White House Regrets Blaming Clinton on Mideast

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

[Timesink]

It looks like the Democrats have decided that they need to bring Bush's popularity down by any means. The polls show the Democrats to be in dire straights. I think they decided they have nothing to lose by attacking a popular President.

I think they are completely, utterly wrong. This sort of viciousness shores up the hate-Bush base, but the Dems have them sewn up anyway. But in the process, it absoluely infuriates the moderates who are totally pro-Bush WRT the war. They're going to see these Dem attacks as damn near treasonous.

[Mason]

He meant what he said and said what he meant - but the press took it as an attack on their guy. The presslibs thought he was drawing a straight line from Clinton to the violence. That's not at all what he said.

I don't think he needs to apologize, he only needed to clarify for the press idiots - as he has done here.

You guys (and gals) are so cynical. Don't you remember how Clinton once blamed his problems on "the last 12 years of Reagan-Bush," but then he stopped himself, apologized, and ordered all his people to never say that again?

And they never did. Not once. Not one time. Ever.

[AmericanVictory]

Yes, but only up to a point, Lord P.

The full truth is that this matter was caused not just by the 17 months, but rather the entire eight years, starting to really take off with what we have pointed out as his "militarily silly" strike of some 27 missiles to boost his domestic polls, in which he gave no advance warning to coalition partners because he decided to do it while thinking, as usual, with his nether parts.

And even at that we must give some credit to Little Jeemy Carter, who refused to help the Shah and cheered on, initially, Khomeini, who, like Lenin, decided immediately upon taking power to "let the terror begin."

[freethinkingman]

Ari is taking the fall for having the audacity to tell people what we all know, and think... ie THE TRUTH.

Shame though, that he had to apologise for this. I wish he would have stuck by his guns. But by the same token one can't help but think this was a way to get the truth public without the appearance of finger pointing.

[Alissa]

I don't think Ari was stupid for a second. Read 1 & 14 - they got it right - this wasn't stupid at all!

[Cinnamon Girl]

Did you watch the briefing?

[michigander]

What's up with the statement in #71?

I stated... I mistakenly suggested... I regret...

Was this "briefing/press conference" just a platform for Mr. Fleischer's opinions?
We're supposed to believe that he's some kind of loose cannon that'll espouse whatever insinuation comes into his mind?
I'm not buying it. I believe what he said is the truth. I hope this administration believes it's the truth. The truth never requires an apology (like M. Thatcher stated in #56) NEVER!

[anniegetyourgun]

NO. Was there something about the viewing it (rather than reading it) that was significant? (I mean, other than seeing the screwed up faces of the so-caled journalists as they ask their idiot questions?)

[Cinnamon Girl]

I've watched a lot of Ari's press briefings, and in my opinion, Ari seemed uncomfortable and a bit stymied at times today. He very much looked and sounded as if he'd been scolded, not as if he was pretending to back off. I see that a lot of people think it was staged to put it out there, but that's not how he sounded. Watch it for yourself and see what you think.

[Wild Irish Rogue]

Ari's remarks were spoken, at his daily morning, "unofficial" briefing with the press, around his desk. He may have said something off the cuff or even off the record and it seems like David Gregory was the one who took this and ran with it, so by the time Ari held his official press conference, it was a big deal .But, I am so sick of Republicans having to apologize for saying truthful things and Daschle, Hollings, Byrd, et al can get away with spewing lies and they never, ever apologize.

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

Great. It took him a whole 48 hours to buckle.

[Scott from the Left Coast]

Sniff, sniff, I'm sorry for telling the truth.

[TwakeIDFins]

Well, the fact that his earlier statement is demonstrably true shouldn't be lost on anyone.

"Demonstrably true" means that it can be proved. In this sort of complex issue, what Ari said was an opinion. It really can't be proved with any evidence or logic.

It's kinda standard practice for an administration not to criticize its predecessor so blatantly. Ari overstepped. He knows it, and he apologized.

[LasVegasMac]

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.

My thoughts eggxactly.

Just wondering if they decided to borrow a play from the other team!

LVM

[Samizdat]

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.''

Huh? Does he mean while he was being serviced by the intern or in between? clinton didn't give a rip about mideast peace. All he cared about was his sorry legacy and maybe the nobel peace price.

[steve-b]

Can't they get cracking with that stem cell research and figure out how to grow a brain and a spine for this guy?

[orfisher]

>The Bush team doesn't do anything for no reason.<.....You are saying they are unfalable? If so, that's quite a leap of faith.

[ThePythonicCow]

He may have said something off the cuff ...

This wasn't off the cuff. Did you see the posting MSNBC: Ari Fleischer To Blast Clinton Administration At 12:30 this morning here, announcing that Ari was going to have some volatile blame of Clinton for the mideast, before Ari spoke.

This baby was planned.

[aynrandy]

Bush, or his cabinet, shouldn't have to apologize for anything. Click here

[bybybill]

who do you blame for the blood lust of the Israelis? rocks and hand weapons vs tanks, Bradelys , and helicopers attacking women and children,and kicking 20,000 out of their homes.. yea, that will bring peace