The Political Chase

Bush Bans ‘Characterization’

President Bush

The White House has definitely lawyered-up. White House Press Secretary Dana Perino has been ordered, presumably by the president, to not characterize the president’s reactions. Forget comments. Not even characterize the expression on his face.

Is it possible to get any more pathetic than that?

Why even bother with having a press briefing if she is not allowed to even characterize much less comment.

What a sad, sick, deranged man.

From today’s briefing.

QUESTION: Dana, is the President concerned about the impact on the CIA’s reputation and its integrity, not just here but around the world? I mean, there’s been similar episodes — we don’t know the full scope of this — but we know what we know, based on his point, that may be comparable to Abu Ghraib, where there were photos that were released –

MS. PERINO: No. No.

QUESTION: — the President spoke extensively about that.

MS. PERINO: Well, one, I haven’t – I’m not allowed to characterize the President’s reaction to this, but what I can tell you is that he — as I said Friday, he has complete confidence in General Hayden, and that remains.

QUESTION: But why can’t you characterize his concern, if there is one, about the integrity of a key governmental agency that operates around the world?

MS. PERINO: Well, I think I — pressed on that, I would say that I think the President feels very highly about all of the members of the intelligence community, and at the CIA. He knows that they work extremely hard in order to keep all of us protected, that they try to do everything that they possibly can. There’s — in regards to this specific issue, regarding these tapes, that the President said that he does not recall being made aware of their existence or their destruction until last Thursday’s briefing. There’s not much more I can say.

QUESTION: But he’s not concerned about the facts as we know them now?

MS. PERINO: In terms of — I can’t talk about that particular — I can’t characterize the President’s thinking on that.

QUESTION: Perhaps he’d like you to.

QUESTION: But why — I don’t understand why his reaction is somehow part of the investigation.

MS. PERINO: Well, because there’s a preliminary inquiry that’s been started, and to avoid any appearance of trying to prejudice that inquiry, it’s appropriate and better for us not to comment.