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Politics : Sioux Nation -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: T L Comiskey who wrote (27713)	7/12/2005 2:46:02 PM
From: T L Comiskey	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 361123

Spokesman Holds Tongue During Intense Grilling part two McClellan delivered a nearly verbatim response to CBS's John Roberts, so NBC's David Gregory tried to provoke him, asking: "Did Karl Rove commit a crime?" "This is a question relating to an ongoing investigation," a pained McClellan repeated. After dodging some follow-up questions, he tried to quiet Gregory by saying, "Let me finish." Tuesday, July 12, at 11 a.m. ET Valerie Plame Leak: Rove's Role Washington Post staff writer Dana Milbank discusses Karl Rove's role in the leak of Valerie Plame's identity. McClellan Briefing on Leak Investigation Transcript Video (C-SPAN.org) Latest Post Coverage Bush Aide Deflects Questions On Rove Suggest a Sketch What scenes of Washington politics would you like Dana Milbank to write about? E-mail your suggestions of people, places or events -- along with your name and hometown to Sketch@washpost.com. Gregory almost shouted back: "No, you're not finishing. You're not saying anything." ABC's Terry Moran tried next, observing that Rove "has essentially been caught red-handed peddling this information." McClellan repeated his mantra. "Ongoing criminal investigation," said he. The spokesman gave a substantive answer to only one question, saying prosecutors asked the White House in 2003 to stop making public comments on the case. But that only made matters worse, because Bush himself continued to talk about the leaks in 2004. When this inconsistency was pointed out, McClellan clammed up, saying: "You can keep asking [questions], but you have my response." This incited the normally mild-mannered Richard Stevenson of the New York Times, who retorted: "We are going to keep asking them." As the barrage continued, McClellan reached for a lifeline, calling on Raghubir Goyal of the India Globe, who reliably asks about Pakistan -- and did so again. A grateful McClellan offered Goyal an expansive response about how "free nations are peaceful societies." McClellan tried for relief from Fox News, but Carl Cameron hit him with a tough one. "Does the president continue to have confidence in Mr. Rove?" McClellan wouldn't say, so a mischievous April Ryan of American Urban Radio Networks tried to get McClellan to say something -- anything -- about Rove. "Who is Karl Rove as it relates to this administration?" she asked. "I think I've responded," McClellan answered. The press secretary seemed grateful when questions turned to other subjects, such as the Supreme Court, the attacks in London or a withdrawal from Iraq. At other times, he seemed to plead for understanding from his questioners, saying they "know the type of person that I am." McClellan is indeed well liked by the press corps. But that counts for little now, when recent events have shown that he either misled reporters deliberately or was duped by his White House colleagues. Ken Herman, the voluble Cox News White House reporter, even invoked Watergate days, asking if McClellan's previous statements are "all inoperative." Finally, a merciful Steve Holland of Reuters called an end to the interrogation. As McClellan turned to depart, CNN's Bob Franken asked if he could have one more question. McClellan paused, but Franken, reconsidering, waved the spokesman off. "It's not worth it," he said.