FLASHBACK: Scott McClellan Slams 'People Like Michael Moore'

Excerpt from Scott McClellan's June 24th, 2005 White House press briefing:

Q: And yesterday after your explanation of Mr. Rove's remarks the night before at the Conservative Union in New York, Democrats went to the Senate floor, held a news conference, pretty much teed off on this, calling for either an apology, one that they said had to be a profound apology. They called it gutter politics, nauseating and vulgar, and said that if Karl doesn't apologize appropriately, he should be resigned and even suggested the President should apologize. What's the thinking on it lately here?

MR. McCLELLAN: There's no reason -- no reason for that. It's still puzzling why Democratic leaders were coming to the defense of liberal organizations like moveon.org and people like Michael Moore. Karl was talking about the conservative philosophy and the liberal philosophy when it comes to the war on terrorism. And I think that he -- again, go back and look. He was speaking to a political organization, the New York Conservative Party, and he was talking about different political philosophies. I think that's what you do when you speak to political organizations.

And it's just puzzling why Democratic leaders are trying to defend the views of people like Michael Moore and organizations like moveon.org that took a very different view after the attacks of September 11th, after the attacks on the World Trade Center, and the Pentagon here in Washington, D.C. And you can go back and look at some of the comments that they made. But moveon.org had urged restraint and understanding, and they had said that we shouldn't be using instruments of war, that we should look at international law, human rights law, and international organizations to indict people.

The President took a very different view, and conservatives have a very different view. And that's what Karl was talking about. And many of the leaders who came out and, for whatever reason, started launching into attacks and trying to twist things around, stood with us in the aftermath of September 11th. There was a very united Congress when it came to how we proceed forward in the war on terrorism, in the aftermath of September 11th. So it's just puzzling that they're sitting there trying to defend these liberal views.

Q: But insofar as the administration, the President clearly disagreed with those views, insofar as it's a philosophy, what is the conservative view of the liberal anti-war pacifist philosophy?

MR. McCLELLAN: What is the view --

Q: Not just right or wrong, but is it a legitimate -- is it a legitimately debatable philosophy?

MR. McCLELLAN: Yes, and I think it's important for the American people to know what the different philosophies are. And that's all Karl was pointing out in his remarks. And the American people can judge for themselves. We have great confidence in their judgment, and we'll let them judge for themselves.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2005/06/20050624-3.html

For more news about people who still have their jobs, check out http://www.michaelmoore.com

Category:

News & Politics

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[FattKidd]

How is occupying Iraq whilst our gov't curtails civil liberties here at home, a 'sacrifice for freedom'? The Iraqi people don't want us there. How are we even defending THEIR freedom? People like you know nothing but slogans and gov't propaganda... in other words, bullshit. There hasn't been a war fought for freedom by this country since the war of 1812. Educate yourself lest you look like such a damn fool! Read, 'War Is A Racket' by Maj. Gen. Smedley Butler, USMC the ONLY two-time CMH winner.

[SergioMomarsh]

My brother's life is still in jeopardy because of this man's abuse of power. His former boss and the President are also responsible. He has not yet, nor can he ever undo the harm he has caused, the only thing he can do is to continue to work to see that such abuses are not repeated. There should be no war declared by any free nation unless its president and commander in chief is required to lead the fight on the ground.

[mvagusta750]

@hendodabest

i think its great trying to listen to mcclelan, sounds like a robot, thats what happens when you try and keep the lies together. until they put him out with fabricated news and left him holding thje bag.

[hendodabest]

I can see how well Obamas stimulas package is working.His adminastration sucks.They must be taking pointers from that fat fag Michael Moore.Who by the way is a capitalist.

[whoo689]

away*

[whoo689]

That's pretty much the GOP philosophy: Scare people into voting for us. That's not change you can believe in (pardon my quote-borrowing from Obama). Obama's not perfect, but at least he gave people hope.

[whoo689]

The reality is that you're more likely to get struck by lightning than killed by terrorists. And lightning strikes are already rare. It's all George Bush-Tom Ridge Republican fearmongering, what they'e best at. They put fear of Democrats taking your guns aw in your head (which will never happen). They give you this fear that you could be instantly attacked by terrorists if you don't embrace their overly hawkish dumbass foreign policy. They make you fear raising taxes just a little bit.

[hankfletcher]

There are no "different philosophies." Philosophy is the search for truth. Philosophically, something is either true or isn't.

The search for truth is worlds apart from what's going on in this video. McClellan is practicing the equivocation of modern (i.e. dirty) politics. In short, his argument and intention is: "The administration can be the biggest jerks as they want to be, as long as I keep you and most other people confused enough to not be able to figure it out."

[seenthelight2times]

IN OUR JUDGMENT THE ENTIRE ADMINISTRATION is full of WAR Criminals and there will be NO "Operation Paper-clip" to save you from the Judgment and accountability you ALL will face soon.

[HalfLucky]

Government wants me scared? Oh boy AM I SO SCARED. It's called reality my friend. One day you'll realize when it's 50,000 degrees over one of your countries cities and they're dancing in the middle east. Until that day comes you can't understand, it's impossible for you to understand. It was fun having this little debate with you, you're probably a nice person but we ain't going to change the other persons opinion and I'm really starting to not care about this conversation anymore.

[reprimand33]

No!! On the contrary you government wants you scared!! So that they can violate your constitutional rights!! I am most certainly not narrow minded!! I have lots of American friends; it's your government I am against!! They cannot even unite under one religion let alone rage a campaign against a country across the world! They have homes and families waiting for them just like you they are not some monster they are HUMAN!! Just like you!! Yes I have been to St Petersburg

[HalfLucky]

What you fail to understand is they want you dead. You can't understand it cause your mind is already made up that the USA is evil. You're being very close minded. If the roles were switched and we were them and they were us they would be bombing us everyday trying to kill us til we no longer existed. If we closed gitmo where would the people go? Their countries dont want them we don't want them where would they go? These people are dangerious. Holding people without charge? Ever been to Russia?