McClellan Challenges Senate Democrats

Speaking at yesterday’s White House press briefing, the president’s spokesman Scott ”The Lyin’ King” McClellan sounded a clear challenge to Democrats when asked about the resolution put forth by Russ Feingold (D-WI) to censure President Bush on the domestic spying program. Here’s some of the give an take:

Q: Scott, Senator Feingold is talking about censure relating to the NSA spying program, saying that the President was acting outside the law at a time when White House has said it's trying to codify the President's authority. What's your response to that?

McClellan: Well, the terrorist surveillance program is a program that has helped us to prevent attacks and save lives. It is vital to our nation's security. And it would be interesting to see how many Democrats actually agree with the view of Senator Feingold. Do Democrats support Senator Feingold's view, or do they support this vital program? The American people have made it very clear they support the President's efforts to defeat the terrorists and prevent attacks from happening.

The President has made it very clear he's not going to wait to be hit again. We are going to continue going after the terrorists wherever they are. And if you're talking to al Qaeda, or al Qaeda affiliated terrorists, we want to know. And it's important to keep in mind during a time of war that enemy surveillance is critical in those efforts. So what we ought to be doing is working together to defeat the terrorists, not engaging in partisan politics. So the question becomes, where do other Democrats stand? Do they agree with him in his view? I know Congressman Conyers has expressed a view about impeachment or something along those lines. Is this the view of the Democratic Party?

The enemy is the terrorists and al Qaeda members, not the President. And we ought to be focusing our efforts on going after the enemy and doing everything we can to prevent attacks from happening. And that's what this President has done and will continue to do.

Q: Is it a legitimate technique for him to bring censure to the floor, in light of the fact that the legality is being questioned?

McClellan: Let's see how many Democrats agree with that view. It would be very interesting to see if they hold that view, or if they support this vital program and think that we should continue doing everything within our power to stop attacks from happening and to save lives. This program has been successful in helping us do that very thing.

Q: Are you saying you'd welcome such a vote?

McClellan: I'm sorry?

Q: Are you saying you'd welcome such a vote?

McClellan: You ought to ask Democrats where they stand, if they agree with that view.

I hope Democratic Senators hear that for the clear, in-your-face challenge that it is and ask themselves “Are we going to support our guy and the Constitutional role of the Senate to provide oversight on the Presidency or are we going to listen to this putz?”