McClellan - Q: Will Bush demand a Rove apology? A: Of course not, Jessica.

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

Q Last night Karl Rove, in a speech, accused the Democrats of trying to send the terrorists into therapy and not responding appropriately to 9/11, whereas the Republicans, he felt, responded appropriately. He's been called on to make an apology. Will Karl Rove will apologize, and is this elevating the discourse, the way you said the President will do?

MR. McCLELLAN: Talking about different philosophies and different approaches? That's what Karl Rove was talking about. He was talking about the different philosophies and our different approaches when it comes to winning the war on terrorism. And I don't know who is even making such a suggestion.

Q Harry Reid.

Q Nancy Pelosi.

MR. McCLELLAN: Well, I would think that they would want to be able to defend their philosophy and their approach. I mean, I know that the Democratic leadership at this point is offering no ideas and no vision for the American people, but Karl was simply pointing out the different philosophies and different approaches when it comes to winning the war on terrorism.

Q He said the Democrats wanted to prepare indictments and offer therapy and understanding for our attackers. That's not injecting politics into the tragedy of September 11th?

MR. McCLELLAN: I think it's talking about the different philosophies for winning the war on terrorism. The President recognizes that the way to win the war on terrorism is to take the fight to the enemy, to stay on the offensive, and to work to spread freedom and democracy to defend the ideology of hatred that they espouse, and the ideology of tyranny and oppression.

Q So will the President ask Karl Rove to apologize?

MR. McCLELLAN: Of course not, Jessica. This is simply talking about different philosophies and different approaches. And I think you have to look at it in that context. If people want to try to engage in personal attacks instead of defending their philosophy, that's their business. But it's important to point out the different approaches when it comes to winning the war on terrorism. And that's all he was doing.

Q So you're suggesting that Rove's approach to discussing the philosophy that Democrats -- is to say that they want to prepare indictments and seek counseling. That's their philosophy, is that what you were saying?

MR. McCLELLAN: I think the comments were saying -- the conservative approach and the liberal approach is what he was talking about.

Q He was saying that that's the comparison in their philosophies?

MR. McCLELLAN: He was speaking to a political organization. There are many who have looked at the war on terrorism and said it is a law enforcement matter, that we should prosecute people. The President recognizes that it is a war and that we must stay on the offensive, we must take the fight to the enemy. The best way to defeat the enemy is to fight them abroad and bring them to justice before they can carry out their attacks here at home.

Q And the therapy? What about the therapy?

MR. McCLELLAN: I think that's what he's -- and I think that's what he's talking about.

Go ahead.

Q Was the rhetoric appropriate?

Q Are you talking to Democrats about releasing more information that would allow the Bolton nomination to go forward?

MR. McCLELLAN: Yes, we have continued to reach out --

Q I mean, are there discussions right now.

MR. McCLELLAN: And we have continued to reach out in good faith to the Democratic leadership in the Senate. I would point out that these are Democratic leaders who have already voted against the nomination of John Bolton. They have continued to change their request, make new requests, expand the universe, move the goalpost. They are clearly not acting in good faith. All they are doing is simply trying to block this nomination from moving forward when this individual has the majority support of the United States Senate. He is someone who will be a strong voice for reform. It's critical that we get him in there so that he can get about the work of advancing the reforms that we have outlined for the United Nations.

This is a critical period at the United Nations. We have a comprehensive reform agenda for making the United Nations more effective. And John Bolton is exactly the kind of guy to lead that effort. Andy Card -- well, and let me back up, even before that. Senator Roberts, last week, reached out in a very good- faith effort and said, look, we'll take a look at all these names -- these names that you're requesting, whether or not they were part of the information that was in question. And Senator Roberts went to the Director of National Intelligence and he said, no, none of these names are part of this information. Senator Roberts went back and reported to Democrats that that was the case. That was a very reasonable compromise to move forward on this nomination. And what did he get back from Democrats? It's not enough; we're going to move the goalposts; we want more. So clearly they're not interested in finding middle ground.

Andy Card, before the vote on Monday, reached out to Senator Biden and said, you know, look, we want to work in good faith, we want to try to resolve this, if you have legitimate questions, we want to get those questions answered, and offered to provide more information to Senator Biden. He chose to move the goalpost again and said, no, not good enough.

And then, just last night, Andy Card, again, reached out to Senator Biden and spent time with him on the phone, and said, look, we're willing to provide you with the information that was provided to the ranking Democrat and ranking Republican on the Senate Intelligence Committee. This was information that Democrats, some Democratic leaders have said they want to know more about it. He said, well, we'll provide you the same briefing that those individuals have. And I would point out that Senator Rockefeller, who did get that briefing, said, there's nothing improper about these requests. So Andy Card said, hey, we'll make this -- we'll make this same briefing available to you. Senator Biden, again, came back with new requests, and moved the goal -- moved the goal --

Q What were the new requests?

MR. McCLELLAN: I'll let him talk for himself -- moved the goalpost again.

So it's clear that Democrats are not acting in good faith. All they want to do is block this nomination from moving forward and prevent us from moving forward on reforms at the United Nations because John Bolton is the one that can help advance those reforms and move forward in a -- in a manner to get things done.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2005/06/20050623-1.html#c

[CottonBear]

1. Oy! My head hursts after reading that crap.

:(

[fryguy]

2. you know it looks and sounds like they speak in english

but i'm just unable to decipher their GOP dialect....

[MadisonProgressive]

3. How can you live with yourself when you blatently lie to

the American people EVERY FUCKING DAY!! The man has no soul and should be sent to prison with the rest of the rats.

[Fridays Child]

4. Scott McLellan: Witless, dickless talking turd.

[nadinbrzezinski]

5. people this is now the story

karl rove is the story...

Keep pluging

[Generator]

6. Lies lies lies

Democrats have not moved the goalpost on Bolton.

No one ever suggested therapy for a terrorist. It's just rhetoric.

In fact, they supported your dumb ass ability to go to war and look you did-and that's such a success at killing terrorists. In fact, it makes more terrorists!!

The philosophy for winning the on terrorism. Uh huh. The philosophy of going after the real killers as it were instead of making up enemies or making NEW enemies where there were none.

Hard ass Dems like me want the real killers DEAD. This Republican philosophy doesn't care who attacked us on 9/11 as long as we kill anyone Arab-that makes them feel better.

These people are insane. (Except for the war profiteers who know exactly what they are doing-they are crazy as foxes)

They are bringing this up again because FEAR-those Damn Democrats will get us all killed if we don't continue to slaughter and be slaughtered in Iraq.

Meanwhile, last time I checked, Osama bin Laden AND Saddam are still alive. And the Taliban isn't exactly extinct either.

Some philosophy there.

[LittleClarkie]

7. They didn't move the goal post

Card tried to offer something lesser, and Biden said it wasn't good enough. The goal post hasn't moved an inch.

What are they hiding?

If nothing else, Biden has been a good soldier in the fight against Bolton.

[fooj]

8. Yep. Boy Wonder made a HUGE BLUNDER!

Move the goalpost, my ass. Where's the President's answers to the questions hand delivered to him last Friday from over 550,000 American Citizens? Oh, right. Another example of moving the goalpost...BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!:rofl:

It's called grandstanding. It's called OBSTRUCTION!!! How about lack of transparency and lack of any accountability? How about TRUTH?



peace.

[aden_nak]

9. The core tennant here is STILL mushing Iraq in with Afghanistan.

It's amazing that they can still do this. . . but clearly they can.

[quisp]

10. the mouth of Sauron... n/t

[Spazito]

11. Whoa, here is an interesting Q/A with snotty Scottie on Cheney's

"last throes' comment:

Q Does the President agree with the Vice President that the Iraqi insurgents are in their last throes?

MR. McCLELLAN: He agrees with -- I think you should put his comments in context, because the President agrees that there is significant progress being made by the Iraqi people on the political front. And that's what the Vice President was talking about in his remarks. He was talking about the significant progress that's being made, and he was talking about how the terrorists, the ruthless enemy that we're working to defeat, along with the Iraqi security forces, has not been able to stop that progress.

Every step of the way, the Iraqi people are meeting their objectives. I just went through those objectives that they're meeting. The political process is moving forward. It's moving forward on schedule. And the Iraqi people have shown that they want to live freely. Democracy is taking hold.

There are real challenges that lie ahead, and the Vice President talked about that in the context of his remarks. The stakes are very high. That's why it's important we continue to support the Iraqi people as they move forward.

So I think you have to look at the context of his remarks, as I've talked about over recent days.

Q Do you think that the insurgency is growing weaker? Or is it getting stronger?

MR. McCLELLAN: Well, the commanders on the ground were just briefing on that, Terry. You should look to General Abizaid's comment, and he talked about that. Look at exactly what he said. There is a determined and ruthless enemy that we face in Iraq. They have made this a central front in the war on terrorism. The stakes are very high. That enemy recognizes how high those stakes are. We recognize how high the stakes are. And the Iraqi people recognize how high the stakes are. A free Iraq will be a powerful force for change in a dangerous region of the world, a region that has been a breeding ground for terrorists, a breeding ground for people who have hijacked airplanes and flown them into buildings and taken the lives of thousands of innocent people.

And that's why it's so important that we succeed in Iraq. And I think the American people recognize, no matter where you stood before, that it's important that we succeed for those very reasons.

Q So stronger, not weaker?

MR. McCLELLAN: Again, the commanders are briefing right now, and they are the ones who are on the ground. They are in the best position to give you that. General Abizaid just spoke about it a short time ago and talked about the determined and ruthless enemy that we're facing. Foreign terrorists are coming to Iraq because they recognize how high the stakes are. Well, we do, too. That's why we're fighting them in Iraq and that's why we're going to defeat them in Iraq.

Q But he seems to have contradicted -- Abizaid seems to have contradicted what the Vice President said, on the face of it.

MR. McCLELLAN: No, I think you have to look at the context of the Vice President's comments.

Q I did, I looked.

MR. McCLELLAN: And you don't point them out. What did he talk about?

Q He said there are more foreign fighters coming into Iraq than there were six months ago.

MR. McCLELLAN: Well, we can selectively quote people or we can look at the context of the comments, and I think that's what is important to do. That's why I was stepping back and pointing out to you what the Vice President was talking about.

Q So he was talking about the political process moving forward, not -- let me ask you this. What is the Vice President basing his -- where is he getting his evidence? What is he basing his claim on, if the commanders on the ground are saying --

MR. McCLELLAN: It doesn't appear that you've looked at the context of his comments, and I would encourage you to do that. And I just addressed this question when you asked it.

Q I was there in this -- when he said, "in the throes of," --

MR. McCLELLAN: You were in the interview?

Q He did not mean political, he meant the whole situation in Iraq.

MR. McCLELLAN: You were in the interview? I think you should look --

Q You can't change his meaning. You guys are trying to step back now, and I don't blame you.

MR. McCLELLAN: No, I disagree with you.

Go ahead though, Jessica.

(Looks like the WH press corps might be waking up a little!)

[jmcon007]

12. GW would have to go around Rove to Cheney to force an apology.

[gratuitous]

13. You know, if liberals really wanted the troops to die

We'd send them off halfway around the world on a false pretense with inadequate numbers and armor. Or does that sound too much like what someone else actually did?

From americablog.org:

Rove's comments -- backed up 100% by George Bush -- didn't just attack Democrats. Rove and Bush attacked and demonized any American who dares to disagree with them or just thinks they're doing a lousy job. 57% of Americans think Bush is doing a terrible job in Iraq. George Bush says that makes them traitors. Half of all Americans who voted in the last election didn't vote for George Bush. He says that makes them traitors. Anyone who thinks torture is a bad idea? Traitor.

Look at the last few days. George Bush's numbers are collapsing. He couldn't get a "Fridays Off" law passed in Congress and the American people are increasingly worried about our troops in Iraq (maybe because they still aren't properly equipped?). So what does Bush do? First he attacks gays. Then he pushes the flag burning amendment. And today he attacks the majority of Americans who think he's doing a lousy job and calls them traitors.

It's very simple: George Bush has had almost four years to hunt down and kill Osama Bin Laden. He's failed miserably. Since George Bush is too weak to attack Bin Laden, he's attacking Americans.