McClellan gets his undies in a bunch over aggressive Bolton questions

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2005/05/20050505-4.html#m

Q Scott, Senator Lugar and the Senate Foreign Relations Committee have made substantial document requests of certain executive branch agencies in connection with the Bolton confirmation hearing. They have requested documents from the State Department in connection with his speech on Syria, and they have made document requests of the National Security Agency in connection with his request for information from that agency. Has the White House been in touch with either State or NSA about the response to those requests?

MR. McCLELLAN: We're well aware of the State Department and how they have been very responsive to the requests by the committee. I think that John Bolton has been very responsive to the questions that members have raised, both in oral testimony, as well as written testimony. And these are issues that we believe have been addressed through the committee process. We look forward to the committee coming back and moving forward on his nomination. It's important that we get him in there so that he can get about doing the important work of reform at the United Nations.

Q But my specific question was whether or not the White House has been in touch with those agencies about satisfying those document requests.

MR. McCLELLAN: Well, we stay in touch with the State Department on this matter. The State Department has been working to make sure that the questions are responded to, and they've been very responsive to the committee. There's a difference between responding to legitimate concerns and just people trying to go down the road of a fishing expedition.

Q And one last question on the subject. One of the accusations that was raised was from John Wolf, who is a former Assistant Secretary of State for Nonproliferation, worked under Bolton at the State Department. And in his interview with the committee, he said that Bolton's pursuit of disputes with members of that bureau in the State Department, the Nonproliferation Bureau, dragged on so long that sometimes Secretary Powell -- issues did not get to Secretary Powell in a timely way. Was that something that you saw happening in the first term, or is it something that Secretary Powell complained about?

MR. McCLELLAN: I appreciate you trying to ask the hearing to be held here from this podium, but I think that John Bolton has addressed these types of questions through the hearing process and through written responses. John Bolton is someone that has a tremendous amount of experience; he has been confirmed by the Senate four times, including once by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, which is now hearing -- or overseeing his confirmation process for ambassador to the United Nations. He's someone who has had a couple of decades of service to his country in the government. And he brings a lot of passion and a lot of experience and sometimes a little bluntness to the position. But we believe those are the type of qualities that are needed to go about the important work of reforming the United Nations. And that's why the President believes so strongly that he is the right person at the right time to fill this important position.

Q But from where you sat, his actions in office over the last four years you would say were not delaying issues getting up to Secretary Powell?

MR. McCLELLAN: I've never been known to see anything of that sort.

[atommom]

1. He's "never been known to see anything of that sort"?

Sounds like a loyal Bushbot who has learned to look the other way.

[sellitman]

2. What a lying twit!

He successfully dodged every legitimate question posed to him.

How I hate these bushbots!

:grr:

[radfringe]

6. the scotty-dog says

"woof woof" and rolls over for a belly rub from his master

[Vickers]

3. "people trying to go down the road of a fishing expedition"

The horror!

:sarcasm:

[Roland99]

4. Look up "Tool" in Webster's....you'll see Scotty-Boy.

[saltpoint]

5. I wish I didn't find myself saying that McClelland is a liar.

But he is. He's paid to be a liar and he just isn't that good at it.

He's working for a oily halfwit and trying to sound authoritative when a rare member of the press corps actually presses him on a question of interest.

Bolton's nomination is indefensible. McClelland's pretending everythig's hunky-dory. Bad combo.

I see him inside 3 years -- max -- slumped against a dumpster, shooting heroin into his veins in a DC backalley. The pressure to lie is a difficult thing, I guess, but pressure to lie in front of the entire world is a whole new ball game.

[Gyre]

7. What a lame little prick.

Passive/aggressive little jabs at those asking legitimate questions. He's a disgrace, but does a good job of reflecting the chimp's attitude towards those with who disagree with him.

Gyre