Press Briefing by Scott McClellan

[2pac Shakur]

Scott McLennan's Nov. 8 Press Briefing

Q I'd like you to clear up, once and for all, the ambiguity about torture. Can we get a straight answer? The President says we don't do torture, but Cheney --
MR. McCLELLAN: That's about as straight as it can be.

Q Yes, but Cheney has gone to the Senate and asked for an exemption on --

MR. McCLELLAN: No, he has not. Are you claiming he's asked for an exemption on torture? No, that's --

Q He did not ask for that?

MR. McCLELLAN: -- that is inaccurate.

Q Are you denying everything that came from the Hill, in terms of torture?

MR. McCLELLAN: No, you're mischaracterizing things. And I'm not going to get into discussions we have --

Q Can you give me a straight answer for once?

MR. McCLELLAN: Let me give it to you, just like the President has. We do not torture. He does not condone torture and he would never --

Q I'm asking about exemptions.

MR. McCLELLAN: Let me respond. And he would never authorize the use of torture. We have an obligation to do all that we can to protect the American people. We are engaged --

Q That's not the answer I'm asking for --

MR. McCLELLAN: It is an answer -- because the American people want to know that we are doing all within our power to prevent terrorist attacks from happening. There are people in this world who want to spread a hateful ideology that is based on killing innocent men, women and children. We saw what they can do on September 11th --

Q He didn't ask for an exemption --

MR. McCLELLAN: -- and we are going to --

Q -- answer that one question. I'm asking, is the administration asking for an exemption?

MR. McCLELLAN: I am answering your question. The President has made it very clear that we are going to do --

Q You're not answering -- yes or no?

MR. McCLELLAN: No, you don't want the American people to hear what the facts are, Helen, and I'm going to tell them the facts.

Q -- the American people every day. I'm asking you, yes or no, did we ask for an exemption?

MR. McCLELLAN: And let me respond. You've had your opportunity to ask the question. Now I'm going to respond to it.

Q If you could answer in a straight way.

MR. McCLELLAN: And I'm going to answer it, just like the President -- I just did, and the President has answered it numerous times.

Q -- yes or no --

MR. McCLELLAN: Our most important responsibility is to protect the American people. We are engaged in a global war against Islamic radicals who are intent on spreading a hateful ideology, and intent on killing innocent men, women and children.

Q Did we ask for an exemption?

MR. McCLELLAN: We are going to do what is necessary to protect the American people.

Q Is that the answer?

MR. McCLELLAN: We are also going to do so in a way that adheres to our laws and to our values. We have made that very clear. The President directed everybody within this government that we do not engage in torture. We will not torture. He made that very clear.

Q Are you denying we asked for an exemption?

MR. McCLELLAN: Helen, we will continue to work with the Congress on the issue that you brought up. The way you characterize it, that we're asking for exemption from torture, is just flat-out false, because there are laws that are on the books that prohibit the use of torture. And we adhere to those laws.

Q We did ask for an exemption; is that right? I mean, be simple -- this is a very simple question.

MR. McCLELLAN: I just answered your question. The President answered it last week.

... and ever since, Scott sort of stopped doing a daily press briefing.



http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/briefings/

[Riscalculator]

Originally Posted by 2pac Shakur

Scott McLennan's Nov. 8 Press Briefing







... and ever since, Scott sort of stopped doing a daily press briefing.



http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/briefings/

That reporter was engaged in torture of a White House official, and members of the US public which had to listen to that biased badgering. McClellan answered the question. The US does not condone torture and does not use it. How much clearer can that be? McClellan then tried to explain how the avoidance of torture is seen as contrasting to what terrorist do. But the reporter continued to interrupt him to avoid the full answer she didn't want the US public to hear. That was a classic case of a 'gotcha' question thrown back in her face. IOW, she didn't anticipate the answer he gave and details he tried to report, such as torture and beheadings done by the terrorists.

[tope]

Cheney loves torture, period. He has no heart

Afterall he got his facts from a bunch of racist terrorists and use that as a gospel to vote against letting a freedom fighter by the name of Mandela free

[Listerine]

Cheney --> Cheyen --> CheYen --> SheYen --> SeYen --> SaYan --> Satan

[Riscalculator]

Originally Posted by Listerine

Cheney --> Cheyen --> CheYen --> SheYen --> SeYen --> SaYan --> Satan

Cheney-->Cheyen-->Sheyen-->Seyen-->Sayan-->Sanya-->Santa

[Jack]

It's insanely disturbing that we have a president and vice-prsident who support torture. We are Americans, we need to do the right thing even when doing the right thing isn't easy.

[Y2Mozz]

Originally Posted by Jack

We are Americans, we need to do the right thing even when doing the right thing isn't easy.

Like dropping the bombs on Japan and kicking the sh1t out of Fallujah?

[Mulan]

Originally Posted by Y2Mozz

Like dropping the bombs on Japan and kicking the sh1t out of Fallujah?

Yes, these examples of times we PERHAPS failed to do what is right is proof we should just torture all we want.

[Y2Mozz]

Originally Posted by Mulan

Yes, these examples of times we PERHAPS failed to do what is right is proof we should just torture all we want.

No, those are examples where we did what was right even though we knew we'd take a lot of sh1t for it.

[Riscalculator]

Originally Posted by Jack

It's insanely disturbing that we have a president and vice-prsident who support torture. We are Americans, we need to do the right thing even when doing the right thing isn't easy.

It's probably disturbing to the terrorists, and is probably a carefully designed ruse to strike fear into the hearts and minds of terrorists. Perhaps the US should also announce a new procedure that involves subjecting terrorists to 'procedures' and 'treatments' which would prevent them from gaining martyrdom should they die, denying them 72 virgins, etc.? That might work wonders as a counter-terrorism psychological measure. We wouldn't actually carry out such torture or martyrdom-prevention treatment, but we need to let the terrorists think we might.

I think someone should discretely pass phony info to Ted Chappaquidick Kennedy that the US is using water-boarding torture techniques, and wait for him to go public with his hypocritical objections to such actions.