Posted on 10/13/2005 4:31:05 PM PDT by Conservative Coulter Fan
White House press secretary Scott McClellan today got a bit impatient with reporters asking him about the possibility of Harriet Miers withdrawing her nomination to the Supreme Court, asking rhetorically at one point, "Isn't it my right to talk and say what I want to?"
The verbal jousting began as a reporter asked about a possible withdrawal by Miers, President Bush's choice to fill the seat of Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor.
"Some conservatives have suggested this week, or speculated, that while President Bush would never withdraw Miers' nomination, that she might decide that she can't weather the storm and withdraw. Can you give us just some idea of her tenacity to be able to withstand all this fire from the right and the left?" asked one reporter, according to the official transcript.
McClellan bristled at the suggestion, saying, "Those who know Harriet Miers are strongly supportive of her nomination, and strongly support her being confirmed to the United States Senate [sic]."
The spokesman then challenged the reporter, saying he had not reported on Miers' qualifications.
Said McClellan: "I haven't seen you out there reporting about some of her qualifications and her record, and I see by the tone of your question that you want to get into some of these side issues."
A charge then came back to McClellan: "You divided your own party," referring to the many GOP senators who have not committed to supporting Miers.
Later, the spokesman responded again to the possibility of a Miers withdrawal, saying, "Anyone that knows her record and experience wouldn't be making such a suggestion. … Some of you all wanted to focus more on religion. We focused on her qualifications and record."
Indeed, WND asked McClellan earlier about Miers' religion, receiving a response devoid of the subject. Said McClellan: " The President believes that a Supreme Court justice should strictly interpret our Constitution and laws and not try to legislate from the bench, and that's what Harriet Miers is committed to doing."
At one point during the fracas, McClellan was asked, "Scott, isn't the idea we ask the questions and you provide the answers?"
Scott McClellan needs to go.
Well, let's not get too hasty...Miers should be going before we even discuss who should go next.
I believe that Reporter was Helen Thomas! I was lurking on DU and they were pissed at the way he treated Helen (She's A Man Baby Yea!) Thomas!
blah blah blah... McClellan. This nominee is a turd in a punchbowl and needs to be pulled.
Just because McClellan is getting testy, it doesn't mean the Republicans in Washington are getting testies.
Who else knows her????
Probably terry moron. Watched him harrass McCleland once where he would ask a question and not even exhale before he would say"Isn't it because" and then blather out some anti-Bush spiel.
If it keeps up she may have to withdraw her name to save her friend.
Bush's poll numbers started to dive after McClellan came on to the scene. The media look forward to bouncing him around in front the the world every morning.
-she might decide that she can't weather the storm and withdraw.-
Anyone looking at her career can clearly see she's not one to back down. At least give her that.
McClellan is an idiot, or at least has to *act* the idiot. I guess it's just in the nature of the job, but all bar one or two White House spokesmen have made me squirm with embarrassment or anger. Still while we expect them to spin a line, since that's their job, McClellan is one of those guys that I just get a bad feeling about. Maybe that's unfair, but he always seems to be putting the *wrong* spin on things for my liking, and also avoids direct answers to most questions like the plague.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2005/10/20051013-2.html
Here's the transcript at whitehouse.gov
I think it's outrageous that the press is permitted to show such contempt. McClellan rarely handles them well, though he shouldn't be taking questions from these hacks at all.
In particular, his responses about Miers sounded like they were coming from a poorly programmed robot.
Why does the WH continue this masochistic theater?
Scott McClellan has been one of the most ineffectual press secretaries in history. He has been a wet noodle, allowing the MSM to bash the Administration and Republicans at will. He never fought back with equal intensity before.
Suddenly, he grows a backbone, and it is over this disastrous nomination?
It is sad to watch our own side implode.
Hang tough Scotty! This storm will pass too!
Dayum.
Stuck on Stupid fits some of them for sure.
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