Yesterday's White House press gaggle has this classic of Orwellian obfuscation:
Q Scott, has the political season started yet for the President?Posted by Chris at January 16, 2004 02:33 PMMR. McCLELLAN: The President remains focused on our nation's highest priorities. As you have seen, he has continued to work to move forward on a number of important priorities recently, including his temporary worker program, including the bold new course he laid out for NASA yesterday and our space program.
Q Does speaking at several fundraisers a week constitute the nation's highest priorities?
MR. McCLELLAN: Obviously, there is -- the President recognizes that there is an election. But his focus is on the people's business. I mean, I think I just dismiss that whole characterization outright. Obviously --
Q You mean it's inaccurate that he's speaking at several fundraisers a week?
MR. McCLELLAN: Obviously he has to -- well, the way you characterized it previously. That's not the way you characterized it. I think you characterized it in different terms prior to that. Obviously, the President has to -- is going to reach out and build support for his campaign. But his focus remains on our nation's highest priorities and doing the people's business.