IMO, the following is the most important exchange at a Press Briefing in recent times.
The press should use this as an opportunity to finally stand up for themselves and hold the Administration's feet to the fire.
Q Do you stand by your statement from the fall of 2003 when you were asked specifically about Karl and Elliott Abrams and Scooter Libby, and you said, "I've gone to each of those gentlemen, and they have told me they are not involved in this" -- do you stand by that statement?
MR. McCLELLAN: And if you will recall, I said that as part of helping the investigators move forward on the investigation we're not going to get into commenting on it. That was something I stated back near that time, as well.
Q Scott, I mean, just -- I mean, this is ridiculous. The notion that you're going to stand before us after having commented with that level of detail and tell people watching this that somehow you decided not to talk. You've got a public record out there. Do you stand by your remarks from that podium, or not?
MR. McCLELLAN: And again, David, I'm well aware, like you, of what was previously said, and I will be glad to talk about it at the appropriate time. The appropriate time is when the investigation --
Q Why are you choosing when it's appropriate and when it's inappropriate?
MR. McCLELLAN: If you'll let me finish --
Q No, you're not finishing -- you're not saying anything. You stood at that podium and said that Karl Rove was not involved. And now we find out that he spoke out about Joseph Wilson's wife. So don't you owe the American public a fuller explanation? Was he involved, or was he not? Because, contrary to what you told the American people, he did, indeed, talk about his wife, didn't he?
MR. McCLELLAN: David, there will be a time to talk about this, but now is not the time to talk about it.
Q Do you think people will accept that, what you're saying today?
MR. McCLELLAN: Again, I've responded to the question.
The press should not report anything that Scott McClellan (or any administration official) says until they get this point clear. In fact, they shouldn't even bother showing up.
All White House Press Corps reporters should use a variation of this statement...
"As Scott McCellan refuses to stand behind statements made in White House Press Briefings, I no longer feel any obligation to report information disseminated at them. Until such a time that Mr. McClellan decides to either stand behind or retract his statements regarding Karl Rove and his involvement in the Valerie Plame affair, I'll be devoting my time to investigating [insert any other action taken by the Administration]."
Not only will this force McClellan to take a stand, but we might just be able to shed some light onto other activities the Bush Administration is involved in.