From today’s press gaggle with Scott McClellan:
Q This was a direct order he defied, right? I mean, he did have a direct order that he defied?*
MR. McCLELLAN: John, these issues have come up every year. This was all part of the records — that he was seeking to transfer to a unit in Alabama because he was going there to work in a civilian capacity. And he was granted permission to do so. And he was proud of his service and he was honorably discharged in October ’73, after meeting his obligations.
*The memos that were released, in fact, show the President was working with his commanders to comply with the order.
Yes, that is lifted directly from the transcript of the press briefing. The White House added an asterisk to “clarify” a reporter’s question.
I thought it was bad enough when the White House added footnotes to clarify their answers. Now they apparently must clarify what the reporters ask–i.e., they inform the readers what reporters should have asked.
When will the spin end?