McClellan Stonewalls

Despite the fact that the questions about the Rove/Plame affair at the last three days of White House Press conferences are actually on a serious matter, they still make for hilarious reading. Press Secretary Scott McClellan has stonewalled virtually every question the press corps has thrown at him with his answer that the White House refuses to comment on the ongoing investigation at the request of the special prosecutor.

Which, frankly, is bullshit because: 1) the White House was happy to comment on the ongoing investigation when the information of the day was exculpatory rather than incriminating; 2) a good number of questions that have been shot down with this defense are actually not 'related to the investigation' in any legal sense of the words; and 3) the special prosecutor never asked the White House to clam up to begin with.

But you've got to admire the press for nonetheless trying to get their quote. They've tried forcing McClellan to defend past statements. They've asked about McClellan's previous willingness to answer 'related questions.' They've asked the simple, deadly, question: does the president think Rove did something wrong? Does the President stand by his statement that anyone who he found was involved in the leak would be shown the door? They've asked about the President and the First Lady's personal feelings for their old buddy Karl, and whether they are "at this point, ebbing or flowing." It's all so creative. But as a wise man once said, you don't have take my word for it:

MR. McCLELLAN: Again, this is a creative way to come out to the same kind of questions.
Q: You're right, it is, and I want an answer.

At least he's impressed by his adversaries. Let's hope their tenacity proves worthy of his admiration as well.

Posted by Clint Hendler on 07/13/05 at 04:13 PM

http://www.motherjones.com/mojoblog/archives/2005/07/mclellan_stonew.html