« previous | MUCK HOME | next »
White House Finally Responds to OIG Report
According to Press Secretary Dana Perino, the president and White House have "overall disappointment" in former Attorney General Alberto Gonzales' politicized Justice Department.
Transcript from White House Press Briefing with Perino today:
QUESTION: Dana, what's your reaction to the Justice Department report where they -- the report essentially says, yes, that there was inappropriate influence on politics and ideology that was part of our hiring and firing practices?PERINO: Well as I have read the coverage of it -- I haven't read the report, but as I read the coverage of it, there's obviously information in there that would cause concern to anybody. And we agree with Michael Mukasey that -- the Attorney General -- that there was concern. There should be concern any time anyone is improperly using politics to influence career decisions. We believe that is improper. We could absolutely not defend that. And we are pleased that the Attorney General has taken steps to change it there at the Justice Department.
QUESTION: Can I infer from that that President Bush is disappointed in Alberto Gonzales?
PERINO: I think that if you look at the report, and it is in line with what the Attorney General said at the time, which was that he was not aware of that going on. And so I don't think there's anything -- disappointment doesn't necessarily go to the Attorney General.
QUESTION: You don't think it would change -- it doesn't change the President's . . .
PERINO: No, I don't. The whole situation -- the whole situation in terms of the politicization -- or accusations of politicization -- if you look at career hires that should not have had any sort of questions put towards them as to what sort of party they represent, or what affiliation they might belong to, or who they might vote for -- those are inappropriate for career positions. And the President is glad that the -- Attorney General Mukasey made sure that that is no longer ongoing at the Justice Department. And it's nothing that we could defend, and we never have.
QUESTION: But you won't go so far as to say that, looking at Alberto Gonzales's Justice Department, President Bush is disappointed this was going on?
PERINO: Well, I think that we are -- overall disappointment in the situation, sure.
To see Perino express the White House's disappointment in living color, click below:
Comments (21)
To see Perino express the White House's disappointment in living color, click below:
I'll pass, thank you very much.
July 30, 2008 3:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm still waiting to hear how "mildly annoyed" W. feels about the Fourth Amendment being tabled.
July 30, 2008 3:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
Bush was disappointed...... that they got caught.
July 30, 2008 3:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
So Dana,...does this report crack open to the public the permanent majority plan that Karl Rove and other high ranking members of the Bush administration wanted to implement? Do you think Mukasey should prosecute anyone affiliated with implementing these hiring practices layed out in the DOJ report or is this just one of those,...oops you caught me, we won't do that anymore,...we promise moments?
Pure Theater!
July 30, 2008 3:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
She hasn't read the report?! Is she serious? And I am having trouble deciding what's worse, if she is serious and actually has not read the report or if she is punting by saying she hasn't read it.
July 30, 2008 3:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
Dana read the whole report??? Are you serious????
The Press Secretary doesn't have the time to read long, tedious reports, she is too busy styling her hair..!
We're talking about the person who thought the attack on Bay of Pigs and the Cuban missile crisis were the same thing...
July 30, 2008 3:27 PM | Reply | Permalink
Naw....who needs to read those boring ol' reports when you're reciting farm-fresh talking points?
July 30, 2008 3:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
Unsurprising. Girlfriend didn't know anything about the Cuban Missile Crisis either.
"I was panicked a bit because I really don't know about . . . the Cuban Missile Crisis," said Perino, who at 35 was born about a decade after the 1962 U.S.-Soviet nuclear showdown. "It had to do with Cuba and missiles, I'm pretty sure."
July 30, 2008 3:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
First she says she hasn't read the report, then she says, "I think that if you look at the report, and it is in line with what the Attorney General said at the time, which was that he was not aware of that going on". And what kind of freakin language is that?
July 30, 2008 4:00 PM | Reply | Permalink
I propose until January 19, we suspend all official performances of "Hail to The Chief" to Sam Cooke's "Wonderful World (Don't Know Much)"
Even then, ignorance (willful and otherwise) is no defense for breaking the law. You don't even have to go to law school to know that much.
I would've thought one of the officers who'd arrived at the scene of one of W's drinking "events" before he found Jesus might have enlightened him... of course, when you have a future AG fixing tickets for you, the burden of recollection takes a back seat to all that silly law bidness.
July 30, 2008 3:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
"I think that if you look at the report, and it is in line with what the Attorney General said at the time, which was that he was not aware of that going on." Is this true? Does the report say or imply that Gonzo didn't know? How would they know that? And if it is an outright lie by Perino, as I suspect, how come nobody called her on it?
July 30, 2008 3:44 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think all it says is that Gonzo denied knowing anything about it.
July 30, 2008 8:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
When referring to Bush, "overall disappointment" probably just means that (yet again) he needed help fastening the straps to his breeches.
July 30, 2008 3:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
Wow, King George actually found someone dumber then himself to be Press Secretary. Her stupidity is nothing short of stunning!
July 30, 2008 3:50 PM | Reply | Permalink
Commit a felony and congress says they are "disappointed" in you. If you commit a murder would they be "disturbed".
The psychological warfare continues with language used to defer and obsficate the truth... the real Bush War (on Truth).
Oh I forgot, if you commit a murder... we just say how "troubled" you are that you had to endure such a tragedy. Just cover that up by making people feel sorry for you - worked for Cheeny when he shot someone..
THE WAR ON TRUTH...
July 30, 2008 3:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
Thanks, but I need to keep my lunch.
July 30, 2008 4:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
Being disappointed, when you happen to be an important person is tantamount to spending years in prison to ordinary folk...
This needs to be taken into account when deciding any kind of punishment for the esteem folks we have sent to Washington to represent this nation...
Any Roman citizens looking down on us right now?
July 30, 2008 4:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'll bet they're disappointed. Pretty much all the Democrats their corrupt Justice Department tried to put in jail on trumped-up charges have been freed!
July 30, 2008 5:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
I continue to be impressed with the White House Press Corp. It took them three days to think of one question? And know, thankfully, we know about the President's FEELINGS. How about a couple of real questions, like:
Did the President or anyone on his political staff direct Monica Goodling or anyone else to make sure only "Loyal Bushies" were hired at DOJ?
Does the President believe it's acceptable that two lawyers at DOJ were apparently punished because they were rumored to be gay?
If Gonzales really didn't know what was going on with the firings, as he claims, does the President think that should be part of the AG's job?
Will any criminal charges be fired? Will the President pardon the people involved?
Unfortunately, no one in the press really seems to care......
July 30, 2008 6:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
She also said "...we couldn't defend that...", as opposed to We shouldn't, or musn't, or would never. I guess they thought about trying to defend this, but gave up 'cause they couldn't.
July 30, 2008 8:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
yes !~!
it is welsher!~1~
and i saw more about this in 〓BIGBISEXUAL.C O M〓!`!you can go to have a look !~!
and then you will have a understanding that is more deep-going!~!~!
July 30, 2008 9:07 PM | Reply | Permalink