Today Scott McClellan told reporters that "I don't know of any changes" with regard to preventing another breach of national security like Valerie Plame. This White House has made no changes to how it does business despite a clandestine CIA operative's outing and the resulting diminishing of our nation's intelligence gathering at a time of war. From today's White House Briefing (video available at link):
STARTS ABOUT 19 MINUTES INTO BRIEFING
Q Scott, on the CIA leak situation, a judge has ruled that the two reporters have to testify before the grand jury. Does the White House agree with this, or have any thoughts on it? And can you tell us, do you know whether Robert Novak has been divulging the source of the person who leaked the name originally?
MR. McCLELLAN: First of all, on the first part of your question, that's a matter that's before the courts. I don't know the facts surrounding that matter, so I think we'll leave it to the courts to address that matter.
Q Anything on Robert Novak?
MR. McCLELLAN: No, I don't.
Q So the President thinks that they should testify or go to jail?
MR. McCLELLAN: The President has made it very clear that when it comes to this matter that anybody who has information ought to come forward and present that information so that the people investigating this can get to the bottom of it. That's what the President's views are. I don't know the facts about these individual reporters and what they may or may not know that would be helpful. That's a matter that the courts are working to address. But the President has made it clear that he wants to get to the bottom of this matter, and that anyone who has information that relates to this that can help the prosecutors move forward and get to the bottom of it should provide that information to the prosecutors.
Q But just to be clear -- because you're suggesting that the President believes there's no First Amendment privilege, is that what he believes?
MR. McCLELLAN: No, that's not what I said. I said I don't know the facts regarding the circumstances of these two reporters. That's a matter before the courts. I don't know the facts regarding it, that's not what I'm saying at all.
...
(STARTS ABOUT 23 MINUTES INTO BRIEFING)
Q Scott, back on the leak-gate situation. What has changed here at the White House as it relates to your office and other offices here as it relates to us? How has -- how have things changed?
MR. McCLELLAN: I don't know of any changes. I hope that our relationship has continued to improve.
Q I mean, is there any more kind of a filing system, of sorts, of emails? Is there a filing system of phone calls? What has changed since leak-gate?
MR. McCLELLAN: I don't know of any changes that have occurred in recent months.
Q All right, well, and a follow-up question on this. Some are saying that it's curious that the White House, all the documentation that is out there now in the hands of the courts, that there is no information as to who gave the reporter the information. What do you say to that?
MR. McCLELLAN: What do I say to that? The same thing that the President has said previously and what I said to Norah earlier.
Sarah, go ahead.
Q Thank you. Scott --
Q What did the President say earlier? Can you reiterate that?
MR. McCLELLAN: I did. I addressed it to Norah in response to her question. No one wants to get to the bottom of it more than the President of the United States, and that's why he's urged anyone who has information that can help prosecutors get to the bottom of it to provide that information to those officials.
Q So the paper trail has ended here at the White House --
And that's exactly how it ended. Scott simply stopped answering the question and moved on. And he didn't look all that comfortable.
Each time this topic came up, you could see him get frustrated with the question. And yet, he admits that since the Valerie Plame leak the White House has done NOTHING to prevent it from happening again.
Let's be clear what happened. Someone exposed Valerie Plame's name because Joe Wilson dared to speak out against the administration. As a result of trying to get back at their enemies, they diminished the CIA's ability to gather intelligence at a time of war.
Which enemies matter more? White House enemies, or enemies of our nation? This White House has made it clear that they are more concerned about political power and destroying those who dare speak out against them, that they are willing to sacrifice our nation's security.
Republicans love to say "at a time of war, you put your country first" whenever anyone disagrees with them. With Valerie Plame, they put their political enemies first and our nation last. And today Scott McClellan told us they have no intention of that ever changing.
-- Rob in Baltimore
