Transcript from todays Press Briefing.

[AlCzervik]

David "Franchie" Gregory

Q Scott, you know what, to make a general observation here, in a previous administration, if a press secretary had given the sort of answers you've just given in referring to the fact that everybody who works here enjoys the confidence of the President, Republicans would have hammered them as having a kind of legalistic and sleazy defense. I mean, the reality is that you're parsing words, and you've been doing it for a few days now. So does the President think Karl Rove did something wrong, or doesn't he?

MR. McCLELLAN: No, David, I'm not at all. I told you and the President told you earlier today that we don't want to prejudge the outcome of an ongoing investigation. And I think we've been round and round on this for two days now.

Q Even if it wasn't a crime? You know, there are those who believe that even if Karl Rove was trying to debunk bogus information, as Ken Mehlman suggested yesterday -- perhaps speaking on behalf of the White House -- that when you're dealing with a covert operative, that a senior official of the government should be darn well sure that that person is not undercover, is not covert, before speaking about them in any way, shape, or form. Does the President agree with that or not?

MR. McCLELLAN: Again, we've been round and round on this for a couple of days now. I don't have anything to add to what I've said the previous two days.

Q That's a different question, and it's not round and round --

MR. McCLELLAN: You heard from the President earlier.

Q It has nothing to do with the investigation, Scott, and you know it.

MR. McCLELLAN: You heard from the President earlier today, and the President said he's not --

Q That's a dodge to my question. It has nothing to do with the investigation. Is it appropriate for a senior official to speak about a covert agent in any way, shape, or form without first finding out whether that person is working as a covert officer.

MR. McCLELLAN: Well, first of all, you're wrong. This is all relating to questions about an ongoing investigation, and I've been through this.

Q If I wanted to ask you about an ongoing investigation, I would ask you about the statute, and I'm not doing that.

MR. McCLELLAN: I think we've exhausted discussion on this the last couple of days.

Q You haven't even scratched the surface.

Q It hasn't started.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2005/07/20050713-7.html

[bryant69]

1. Pay no attention to the scandal behind the curtain

Hey you guys hear about that missing girl in aruba?

Sharks. Everywhere Sharks. Sharks! With big scary Teeth. Sharks. Look out! Sharks!!!

We must not dishonor those who died on september 11th by continuing to speak of lies I may or may not have spoken.

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[bj2110]

5. And don't forget the hurricanes! Emily's a'comin!

And I live on the Gulf Coast for God's sake. I'm sick of the damn hurricane coverage....

[bryant69]

7. Well i'm from Florida

So may have a different perspective. Or to put it another way, I'm sick of it too but not for the same reason.

[bj2110]

8. I live in FL also. On the gulf, north of Tampa.

I'm sick of it because it ain't that important until about two days ahead of time. And anytime before then, it doesn't deserve any more than a mention and a quick glance at the map. I see it as just another device of fear. Why the hell does Joe Blow in Nebraska care about hurricanes on CNN? Why does every time I'm on the phone with somebody up north, the first question is, "So, what about those hurricanes??"

[bryant69]

9. Fair point

And that's about what i do as well - and they are less likely to hit me than you.

Mostly I go do my grocery shopping earlier cause going right before a hurricane is total madness.

[flvegan]

13. Isn't Brad Pitt in the hospital? How's Michael Jackson doing?

[bj2110]

2. Somebody's balls are getting bigger daily.... lol nt

[Ilsa]

3. I saw Bush* speak to reporters during the Cabinet meeting and

he looked sheepish, like he knew it was going down and there is nothing he can do to stop it. So all he could say was "not to pre-judge" the investigation, hoping to buy a little time.

[AlCzervik]

6. and Rove was right behind him-watching

[KnaveRupe]

4. Ah! The fourth estate! Good to see you!

Where the hell have you guys been? Hey! Have you heard about these Downing Street Minutes? Or this guy Jeff Gannon? How about *'s National Guard service?

Now that you guys are back, maybe you can FINALLY look for some of these answers!!!

[GreenPartyVoter]

10. This is great stuff! Will he do it on any other subjects besides Rove?

[NewJeffCT]

11. more surface scratching, please!

good to see somebody besides Helen Thomas having the, um, gumption to ask tough questions.

[aquart]

12. This was a fascinating question:

Jessica can't get him to confirm that the prosecutor did indeed ask him not to comment:

"MR. McCLELLAN: Let me go to Jessica, and then I'll come back to you.

Q Scott, I've spoken to one person at least who says that when -- after being interviewed by the special prosecutor was asked not to discuss subjects, the substance of their interview, but was free to talk about this investigation more broadly. So my question is, has the White House been asked by the special prosecutor not to talk about specific testimony, or to discuss nothing about this at all?

MR. McCLELLAN: These questions came up the last couple of days, and again --

Q But you haven't been explicit. Did the special prosecutor say to the White House --

MR. McCLELLAN: Again --

Q -- don't discuss this?

MR. McCLELLAN: I want to help the investigation proceed and come to a successful conclusion. And the best way to do that, as I've said, not only the last couple of days, but going back nearly two years, is to not get into discussing the investigation from this podium, and those questions --

Q Because the prosecutor asked you not to?

MR. McCLELLAN: And those questions I've been through the last couple of days, this morning, and there's really nothing to add. And I appreciate it, but we've exhausted this discussion, I think. And we need to let that investigation proceed."