Because the Administration didn't see the Mac truck headed right for them. See Rich Galen's column on http://www.mullings.com . I fully admit that the Administration blew the PR on this. Dan Bartlett and Scott McClellan are nice guys, but Tony needs to call Andy Card, and say, look, we need someone like Ari Fleischer and Karen Hughes handling these things. The policy is right, but our lives would be a lot easier if it were better explained.
I agree..and have been saying it for months. Scott McClellan is TOO nice...we definitely need a change. He makes the president look weak since he is the spokesman for the administration. Pleeeeeeeeeze get rid of him and put in a strong voice for the President, who can do smack-down on this White House press!
" Because the Administration didn't see the Mac truck headed right for them. .... I fully admit that the Administration blew the PR on this. Dan Bartlett and Scott McClellan are nice guys "
The White House, as usual, has done a horrendous job of pro-active public relations and education.
They always wait until there is a firestorm before addressing an issue and by then, they look defensive and weak.
They have completely lost control of this situation and it's their own fault
The Dems, the rotary dial media and the late night, so called comedians have defined the issue as " President Bush handing control of our ports to 9/11 terrorists." Complete with pictures of the terrorists and the burning Towers , just in case the public doesn't get the picture.
If this deal was purer than Mother Teresa and most importantly, the lynchpin for continuing Arab cooperation in the WOT , it should have been given the highest priority by someone at the WH.
The stumbling, fumbling media operation at the WH is disgusting and ill serves the President.
Maybe everyone at the WH is color blind and cannot see the color red ,as in red flags surrounding so many of their recent PR disasters.