White House Reacts to Joe Wilson's Deception

White House Press Office ^ | 7/15/2004 | White House Press Office

[ConservativeMajority]

From Thursday's White House press briefing:

JEFF GANNON, TALON NEWS: Last Friday, the Senate Intelligence Committee released a report that shows that Ambassador Joe Wilson lied when he said his wife didn't put him up for the mission to Niger. The British inquiry into their own prewar intelligence yesterday concluded that the President's 16 words were "well-founded." Doesn't Joe Wilson owe the President and America an apology for his deception and his own intelligence failure?

MR. McCLELLAN: Well, one, let me point out that I think those reports speak for themselves on that issue. And I think if you have questions about that, you can direct that to Mr. Wilson.

JEFF GANNON, TALON NEWS: Well, we spent so many weeks here dissecting the 16 words that are now absolutely true. Don't you think --

HELEN THOMAS: How do you know that?

JEFF GANNON, TALON NEWS: Excuse me, Helen. Don't you think that America deserves the opportunity to have this information brought forward, as well?

MR. McCLELLAN: Well, I noticed the media reports on this very issue over the weekend.

JEFF GANNON, TALON NEWS: There were very few of them.

MR. McCLELLAN: And I certainly recognize that it was getting a lot of attention previously. But I think the reports speak for themselves on it.

[Frank_Discussion]

lololololol!!!

[Zack Nguyen]

But, uh, the White House reaction was zero. Totally anemic, forced by a question. As the reporter brought up, this smarmy Wilson did months of damage with his lies and now the White House is doing nothing to right the wrongs.

Well said. This is inexplicable to me. One of the President's enemies has been shown to be a liar, and the White House does nothing.

[alwaysconservative]

I second what kevkrom said; you are doing a terrific job in exposing the lies! It must be lonely to have so few people of integrity in the press willing to ask the questions that matter. Keep up the great work!

BTW, is it my imagination, or did McClellan really whiff this one too? Why couldn't he just hit it out of the park for once?

[Bluegrass Federalist]

My guess is that this is a deliberate strategy. If the WH makes a big issue of it now, the press can't ignore it, and will have on a million liberal guests to immediately spin it, after which they will sweep it under the rug.

If Bush lets the story percolate for a week or more, lets it get legs of its own and lets people get wind of it slowly, then it is "out there" in a way that doesn't look just like a WH denial. THEN the WH can start playing to it more, with greater effect.

Just a possibility.

[petercooper]

[Shermy]

Now don't jump to conclusions. The only thing Helen Thomas may have read on the matter is that James Risen, New York Times smoke and mirrors article.

[Ditto]

I guess Wilson doesn't have to worry about who is going to play his wife in the movie now that we have found out he is a lying rat.

How about Helen Thomas? Produced by Michael Moore. Putting lies on paper and film is their only talent.

[dave k]

The oft quoted line from Rodney Dangerfield comes to mind:

"Sheez - last time I saw a mouth like that, it had a hook in it!"

[ConservativeMajority]

See and hear the exchange at:

www.cspan.org

Click "Bush administration" under Featured Topics then click on the "White House Press Briefing..."

The exchange occurs at 23:00.

Enjoy!

[Steve_Seattle]

"But I think the reports speak for themselves on it."

No they don't, Mr. McLellan, if the press buries the story. Can you imagine Clinton or any other Democrat downplaying vindication on an issue for which they were hammered by the media? McLellan isn't earning his keep, and if he's saying this stuff on orders from Rove or Bush, it's a mistake. They need to fight back.

[Steve_Seattle]

"why does the White House spokesperson (AFTER HE'S GIVEN a GREAT OPENING), just dribbles out the these revelations just "speak for themselves"????"

It's appalling; Bush needs to fight the negative press, and he's blowing the best chance he's had in a long time. This is almost suicidal.

[Steven W.]

Wilson should be prosecuted for Obstruction of Justice and it's likely the WH realizes this and are continuing to hang low pending further resolution from the prosecutor.

[StriperSniper]

Great job Jeff!

I was going to link the C-SPAN video(watching and waiting now ;-), but I don't know how to link to javascript. :(

[netmilsmom]

Wow Doug! You're my hero!

[kitkat]

BUMP

[Solson]

Jeff Gannon - THANK YOU! You are doing great work for all of us. Keep it up...and stop being polite to Helen. :)

[job]

"Excuse me--Sid and Marty Kroft puppet . . ."

[kevkrom]

It's appalling; Bush needs to fight the negative press, and he's blowing the best chance he's had in a long time. This is almost suicidal.

It seems contradictory, doesn't it? The campaign is extremely reactive on some items, and yet lets others slide. I'm just hoping there's a pattern here somewhere that makes sense...

[Beckwith]

Helen Thomas, Michael Moore, Whoopi Goldberg . . .

Do you have to pass an ugly test to be a liberal?

[Steve_Seattle]

Cyncooper pointed out on another thread that the Plame investigation is still going on and the WH has to be careful what it says during an ongoing investigation. I had completely forgotten about that aspect of this, and in retrospect I think the WH is doing the right thing by taking a low-key approach at this time.