csua.org/u/coo -> www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/07/11/AR2005071101284_2.html
Back Spokesman Holds Tongue During Intense Grilling McClellan delivered a nearly verbatim response to CBS's John Roberts, so NBC's David Gregory tried to provoke him, asking: "Did Karl Rove commit a crime?" "This is a question relating to an ongoing investigation," a pained McCle llan repeated. After dodging some follow-up questions, he tried to quiet Gregory by saying, "Let me finish."
ABC's Terry Moran tried next, observing that Rove "has essentially been c aught red-handed peddling this information." The spokesman gave a substantive answer to only one question, saying pros ecutors asked the White House in 2003 to stop making public comments on the case. But that only made matters worse, because Bush himself continu ed to talk about the leaks in 2004.
This incited the normally mild-mannered Richard Stevenson of the New York Times, who retorted: "We are going to keep asking them." As the barrage continued, McClellan reached for a lifeline, calling on Ra ghubir Goyal of the India Globe, who reliably asks about Pakistan -- and did so again. A grateful McClellan offered Goyal an expansive response about how "free nations are peaceful societies." McClellan tried for relief from Fox News, but Carl Cameron hit him with a tough one. "Does the president continue to have confidence in Mr Rove? " McClellan wouldn't say, so a mischievous April Ryan of American Urban Rad io Networks tried to get McClellan to say something -- anything -- about Rove. "Who is Karl Rove as it relates to this administration?" she aske d "I think I've responded," McClellan answered. The press secretary seemed grateful when questions turned to other subjec ts, such as the Supreme Court, the attacks in London or a withdrawal fro m Iraq. At other times, he seemed to plead for understanding from his qu estioners, saying they "know the type of person that I am." But that counts for li ttle now, when recent events have shown that he either misled reporters deliberately or was duped by his White House colleagues. Ken Herman, the voluble Cox News White House reporter, even invoked Watergate days, ask ing if McClellan's previous statements are "all inoperative." Finally, a merciful Steve Holland of Reuters called an end to the interro gation. As McClellan turned to depart, CNN's Bob Franken asked if he cou ld have one more question. McClellan paused, but Franken, reconsidering, waved the spokesman off.
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