Posted on 09/07/2005 10:03:23 PM PDT by Christian4Bush
The following exchange is from Thursday's White House Press Conference, between (P)(MS)NBC reporter David Gregory and White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan:
Q Scott, does the President retain confidence in his FEMA Director and Secretary of Homeland Security?
MR. McCLELLAN: And again, David, see, this is where some people want to look at the blame game issue, and finger-point. We're focused on solving problems, and we're doing everything we can --
Q What about the question?
MR. McCLELLAN: We're doing everything we can in support --
Q We know all that.
MR. McCLELLAN: -- of the Department of Homeland Security and FEMA.
Q Does he retain complete confidence --
MR. McCLELLAN: We're going to continue. We appreciate the great effort that all of those at FEMA, including the head of FEMA, are doing to help the people in the region. And I'm just not going to engage in the blame game or finger-pointing that you're trying to get me to engage.
Q Okay, but that's not at all what I was asking.
MR. McCLELLAN: Sure it is. It's exactly what you're trying to play.
Q You have your same point you want to make about the blame game, which you've said enough now. I'm asking you a direct question, which you're dodging.
MR. McCLELLAN: No --
Q Does the President retain complete confidence in his Director of FEMA and Secretary of Homeland Security, yes or no?
MR. McCLELLAN: I just answered the question.
Q Is the answer "yes" on both?
MR. McCLELLAN: And what you're doing is trying to engage in a game of finger-pointing.
Q There's a lot of criticism. I'm just wondering if he still has confidence.
MR. McCLELLAN: -- and blame-gaming. What we're trying to do is solve problems, David. And that's where we're going to keep our focus.
Q So you're not -- you won't answer that question directly?
MR. McCLELLAN: I did. I just did.
Q No, you didn't. Yes or no? Does he have complete confidence or doesn't he?
MR. McCLELLAN: No, if you want to continue to engage in finger-pointing and blame-gaming, that's fine --
Q Scott, that's ridiculous. I'm not engaging in any of that.
MR. McCLELLAN: It's not ridiculous.
Q Don't try to accuse me of that. I'm asking you a direct question and you should answer it. Does he retain complete confidence in his FEMA Director and Secretary of Homeland Security, yes or no?
MR. McCLELLAN: Like I said -- that's exactly what you're engaging in.
Q I'm not engaging in anything. I'm asking you a question about what the President's views are --
MR. McCLELLAN: Absolutely -- absolutely --
Q -- under pretty substantial criticism of members of his administration. Okay? And you know that, and everybody watching knows that, as well.
MR. McCLELLAN: No, everybody watching this knows, David, that you're trying to engage in a blame game.
Q I'm trying to engage?
MR. McCLELLAN: Yes.
Q I am trying to engage?
MR. McCLELLAN: That's correct.
Q That's a dodge. I have a follow-up question since you dodged that one. Does the White House feel like it missed opportunities to alleviate or head off some of the damage in the New Orleans area, flood damage? Did it miss an opportunity to head any of that off?
MR. McCLELLAN: In what way?
Q In responding to requests to make structural improvements, or other improvements to alleviate flood damage, and so forth?
MR. McCLELLAN: Maybe you ought to look at what General Strock said, because General Strock briefed on this the other day and he talked about the design issues relating to the levees and how that was a design issue. And he talked about that. And we provided, I think it was some $300 million in additional funding over the course of the administration for flood control in the Southeast Louisiana area. But General Strock talked about that and he talked about some of those issues. And any suggestion that it would have prevented something, that there could have been action that would have prevented something, I think he dismissed because of those reasons.
Q So if the President still has confidence in the FEMA Director, how is it that the FEMA Director is suddenly invisible? No briefings, nowhere out front, it's all gone to Secretary Chertoff.
MR. McCLELLAN: I think he's going to brief later today. I think he's briefing later today.
Q Brown is?
MR. McCLELLAN: Yes. And, again, that's clearly now just an attempt to try to engage in this finger-pointing, and we're going to continue focusing on solving problems.
Q He's been the focus of an enormous amount of criticism. You know that, and yet, you choose not to respond.
MR. McCLELLAN: I just talked about how there are over 75 -- no, that's not true. There are over 75,000 people that are involved in all the response and recovery and law enforcement when it comes to Katrina. And we appreciate the efforts of everyone. We appreciate the efforts of Secretary Chertoff and Undersecretary Brown and all those at FEMA who continue to work round-the-clock to get things done and to identify problems and fix those problems.
PING
I'm glad Scott finally slapped that gangly twit down!
I'd kick David Gregory's ass! And then make him lick my shoes.
I don't like the biased, communist, suck-up!
Suzi, that was about the most pissed that I've heard Scott McClellan. (and for McClellan, that says a lot)
Were it me, Blowhair Boy would have been given an ultimatum. "David, that question was asked and answered. No followups. You have a problem with it? There's the door. One of those well-dressed men with the guns will escort you out through it. By the way, leave your press pass at the door, will ya David? That's a good lad."
Which is why W hasn't asked me to be his press secretary.
Best thing for a bully is a punch in the nose, best thing for somebody who acceeds to bullying is to punch that bully in the nose. In this case figuratively sadly.
David Gregory is the worst slime in the press corp. Second is Terry Moron. They're only interested in playing "gotcha" with Scott. I'm not surprised if he's had quite enough of it.
******
David Gregory's wife, Beth Wilkinson, worked for the Clinton administration under Janet Reno and Jamie Gorelick.
Beth Wilkinson (NBC, David Gregory's wife) is a partner at Latham & Watkins in Washington. A top counter-terrorism official in the Justice Department during the Clinton administration.
I like your response much better than Scott's. I'd love you to be press secretary for just a day!
I'm sorry, but it always sounds to me like McClellan goes out of his way to not answer event he simplest of questions.
Would it have killed him to say "yes" if that was the answer?
I really miss Ari Fliesher. When he didn't answer questions it sounded like he was answering them. When Scott WANTS to answer questions it sounds like he isn't.
I should send this to Laura Ingraham for tomorrow's show. The presser hadn't started yet, before the end of her show. I'm a 365 subscriber, and I guarantee you, she dislikes Blowhair Boy (her name for Gregory) as much as, if not more than, you do.
Me too.
Why didn't McClellan simply answer: "yes"
That twit Gregory was about to fall out of his chair,he was pathetic when it came to getting his sound-bite.
McClellan put a hurt on him.
This type of criticism has never fed a hungry child.
I heard it, too. McClellan smacked the Pretty Boy down real good, didn't he?
I agree with you, I miss Ari a lot! Scott frustrates me with his calm, repetitive non-answers. But the press corp is unconscionably merciless on him.
It's obvious.
Hell, I'd just machine gun the room...opps, sorry, don't know what got into me. Now who can I blame for this? hmmmm....
If a reporter insists on asking a dishonest "when did he stop beating his wife" question, I see no reason why the Press Secretary is obligated to play along with the reporter's game...
Princess Cupcake isn't even a good reporter.
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