September 8, 2005

Press insurgency
Scottie gets spanked. Repeatedly.
And not in a good way, either.

"Scott, you talk about looking ahead, and on that point, why should the American people have confidence?"

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. {"Poopyhead!"}

Q: I am trying to engage? {"I double-dog dare you to answer that question, Scott!"}

MR. McCLELLAN: That's correct.

Q: That's a dodge.

And later...

Q: Does the President agree with his bitch mother that the homeless taken from New Orleans to Houston are much better off now because they were underprivileged in New Orleans?

MR. McCLELLAN: I think she was making a personal observation on some of the comments that people were making that she was running into. I'm not sure that that's exactly what she said, but --

Q: I have it right here if you need it.

MR. McCLELLAN:
-- what we're focused on -- what we're focused on is helping these people who are in need.

Q: Does he agree with his mother?

MR. McCLELLAN: And I think that the observation is based on someone who -- or some people that were talking to her, that were in need of a lot of assistance, people that have gone through a lot of trauma and been through a very difficult and trying time. And all of a sudden, they are now getting great help in the state of Texas from some of the shelters.

Q: "It's scary that they're all coming to Texas."

MR. McCLELLAN: Again, I think you can look at her comments.

Q: That is what she said, though.

MR. McCLELLAN: La la la, la la la!


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