Wednesday, July 13, 2005

What does it mean when Scott McClellan is being "very clear"?


It's not like I want to flog this decaying corpse of a horse any further (well, OK, sure I do), but here's a delightful bit of McClellanese from back in 2003 that any journalist should be able to use with which to club Scottie into unconsciousness:

MR. McCLELLAN: Again, this is -- the issue here -- what is the issue here? Did someone leak classified information? Is that the issue?

Q It could be about changing the tone, too.

MR. McCLELLAN: All of a sudden now, we're trying to change the topic in this room.

Q There's a legal issue, there's an ethical issue, too. Going after a man's wife is unethical.

MR. McCLELLAN: Let me make it very clear. As I said previously, he was not involved, and that allegation is not true in terms of leaking classified information, nor would he condone it. So let me be very clear...

That's right -- what was once li'l Scottie being "very clear" is suddenly grounds for no comment. I think it might be useful for someone to point out McClellan's 2003 words, then ask him what it means from now on whenever McClellan claims he (or President Chimpy, for that matter) are being "very clear."

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