Posted on 05/17/2005 3:22:34 PM PDT by Brian Mosely
XXXXX DRUDGE REPORT XXXXX TUE MAY 17, 2005 18:02:22 ET XXXXX
REVENGE OF THE PRESS: WHITE HOUSE REPORTERS RIP SPOKESMAN OVER NEWSWEEK MESS
Mainline reporters moved into battle-mode today during a White House press briefing -- as one of their own outlets continued to hemorrhage over a now retracted story!
Afghanistan's government said Tuesday that NEWSWEEK should be held responsible for damages caused by deadly anti-American demonstrations after the magazine alleged U.S. desecration of the Quran.
The White House said the United States' image abroad had suffered irreparable damage by the story.
But it was the press's turn to fight back as Bush spokesman Scott McClellan opened his briefing to questions.
[Joined in progess]
Q With respect, who made you the editor of Newsweek? Do you think it's appropriate for you, at that podium, speaking with the authority of the President of the United States, to tell an American magazine what they should print?
MR. McCLELLAN: I'm not telling them. I'm saying that we would encourage them to help --
Q You're pressuring them.
MR. McCLELLAN: No, I'm saying that we would encourage them --
Q It's not pressure?
MR. McCLELLAN: Look, this report caused serious damage to the image of the United States abroad. And Newsweek has said that they got it wrong. I think Newsweek recognizes the responsibility they have. We appreciate the step that they took by retracting the story. Now we would encourage them to move forward and do all that they can to help repair the damage that has been done by this report. And that's all I'm saying. But, no, you're absolutely right, it's not my position to get into telling people what they can and cannot report....
Q Are you asking them to write a story about how great the American military is; is that what you're saying here?
MR. McCLELLAN: Elisabeth, let me finish my sentence. Our military --
Q You've already said what you're -- I know what -- how it ends.
MR. McCLELLAN: No, I'm coming to your question, and you're not letting me have a chance to respond. But our military goes out of their way to handle the Koran with care and respect. There are policies and practices that are in place. This report was wrong. Newsweek, itself, stated that it was wrong. And so now I think it's incumbent and -- incumbent upon Newsweek to do their part to help repair the damage. And they can do that through ways that they see best, but one way that would be good would be to point out what the policies and practices are in that part of the world, because it's in that region where this report has been exploited and used to cause lasting damage to the image of the United States of America. It has had serious consequences. And so that's all I'm saying, is that we would encourage them to take steps to help repair the damage. And I think that they recognize the importance of doing that. That's all I'm saying.
Q As far as the Newsweek article is concerned, first, how and where the story came from? And do you think somebody can investigate if it really happened at the base, and who told Newsweek? Because somebody wrote a story.
MR. McCLELLAN: I think Newsweek has talked about it. They took it --
Developing...
LOL...
The horror,...the horror...
bump
A purge, quick, in a week we could rid ourselves of the 5th column. They do not merit US citizenship. They use the institutions of the press and the courts to subvert those institutions and the country as a whole. The time is nigh for a cleansing action.
How the exchange should have gone...:
Q With respect, who made you the editor of Newsweek? Do you think it's appropriate for you, at that podium, speaking with the authority of the President of the United States, to tell an American magazine what they should print?
MR. McCLELLAN: With respect, who made you the apologist for Newsweek? Do you think it's appropriate for you, defend the irresponsibility of Newsweek for printing this story? --
Q You're pressuring them.
MR. McCLELLAN: When the press acts this irresponsiblity, we are not afraid to hold them to account. --
Q It's not pressure?
MR. McCLELLAN: I'm not sure we're concerned about your perception on this.
Q Are you asking them to write a story about how great the American military is; is that what you're saying here?
MR. McCLELLAN: Elisabeth, your mischaracterizations are irresponsible. --
Q You've already said what you're -- I know what -- how it ends.
MR. McCLELLAN: We are asking them to take steps to help repair the damage. And I think that they recognize the importance of doing that. That's all I'm saying.
Q As far as the Newsweek article is concerned, first, how and where the story came from? And do you think somebody can investigate if it really happened at the base, and who told Newsweek? Because somebody wrote a story.
MR. McCLELLAN: Who made you Chief of Staff? --
The MSM is finally taking their mask off and showing what treacheous scum they really are.
" I'm sorry, since I think he's probably a good guy...but sending McLellan out there in front of this mob every day is like opening your chicken coop to the wolves.
He's not effective.
At all."
Amen, Amen,Amen.
The WH press office is the weakest link in the PR war and the powers that be at the WH refuse to acknowledge this.
I am sure Scott McClellan is a decent guy, but, he is absolutely the worst person for the job of WH spokesman.
He stammers and hems and haws and is rolled constantly by the bags of garbage in the media.
His presser defending President Bush's military record was horrendous and gave life to the CBS charges.
A lot of the media brush fires could be stopped in the press room by an effective spokesman who would not tolerate the abuse and insults routinely launched and accepted by McClellan.
I also have no idea why the WH does not make the press corps identify themselves before asking questions-
(at the daily briefings and presidential press conferences) as a common courtesy to the American people.
I'd like to see Karen Hughes as Press Secretary take on some of these egotistical snobs.
With her big smile and terrific accent, I'd love to see her say: "Sit down and shut up you little Clymer!"
OOOOORRRAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!
Liberals must feed their own, especially those liberals who have been reinforced to hate the President. Liberals are simply "Taking Care of Business." Liberals buy their magazines and watch their stupid mindless programs on t.v.
Liberal networks must make sure liberals receive their daily dose of hate Bush and hate this country.
With no respect, who made you a reporter?
The press expect to be deferred to by the White House but feel they are in no way responsible for the fallout of their printed lies.
The press are so into the truth, they claim, so let's call it what it is--Newsweaklings, you lied.
Man, I would love to see the expressions of their faces when Karen gives them the riot.
However, the Muslims believe Newsweek was just following orders from the White House to retract. I guess now they'll think this is just for show.
"With respect, who made you the editor of Newsweek? "
WELL, IT LOOKS LIKE NEWSWEEK DID BY DEFAULT.
Since Whitaker has been using the ...."well, the Pentagon did not waive us off and check our sources for us" excuse.
snort....
What a wonderfully bad year the press is having. Very satisfying.
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