Scott McClellan hearings, liveblog: Part 9

By GottaLaff
PLEASE NOTE: BLOGGER WILL BE DOWN FOR 10 MINUTES AT NOON PACIFIC, 3 EASTERN... THIS WILL INTERRUPT MY LIVEBLOGGING...

Tammy Baldwin: You said Bush played the game by the rules? I disagree.. he's broken the rules of the game, and those are the laws of the Constitution (I know you meant something else). Re: Plame. It's hard to comprehend that they lied about Iraq, and then instructed Libby's perjury. It's horrifying political retaliation... the only thing worse than knowing we'll live with that, is knowing how many have already suffered or died. On that note, thank you... How were you prepped...for press briefings? Who did you speak to? Who gave you permission to say what you did, say about Abu Ghraib?

Scott: Sometimes Bush, sometimes Nat'l Security Advisor, or staff. I was used in Plame episode, but not a deliberate effort to mislead the American people... more the permanent campaign mentality.

Tammy: Bush doesn't condone torture, but you were there for Abu Ghraib and other torture issues. ... Comment on previous statements?

Scott: No, there was info I didn't know at the time... relied on their assurances.

Tammy: Were you intentionally used to mislead?

Scott: Some there believe that that's true... others don't.

Tammy: Did you observe convos or actions in violation of federal law?

Scott: No.

Trent Franks: There's a feeling in my heart that if you felt you were misleading people, you should have spoken up THEN. Ari Fleischer thinks the book doesn't make sense... Not once did you approach him privately or publicly... Scott made the case for war, up to a year ago, on Bill Maher... If you thought this was wrong, then you should have spoken up then. Blah blah...

Scott: I gave the admin. the benefit of the doubt... and it wasn't the intel.. but how it was used.