABC to go this morning and say that the Washington Post says that the president knew at the time what he was saying was not true."

Reporter: So was the president made aware of the fact . . .

McClellan: And are you all going to apologize?

Reporter: Was the president made aware of the faxed field report?

McClellan: Are you all going to apologize for that?

Reporter: Was the president aware of the faxed field report?

McClellan: Is that a correct statement?

Reporter: Scott, was the president made aware of the field report that was faxed?

McClellan: Jessica, I just told you, I've asked the intelligence community what they based this paper on. I can't tell you what they based their paper on. You have to. We're not an intelligence-gathering agency.

Reporter: No, but was the field report faxed . . .

McClellan: The president made his comments based on this white paper that was publicly released by the Central Intelligence Agency and the Defense Intelligence Agency, which is the arm of the -- which is an arm of the Pentagon . . .

Reporter: . . . the question is, was he aware of this report on May 27th?

McClellan: I just told you -- you shouldn't make any assumptions, but you should go and ask the intelligence community what was this based on. I can't tell you what they based that on. They're the intelligence-gathering agency.

Reporter: You can tell us if the president had this information. Did he have this information?

McClellan: Jessica, this -- I just saw this report. I'll come back with more information if there is. But this is reckless reporting. And for you all to go on the air this morning and make such a charge is irresponsible . . . .

A few minutes later, the ABC reporter asked McClellan to "clarify" what specifically was wrong with the Post's article. "I've got to go," McClellan said, then insisted that he'd already done just that. The reporter began to ask McClellan again whether he was denying that Bush was aware of the faxed report from the experts at the time he spoke about the supposed mobile weapons labs. McClellan cut her off.

McClellan: Hang on. Are you saying that the president went out there and said something that he knew was not true? That's what you said on ABC News --

Reporter: I didn't say anything on ABC News --

McClellan: ABC News said that this morning. And is ABC News going to apologize for making that assertion?

Reporter: My question is, are you denying that there was . . .

McClellan: You haven't answered my question. Are you going to apologize for that?

Reporter: . . . contrary information?

McClellan: I just did, Jessica. I just answered that very question.

[MrBigglesworth]

McClellan is insisting that the media apologize for reporting that Bush lied/stretched the truth/was deceitful. Hilarious.

[albionmoonlight]

I've thought about that on my list of "Jobs I would never take no matter what." Of course, I imagine that my mind may change when I see what kind of cushy gigs in the private sector await former White House Press Secretaries.

[BucDawg40]

McClellan has been in over his head since the day he took over for Ari Fleischer. He is not nearly as good in his role as the president's personal liar as his predecessor.

[Toddzilla]

Good grief - this guy is the Jennifer Winter of the White House.

[WSUCougar]

Originally Posted by albionmoonlight

I've thought about that on my list of "Jobs I would never take no matter what."

Agreed.

That being said, McClellan is a dork. And I don't mean that in a political way, I mean that in an absolute dork way.

[SirFozzie]

Originally Posted by Toddzilla

Good grief - this guy is the Jennifer Winter of the White House.

I can see it both ways.. the ABC person KNOWS she's not gonna get a straight answer, and keeps trying to run over him.

Usually when two parties are both trying to run each over in a conversation.. There's a big messy collision..

Case in point, being the first post of this topic.

[JPhillips]

Q. What do Scott McClellan and a douche bag have in common?




A. They're both douche bags.

[Maple Leafs]

Wow... the other reporters must have just stared at her in confusion. "We can ask tough questions? We can dig for answers? Since when?"

[Honolulu_Blue]

Originally Posted by BucDawg40

McClellan has been in over his head since the day he took over for Ari Fleischer. He is not nearly as good in his role as the president's personal liar as his predecessor.

I agree, though McClellan has gotten the shit end of this stick. Fleischer's time as press secratary was a walk in the park when compared to all the shit-storms MClellan has had to deal with

[WSUCougar]

He always has that look on his face like a kid in 3rd grade who just took a dump in his pants.

John Stewart always has a blast with his clips on The Daily Show.

[Swaggs]

Originally Posted by WSUCougar

He always has that look on his face like a kid in 3rd grade who just took a dump in his pants.

That comment, sir, almost made me choke on my drink.

[Honolulu_Blue]

Originally Posted by WSUCougar

John Stewart always has a blast with his clips on The Daily Show.

Those are good times...

[GrantDawg]

Originally Posted by Swaggs

That comment, sir, almost made me choke on my drink.

I won't tell you what I thought "drink" said the first time I read that.

[McSweeny]

Originally Posted by GrantDawg

I won't tell you what I thought "drink" said the first time I read that.

aahahah

i thought the exact same thing

[Swaggs]

Come on guys. Where are your heads?

If I was capable of pulling off that feat, do you think I would have 4500+ posts on FOFC?

[Shkspr]

Originally Posted by Swaggs

Come on guys. Where are your heads?

If I was capable of pulling off that feat, do you think I would have 4500+ posts on FOFC?

Technically, you'd have both hands free to type...

[SirFozzie]

Originally Posted by Swaggs

Come on guys. Where are your heads?

We weren't wondering where OUR heads were...