Scott McClellan’s One Right Thing
Doesn’t he look a little relieved? [The White House]
I will miss Scott McClellan. Regardless of what you feel about the administration, you have to feel sorry for that guy. He sweated that job, both metaphorically and literally. Ari Fleischer smelled frustration in the briefing room and enjoyed it like a wine bouquet; McClellan seemed, a bit, to want the press to like him. The White House pool report states that McClellan teared up while announcing his departure. He’s human, that guy. We wound him with our impertinence.
I developed an affection for Scott McClellan two years ago; I was underemployed and alone all day with C-Span. In early 2004 the White House press corps was asking about gay marriage and Bush’s National Guard record and the now quaint idea of a peace process in the Levant. Abu Ghraib hadn’t broken yet. It was a more innocent time.
So I know that it’s a flack’s job to repeat talking points, but McClellan repeated talking points, so often that in sequence his paragraphs made no sense. Then I understood what Karl Rove had figured out a decade earlier: in a briefing, a flack has one objective only. That objective is not to answer questions, or even to appear to answer questions; it is to never, ever be caught on tape saying anything but the One Right Thing.
Which means that the One Right Thing has to be repeated. A lot. Often three or four times a minute. Ari Fleischer dismissed questions; Scott McClellan answered them. Again and again. So below, left from that innocent time when I had brand-new editing software and no job, is five briefing’s worth of the One Right Thing.
Everything you hear in these sound files was actually said, in sequence, at a press briefing; if he says it fifteen times in the sound file, he said it fifteen times in the briefing. All I did was remove the filler between the sound bites.
My favorite one is “fulfilled his duties.”
To Listen: Get Adobe Flash Player, or download an mp3 at the bottom of the post.
To Listen: Get Adobe Flash Player, or download an mp3 at the bottom of the post.
To Listen: Get Adobe Flash Player, or download an mp3 at the bottom of the post.
To Listen: Get Adobe Flash Player, or download an mp3 at the bottom of the post.
To Listen: Get Adobe Flash Player, or download an mp3 at the bottom of the post.
free viagra
buy viagra online
generic viagra
how does viagra work
cheap viagra
buy viagra
buy viagra online inurl
viagra 6 free samples
viagra online
viagra for women
viagra side effects
female viagra
natural viagra
online viagra
cheapest viagra prices
herbal viagra
alternative to viagra
buy generic viagra
purchase viagra online
free viagra without prescription
viagra attorneys
free viagra samples before buying
buy generic viagra cheap
viagra uk
generic viagra online
try viagra for free
generic viagra from india
fda approves viagra
free viagra sample
what is better viagra or levitra
discount generic viagra online
viagra cialis levitra
viagra dosage
viagra cheap
viagra on line
best price for viagra
free sample pack of viagra
viagra generic
viagra without prescription
discount viagra
gay viagra
mail order viagra
viagra inurl
generic viagra online paypal
generic viagra overnight
generic viagra online pharmacy
generic viagra uk
buy cheap viagra online uk
suppliers of viagra
how long does viagra last
viagra sex
generic viagra soft tabs
generic viagra 100mg
buy viagra onli
generic viagra online without prescription
viagra energy drink
cheapest uk supplier viagra
viagra cialis
generic viagra safe
viagra professional
viagra sales
viagra free trial pack
viagra lawyers
over the counter viagra
best price for generic viagra
viagra jokes
buying viagra
viagra samples
viagra sample
cialis
generic cialis
cheapest cialis
buy cialis online
buying generic cialis
cialis for order
what are the side effects of cialis
buy generic cialis
what is the generic name for cialis
cheap cialis
cialis online
buy cialis
cialis side effects
how long does cialis last
cialis forum
cialis lawyer ohio
cialis attorneys
cialis attorney columbus
cialis injury lawyer ohio
cialis injury attorney ohio
cialis injury lawyer columbus
prices cialis
cialis lawyers
viagra cialis levitra
cialis lawyer columbus
online generic cialis
daily cialis
cialis injury attorney columbus
cialis attorney ohio
cialis cost
cialis professional
cialis super active
how does cialis work
what does cialis look like
cialis drug
viagra cialis
cialis to buy new zealand
cialis without prescription
free cialis
cialis soft tabs
discount cialis
cialis generic
generic cialis from india
cheap cialis sale online
cialis daily
cialis reviews
cialis generico
how can i take cialis
cheap cialis si
cialis vs viagra
levitra
generic levitra
levitra attorneys
what is better viagra or levitra
viagra cialis levitra
levitra side effects
buy levitra
levitra online
levitra dangers
how does levitra work
levitra lawyers
what is the difference between levitra and viagra
levitra versus viagra
which works better viagra or levitra
buy levitra and overnight shipping
levitra vs viagra
canidan pharmacies levitra
how long does levitra last
viagra cialis levitra
levitra acheter
comprare levitra
levitra ohne rezept
levitra 20mg
levitra senza ricetta
cheapest generic levitra
levitra compra
cheap levitra
levitra overnight
levitra generika
levitra kaufen
April 20th, 2006 at 5:36 am
It’s a pretty impressive tactic I think. It sure is a good way to make sure you have control over what people say – Only allow them to say one simple thing.
Maybe we, the public, need to take advantage of this new tactic in the relationship between the public and governing bodies. We just need someone to give presentations to the admistrations saying things like “climate change… climate change…global warming…” and “help Katrina survivors… rebuild sensibly … help Katrina survivors”.
April 20th, 2006 at 9:35 am
Dunno, I still think Ari Fleischer was more weirdly masterful at saying nothing.
Jay Rosen: The Jerk at the Podium: Scott McClellan Steps Away, and Stop Us Before We’re Briefed Again.
In the latter, Rosen argues that white house briefings have become completely pointless and that the press should just stop going to them — in fact, make a point of not going to them. My thought: The White House shows its level of respect for it by credentialling people like Jeff Gannon; I’d feel like a chump sharing a room with that knowing that the whole point of the excercise is to make me stupider. Time better spent filing FOIA requests.
April 20th, 2006 at 9:36 am
So if the briefings are intended to be pointless, does that make Ari and Scott the White House’s first kabuki theater troupe?
I feel a Beckett moment coming on, Scott McClellan sitting under a bare tree.
April 20th, 2006 at 10:26 am
Don’t shoot the messenger? OK, maybe. But McClellan’s antics proved beyond a doubt that these White House briefings are pointless. The press should stop attending them altogether.
April 20th, 2006 at 3:51 pm
Brendan, great piece of auditory montage. Unbelievable if I hadn’t listened. This reminds me of a performance art piece I watched a while back: 3SPEED 2000. You won’t get the flavor of this from watching the sample. It’s near the end of the piece where the spokesperson reduces his commentary to absurdity by repeating the same phrases to the media over-and-over-and-over. Breathtakingly boring to watch. A great commentary on absurdity in the public space.
April 21st, 2006 at 7:49 am
fulfill your duties…fulfill your duties…McClellan is going to make a great parent. How quickly will his kids tune him out? Now if only the press core had as much smarts.
April 21st, 2006 at 9:12 am
[...] estions; Scott McClellan answered them. Again and again.” Greeley goes on to produce edited audio samples of five press briefings McClellan held in 2004. The mechan [...]
April 21st, 2006 at 1:07 pm
Okay here’s the $64k question: Will Maestro Lydon become the next W.H. press secretary?! Wouldn’t that be great… take ROS to the daily briefings… can you imagine? “Brendon, what do we have from the blog today? Well Chris, we have a comment from Nikos who points out another policy flaw …” !!! It’d be too great… just too great.
May 1st, 2006 at 11:11 pm
[...] ious sources: Can you tell a programmer from a serial killer? Kitten pictures. An audio tribute to Scottbot 3000. Ofuok’s musical tribute to Michelle Malkin̵ [...]