“Can you give me a straight answer for once?”
WH spokes-tool Scott McClellan engages in mutual torture with the press corps. A segment:
Q Is this all we should expect from the President, the ethics refresher courses, the extent of his reaction to the indictment?
McCLELLAN: Well, as you're aware, if you're asking a question about an ongoing investigation, we're not going to have further say at this point while it continues. It is a very serious matter, and we are going to continue to cooperate. That's what the President directed us to do and that's what we are doing.
Q Jebus, Scott, why are you such a #ucking tool? I asked you a different question. Is this the full extent of what the President deems necessary, "in light of circumstances?"
McCLELLAN: The President is always free to take the action that he feels is appropriate.
Q Does the President think that Karl Rove lived up to the highest ethical standards -
McCLELLAN: Again, that's a question relating to an ongoing investigation…
Q Do you think that while Karl Rove is under investigation that he should retain his security clearance?
McCLELLAN: I'm just not going to talk about an ongoing investigation. You're asking that question in the light of an ongoing investigation; it's something that continues at this point.
Q One last one on this. It just -- it strikes me as odd that, given the fact that Karl Rove has not been charged with any crime, he's merely under investigation, so far as we know, that the President's language about him and his confidence in him has been so distant, that he simply refuses to comment on his standing within the White House because of a pending matter.
McCLELLAN: No, I don't agree with that. I mean, Karl Rove is continuing to perform his duties as Deputy Chief of Staff and Senior Advisor. We appreciate all that he's doing.
Q So the President stands by Rove a hundred percent?
McCLELLAN: Well, I've made it clear to you that everybody who works here at the White House has the confidence of the President.
Q That's not exactly a direct answer, though.
McCLELLAN: Well, you're asking a question relating to an ongoing investigation and...
Q Does he stand by Karl Rove a hundred percent?
McCLELLAN: - the investigation relating to him is something that is ongoing, and the President has addressed that.
Q -- forward-leaning as that, to say the President stands behind Karl Rove a hundred percent?
McCLELLAN: I just made the President's views known.
McCLELLAN: Well, as you're aware, if you're asking a question about an ongoing investigation, we're not going to have further say at this point while it continues. It is a very serious matter, and we are going to continue to cooperate. That's what the President directed us to do and that's what we are doing.
Q Jebus, Scott, why are you such a #ucking tool? I asked you a different question. Is this the full extent of what the President deems necessary, "in light of circumstances?"
McCLELLAN: The President is always free to take the action that he feels is appropriate.
Q Does the President think that Karl Rove lived up to the highest ethical standards -
McCLELLAN: Again, that's a question relating to an ongoing investigation…
Q Do you think that while Karl Rove is under investigation that he should retain his security clearance?
McCLELLAN: I'm just not going to talk about an ongoing investigation. You're asking that question in the light of an ongoing investigation; it's something that continues at this point.
Q One last one on this. It just -- it strikes me as odd that, given the fact that Karl Rove has not been charged with any crime, he's merely under investigation, so far as we know, that the President's language about him and his confidence in him has been so distant, that he simply refuses to comment on his standing within the White House because of a pending matter.
McCLELLAN: No, I don't agree with that. I mean, Karl Rove is continuing to perform his duties as Deputy Chief of Staff and Senior Advisor. We appreciate all that he's doing.
Q So the President stands by Rove a hundred percent?
McCLELLAN: Well, I've made it clear to you that everybody who works here at the White House has the confidence of the President.
Q That's not exactly a direct answer, though.
McCLELLAN: Well, you're asking a question relating to an ongoing investigation and...
Q Does he stand by Karl Rove a hundred percent?
McCLELLAN: - the investigation relating to him is something that is ongoing, and the President has addressed that.
Q -- forward-leaning as that, to say the President stands behind Karl Rove a hundred percent?
McCLELLAN: I just made the President's views known.
And then it got worse…
Q -- the Vice President wants torture? Which --
McCLELLAN: Wrong. That is absolutely false.
Q Well, then tell us --
McCLELLAN: The President has made it very clear that we do not torture.
Q What is the Vice President doing?
McCLELLAN: I just told you.
Q You have not. I'm not trying to be --
McCLELLAN: I'm not going to let you -- you are mischaracterizing what this is about.
Q Scott, no, we want to know --
McCLELLAN: It's clearly in the statement of administration policy. April, look, you can keep showboating for the cameras, but we've made clear what our views are.
Q Thank you -- I showboat well, thank you --
McCLELLAN: Well, you are. Let's be honest about it.
Q I'm being honest. I want an honest answer from you.
McCLELLAN: … fuck…
McCLELLAN: Wrong. That is absolutely false.
Q Well, then tell us --
McCLELLAN: The President has made it very clear that we do not torture.
Q What is the Vice President doing?
McCLELLAN: I just told you.
Q You have not. I'm not trying to be --
McCLELLAN: I'm not going to let you -- you are mischaracterizing what this is about.
Q Scott, no, we want to know --
McCLELLAN: It's clearly in the statement of administration policy. April, look, you can keep showboating for the cameras, but we've made clear what our views are.
Q Thank you -- I showboat well, thank you --
McCLELLAN: Well, you are. Let's be honest about it.
Q I'm being honest. I want an honest answer from you.
McCLELLAN: … fuck…
Crooks and Liars has the video.
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