White House Regrets Blaming Clinton on Mideast

Reuters ^ | 2/28/02 | By Arshad Mohammed

[Madame Dufarge]

Ari is too accurate to make this kind of mistake so it had to be an intentional play.

"Oops, did I say that out loud?"

[DainBramage]

Good gosh Dubya, don't kiss their ass! You know its true!

Don't play games.

[kezekiel]

A Bush administration official, who spoke after Fleischer issued his statement and asked not to be identified, said: ``We agree completely that President Clinton made tireless, energetic efforts to bring peace to the Middle East.''

In other words, "No, honey, those pants really don't make you look fat."

[GuillermoX]

It's funny, but the "Roger Clinton seal of approval" is what makes it hilarious.

[rwfromkansas]

sounds like Ari was just out for a little fun earlier....fine by me...:)

[veronica]

He said it. You can't unring a bell.

[Revolting cat!]

No, this doesn't smell too good and that "rare written statement" is proof that the apology is genuine and not some calculated ruse. They haven't gone after the crimes, Bush in his nomination acceptance speech said: "I have no stake in the bitter arguments of the last few years", they've been soft, softier on the Krintongs, as much as we here like to think otherwise. This stinks!

[gopwhit]

"This was a big time warning shot to the RATS and to Puff Dashole for recent criticisms of the war effort and it's costs."

I agree....this was planned. It's like when a judge instructs the jury to disregard certain damning evidence just presented, blah blah...

[BigTime]

Ari is way too cautious to go taking an inadvertant pot shot at Clinton and even the language he used was colorful. This guy simply does not go straggling off the Bushie reservation. He is the spokesperson for an administration that values loyalty and remaining true to message at the top of their list. I can't see him making this big of a blunder.

[michigander]

Good gosh Dubya, don't kiss their ass!

Too late.

[Cinnamon Girl]

Here's the link:ARI Press Briefing

Ari explains that he never said "President Clinton" so the press asks him about 100 times which administration he was accusing of "shooting the moon." If you want to hear Helen patronize Ari by calling him "Airy" go to 1:53.

[MeekOneGOP]

White House Regrets Blaming Clinton on Mideast
This sure smells like a coordinated effort to get Clinton's name planted in the middle of this Middle East mess then to quickly step back and act like they didn't mean it. Ari is too accurate to make this kind of mistake so it had to be an intentional play. Probably baiting Clinton to step out front on the issue.
(((PING))))))
Please let me know if you want ON or OFF my ping list!. . .don't be shy.

[88keys]

"Oops, I guess I did say that...so sorry! And now the idea is out there, and really, I never meant to imply..."

just a "gaffe", heheHE!

[eureka!]

"Either way, the rats are disgusting."

With that, most here would agree. As to Ari's regrets, he could have been more judicious in the original statement, like "...some will argue it's the Sink Emperor's fault, however, those days are thankfully over. We have a far different and more rational approach as evidenced by the Saudi's most recent proposal..."

[anniegetyourgun]

What Ari was suggesting in his presscon was that Clinton's actions created false expectations which may have led to the complete breakdown in talks between the sides. That's true.

[jrewingjr]

IMO, this is Ari giving the Bill Clown-ton version of the "Brutus is an honorable man" speech.

[hollywood]

Because it's easier to ask to be forgiven than to ask for permission. It's a smart plan: fire a warning shot over the bow to get your main point across, and then make the bleeding-hearts feel good by giving them a lip-service apology. They LOVE apologies! Beat them at their own game.

[lugsoul]

THIS IS NOT A DEFENSE OF BILLYJEFF, but - I have never read any account of these peace talks that did not indicate that both sides had agreed to the lion's share of the other's demands - and that a small gap was left to bridge. Hell, that is the way negotiations can go. How does that raise expectations? The Saudi proposal does not look to be as favorable as what both parties could've had two years ago - why was two years ago "overreaching?"

[boomop1]

Ari, you know in your heart you were right, why relent, the scum bag in chief worsened the peace process by appearing to side with Arafat.