Posted on 09/05/2006 3:35:58 PM PDT by Peach
NEW YORK A not especially eventful press briefing at the White House today turned rancorous with NBC's David Gregory telling Press Secretary Tony Snow, "Don't point your finger at me," and Snow accusing the newsman of being "rude" and delivering Democratic talking points.
Earlier, speaking to reporters, Snow, continuing the administration's media focus on the war on terror, accused "some in the Democratic Party" of saying "we shouldn't fight the war" and "we shouldn't apprehend al-Qaeda" or even "question al-Qaeda."
Snow got into a tussle with Gregory after the NBC journalist told him, in a lengthy remark, that the public may wonder why the president's statement and report today on the war on terror did not admit more failings on the administration's part. Snow observed that he had nicely summarized "the Democratic point of view," and Gregory took exception to this.
This exchange followed. *
Q Actually, Tony, I don't think that's fair, if you look at the facts. If you look at the facts.
MR. SNOW: Well, I do, because -- no, because, for instance --
Q No, no, no. No, I don't think you should be able to just wipe that, kind of dismiss the question --
MR. SNOW: Well, let me --
Q It's not a Democratic argument, Tony.
MR. SNOW: Let me answer the question, David.
Q But hold on, let's not let you get away with saying that's a Democratic argument.
MR. SNOW: Okay, let me -- let's not let you get away with being rude. Let me just answer the question, and you can come back at me.
Q Excuse me. Don't point your finger at me. I'm not being rude.
MR. SNOW: Yes, you are.
Q Don't try to dismiss me as making a Democratic argument, Tony, when I'm speaking fact.
MR. SNOW: Well, okay -- well, no --
Q You can do that to the Democrats; don't do it to me.
MR. SNOW: No, I'm doing it to you because the second part was factually tendentious, okay? Now, when you were talking about the fact that it failed to adapt, that's just flat wrong. And you will be -- there has been -- there have been repeated attempts to try to adapt to military realities, to diplomatic realities, to development of new weapons and tools on the part of al Qaeda, including the very creative use of the Internet. So the idea that somehow we're staying the course is just wrong. It is absolutely wrong.
* Elsewhere, Snow denied that the president's statement and report today on the war on terrorism were political in any way. "I think it belittles it by trying to dismiss it as politics," he said. But later, when a reporter asked, "But you don't disagree that he's trying to frame the debate for what is an important political choice?", Snow replied: "Absolutely. Of course, of course."
He also said there would be no troop withdrawals in Iraq any time and reiterated the president's strong support for Pentagon chief Donald Rumsfeld. President Bush "would love to see members of both Houses of Congress returning to that sense of cooperation we had after September 11th."
Here is an excerpt from Snow's remarks:
"There have been some in the Democratic Party who have argued against the Patriot Act, against the terror surveillance program, against Guantanamo. In other words, there are some people who say that we shouldn't fight the war, we should not detain -- we shouldn't apprehend al Qaeda, we shouldn't detain al Qaeda, we shouldn't question al Qaeda, and we shouldn't listen to al Qaeda. In other words, they're all for winning the war on terror, but they're all against -- they're against providing the tools for winning that war.
"And we think it's a perfect opportunity for Democratic leaders to say, no, we are serious about winning the war. We have now reiterated some of the basic precepts of administration policy and also the policy put together by generals over the months of the engagement in Iraq. And we look forward to working with members of Congress to figure out how best to prevent terrorists from coming here, but, more importantly, how to defeat terrorism.
"Finally, one other point, which is, there is a reiteration of a call to replace or have Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld stand down. The President strongly supports the Defense Secretary. It's not going to happen. Creating Don Rumsfeld as a boogeyman may make for good politics, but would make for a lousy strategy at this time. And, furthermore, if you listen to the speech that Secretary Rumsfeld gave last week, it was not only thoughtful, but comprehensive about trying to frame the ongoing war against terror, and also the war going on in Iraq and Afghanistan.
"So this, again, is something that the President would love to see members of both Houses of Congress returning to that sense of cooperation we had after September 11th, where the real goal was not to try to hand out pink slips at the Pentagon, but instead to win the war on terror in a way that is going to make not only America safer, but also the rest of the world safer so that democracy can take firm root throughout the globe."
Which finger did he point?
Hateful and disrespectful. Can't stand David Gregory.
Gregory is such a DNC whore and punk. Tony should simply just stop calling on him. Just don't pay any attention to this whiny stoodge. HE needs access, we do NOT have any need to talk to him.
"Don't try to dismiss me as making a Democratic argument, Tony, when I'm speaking fact."
Somebody ought to make a bumper sticker out of that one.
I didnt realize how lacking scott was. Snow really puts the drunkard in his place and no i am not talking about fat ted but dnc pinup boy david
WOW...way to go TONY!!!
Did you watch the briefing..did it show it??
Rush: NBC's David Gregory Caught Putting on Makeup at White House shooting
What a maroon...
Is Gregory back on the bottle?
Tony, Tony, Tony. Don't pont your finger at Gregory. He'll wet his panties and start crying, and then - horrors - his mascara will run!
Tony has taken off the "Kick me" sign and Gregory can't stand it. He can dish it out but he can't take it. Too bad!
I had never heard that before; you have such a good memory!
David Gregory needs to go home and have his mommy change his diapers....both him and what he says and writes STINK!!!
Of course, since pointing at a reporter is the traditional way to call on them, I think Tony should accept Gregory's imperial command and never point to him (call on him) again.
Sounds good to me.
I wasn't home until shortly before the president's speech and I think Tony's WH briefing was around 12:15 so I missed it. Darn it!
Why don't they revoke Drunkard Gregory's White House press pass?? He only got so hot under the collar because he was nailed dead to rights. He knows he's a Democratic zombie shill. The only reason he's attacking the president's record on terrorism is because he knows that's the soft under belly of the Democrats and likely doing their bidding, he's trying to attack the president where he's strong. This fool needs to be given the boot.
Why when Clinton was bragging about the state of the economy on a daily basis was his press secretary never asked to detail the failings in the economy during that time, like record bankruptcy rates or high gas prices (since the media sees those as a leading economic indicator) in 1997-2000? No, the media just saw nothing but green lights and blue skies as far as the eye could see during the 90s and never demanded Bill Clinton discuss his own failings while bragging up how pristine the world was and all thanks to him.
"...at most, twice a year..."?
You're being very generous.
If I were Tony Snow, they'd end up on my "No Questions Accepted Whatsoever" list.
What a weenie.
Was Gregory drunk or did he lose his brain cell again?
I agree; I wouldn't call on him until he apologizes for his rude behavior.
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Ditto that. He's a sissified metrosexual.
Ooh, that'll leave a mark! LOL!
drunk on the phone too.
Unless Tony gave him The Finger, Gregory is being a sissy. LOL
Give 'em hell Tony.
White House finally reclaiming the language and framing the debate.
bookmark
Food Fight Ping
I just thought it was hilarious that Gregory basically said "I'm not spewing Dim talking points, this is factual." Not the impression he intended to leave, I'm sure.
LOL.
You all are cracking me up.
Gregory's picture is next to the dictionary definition of "sniffs little girls' bicycle seats."
Right! I forgot about that!
Eeeew.
Somebody ought to make a bumper sticker out of that one.
The fact is, David Gregory is a Dim stooge! That's the fact!
Mark
Do you know me? I was the jumped-up, arse-kissing, annoying teacher's pet who also served as student body president. You got to hear my grating voice over the loudspeaker and watch me and my Hawaii Five-O hair at student assemblies.
Of course, I went on to journalism school and then hired at NBC.
My name? Big Dave Gregory aka Know-Nothing Unctuous B*stard.
Probably his pinky...
"...why the president's statement and report today on the war on terror did not admit more failings on the administration's part..."
Funny, I never once remember hearing that question being asked of Clinton's administration on say, Kosovo, Waco, Alian Gonzales, Embassy bombings, OKC Bombing..... the list could just go on...
LOL. Not really :(
Some things just stick :)
Several thoughts: we need to get some of those big sports fingers and follow Gregory and point them at him A LOT. HA!
Snow ought to point fingers more, and
Snow ought to never call on Gregory again, especially by pointing to the person and calling out the name.
My kids, or was it me, came up with a description for a face like Gegory's. It had something to do with an elephant sitting down and elimination.
Gregory is a sniveling puke and Tony should completely ignore him unless he can come around and be a halfway decent person. Tony isn't paid to put with tantrums from the likes of Gregory.
It's now $1.25? WTF?!
I really, ~really~, like Tony Snow in his new position at the White House. He's spectacular at the podium. Maybe the best I've ever seen.
It's in their blood, dude, and they don't know it. It's in the water they swim, the water they drink, these fish don't know they're wet. A natural tendency, a conspiracy of minds. The clown really thinks he's speaking facts and not talking points.
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