The press corps are starting to snip at McClellan. One challenged him on why Bush went to Arkansas, instead of, say, Florida, to talk about medical liability, and asked specifically if it was a political move to blunt Edwards and Clark.
Today's Press Conference
But the highlight was a series of questions about David Kay, and the fact that nobody in the Administration seems too interested in talking to him now. And they're very noncommittal about recommitting resources back to the search for WMD. Some lowlights:
Q Scott, is the President interested in hearing from Kay directly?
MR. McCLELLAN: I'm sorry?
Q Is the President interested in hearing from Kay now, directly?
MR. McCLELLAN: Well, I think his interest in letting the Iraq Survey Group complete their work. Dr. Kay already provided an interim report which confirmed that Saddam Hussein was, in fact, in material breach of 1441. And remember, 1441 gave Saddam Hussein one final opportunity to comply or face serious consequences. He chose continued defiance in the face of that resolution.
Q He won't meet with Kay, though?
MR. McCLELLAN: Sorry?
Q He won't meet with Kay?
MR. McCLELLAN: I don't know that there's anything scheduled to do something like that. I think that the Iraq Survey Group obviously will continue to do their work. He appreciates the work that Dr. Kay did. And, again, what Dr. Kay has already learn, as he has stated, reconfirms that we made the right decision.
Q It seems like somebody at the White House ought to have some interest in hearing from Kay at this point, if not the President himself.
MR. McCLELLAN: Well, one, I think that he has been doing all his work, and we will -- through the Iraq Survey Group. And now you have a new person in charge of that who will continue the efforts that he began. It was important work. And we are going to have as complete a picture as possible from the Iraq Survey Group once they finish their work. And that's what's important, and that's what -- and the President wants them to complete their mission so that we can compare what we knew before the war with what we learn on the ground.