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"Were we invited into Iraq?"; Helen Thomas grills WH Press Secretary
Topic Started: May 25 2005, 09:52 PM (261 Views)
24thcenstfan
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Something Wicked This Fae Comes
Excerpt from today's White House Press Briefing. The exchange is between Helen Thomas and Press Secretary Scott McClellan.

-snip-

Quote:
 
Q-- The other day -- in fact, this week, you said that we, the United States, is in Afghanistan and Iraq by invitation. Would you like to correct that incredible distortion of American history --

MR. McCLELLAN: No, we are -- that's where we currently --

Q -- in view of your credibility is already mired? How can you say that?

MR. McCLELLAN: Helen, I think everyone in this room knows that you're taking that comment out of context. There are two democratically-elected governments in Iraq and --

Q We're we invited into Iraq?

MR. McCLELLAN: There are two democratically-elected governments now in Iraq and Afghanistan, and we are there at their invitation. They are sovereign governments, and we are there today --

Q You mean if they had asked us out, that we would have left?

MR. McCLELLAN: No, Helen, I'm talking about today. We are there at their invitation. They are sovereign governments --

Q I'm talking about today, too.

MR. McCLELLAN: -- and we are doing all we can to train and equip their security forces so that they can provide for their own security as they move forward on a free and democratic future.

Q Did we invade those countries?

MR. McCLELLAN: Go ahead, Steve.


Source = www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2005/05/20050525-3.html

This is the funniest exchange of questioning I have read in a long time. :rotfl:

McClellan was doing some serious side-stepping there. Oh man, do I miss Ari Fleischer. I thought he was one of the most obnoxious individuals to grace the television (and I dislike him), but he just had a funny charisma that made me just barely tolerate him. McClellan is like a piece of cardboard.

And woosh, Helen Thomas is a card!
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Swidden
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Adm. Gadfly-at-large; Provisional wRench-fly at large
Yeah, I miss Fleisher too. I don't think he would have made the gaff that McClellan did and if he had, would have been better at fixing it... :loling:
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Admiralbill_gomec
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Amazing stuff that gin...
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24thcenstfan
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Something Wicked This Fae Comes
Admiralbill_gomec
May 25 2005, 11:33 PM
Amazing stuff that gin...

You really shouldn’t talk about Scott McClellan like that...
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Wichita
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The Adminstrator wRench
After reading the exchange, I wondered two things:

One, does anyone think Helen Thomas is a credible journalist anymore? Based on her questions, it's evident she's abandoned all pretense of non-partiality. (I couldn't pick Scott McClellan out of a line-up, but she certainly didn't ask Fleisher questions about how he got his hair so nice - a question she asked of Democrats.

Two, what "gaffe" are they talking about? :shrug:

So, I went back to the source to find the original quote - darned if she DIDN'T take it out of context. :no2: :lol: :no2: :lol: The original quote IS accurate and the procedure he explained completely consistent.

Given how much history Helen Thomas has seen, you have to wonder why her memory isn't better. :no: :no:


I did find this though in the same briefing and thought it somewhat hysterical. :D

Quote:
 
Q Congressman Barney Frank has for the second time publicly denounced Democratic National Chairman Howard Dean for Dean's repeatedly saying that Majority Leader DeLay is likely to go to jail and should step down. My question: Does the President agree with Congressman Frank on this issue? And what was his reaction to Dean, as a physician, making fun of Limbaugh's battle against addiction to painkillers?

MR. McCLELLAN: There's a Democratic National Committee. There's also a Republican National Committee. I think the best place to look for a response would be from the Republican National Committee when it comes to that. I think the President has made his views pretty clear when it comes to Leader DeLay. Leader DeLay is someone he considers a good friend and someone that we work very closely with to achieve important priorities for the American people. And that's what we will --

Q That evasive--

MR. McCLELLAN: -- that's what we will continue to do. I think we'll let others respond --

Q That means the President really wants Dean to continue forever as Democratic Chairman, isn't it?

MR. McCLELLAN: We'll let -- we'll let others respond. We'll let others respond to the Democratic National Committee Chairman.


He said that we will not respond to the comment. How is that "evasive"? I like a politician who doesn't see a need to express an opinion on everything. So many of them do it so badly.....

And where, oh where, did the reporter come up with ... "That means the President really wants Dean to continue forever as Democratic Chairman, isn't it?"

These are the same people who write and print stories and then, when it proves to be inaccurate, blame others for "not telling them it's wrong". Is this guy using this exchange as a source for a "President Bush want's Dean to remain DNC chair"?



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gvok
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If Helen Thomas is no longer a credible journalist for asking the wrong questions does this mean that Jeff Gannon is also not a credible journalist?
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Darthsith
Ensign
Issue aside, If I was interviewed by Helen Thomas in such a rude manner I would have upped and walked out of the interview. There is no excuse for impoliteness, not to the woman filling your order at the local fast food joint and not to a respective of the Whitehouse. Even if we want to believe that politicians should have the skin to take it, that is still not and excuse. That said if McClellan was side-stepping her rudely worded and presented questions, I don’t blame him in the least. Like I said I would have upped and walked out of the interview, I give him credit for having more tolerance of her behavior then I would have.

If you are going to ask some one a question, the lest you can do is let them answer it. There is no point of even asking if you are going to cut them off when you don’t like their answer.
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Dr. Noah
Sistertrek's Asian Correspondant
It is the responsibility of the press to question our leaders. In fact, in this country, we are not only permitted to question our leaders, it is our responsibility.
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24thcenstfan
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Dr. Noah
May 26 2005, 09:29 AM
It is the responsibility of the press to question our leaders. In fact, in this country, we are not only permitted to question our leaders, it is our responsibility.

Very well said. :yes:


Helen Thomas is still a card and a bit over the top sometimes.
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psyfi
psyfi
Helen Thomas is and always has been a loathsome, rude, and hate-filled person. The truth is she was much the same way with JFK until he tamed the shrew with his infinite charm. Like Dan Rather and Bill Moyers, she needs to be put to pasture.
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Darthsith
Ensign
Dr. Noah
May 26 2005, 01:29 PM
It is the responsibility of the press to question our leaders. In fact, in this country, we are not only permitted to question our leaders, it is our responsibility.

If you ask a question you should be prepared to listen to the answer.

It is the responsibility of every one to be polite to every one else.
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Fesarius
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Admiral
Quote:
 
Helen Thomas is and always has been a loathsome, rude, and hate-filled person.

Psyfi,

Those are strong words. I don't know all that much about her, but given what you wrote above, I think I am wise to stay clear. :)
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psyfi
psyfi
Fesarius
May 26 2005, 08:42 AM
Quote:
 
Helen Thomas is and always has been a loathsome, rude, and hate-filled person.

Psyfi,

Those are strong words. I don't know all that much about her, but given what you wrote above, I think I am wise to stay clear. :)

A Very Wise Decision. (Er, there aren't any puns or clever wordings in this response that I missed are there?)
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Fesarius
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Admiral
^^^
No, I was being serious.
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Wichita
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The Adminstrator wRench
gvok
May 26 2005, 12:35 PM
If Helen Thomas is no longer a credible journalist for asking the wrong questions does this mean that Jeff Gannon is also not a credible journalist?

Since Jeff Gannon was deliberately "outed" as a gay man in retribution for asking a partisian questions, is it not hypocrtical of the those who did so (or applauded those who did) to support Helen Thomas when she asks an equally partisian question?
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