On Meet the Press, President Bush promised Tim Russert he’d authorize the release of all his service records, right?
Not so, says Scott McClellan: “No, I think the question was payroll records, payroll records that would show you served. It was relating to the issue of whether or not you served.”
So, those ambiguous payroll records are all he’s going to release.
Is the president willing to release any medical or disciplinary records that might clear up the contradictions found in the attendance and payroll records? Thus McClellan …
“These were all issues that came up four years ago,” McClellan told the White House press corps this morning, “as I talked about yesterday, here in this room. I think what you are seeing is gutter politics. The American people deserve better. There are some who are not interested in their facts. They are simply trolling for trash. And there are great challenges facing this country, and the President is acting decisively to meet those challenges. Instead of talking about the choices we face when it comes to policy decisions about our nation’s highest priorities, some are simply trolling for trash for political gain. And the American people deserve better. They deserve an honest debate about the choices we face. They deserve an honest discussion and look at what type of leadership the Commander-in-Chief is providing in a time of war, in a time when we are confronting dangerous new threats. It is very clear from the records that the President fulfilled his duties. He was honorably discharged. That’s all documented.”
I think that’s a ‘no’, right?
That little speech was preceded by this exchange with one of the reporters in the room …
Q: Quickly, Scott, National Guard records; supposedly there are additional documents in the President’s personnel file. Are they being reviewed with an eye to possibly releasing additional documents?
Scott McClellan: Well, if there was new information that came to our attention, we would certainly let you know about that.
Q: Has the President’s file been forwarded to Washington for review?
Scott McClellan: I don’t know the status of where it is. That was, I think, the Department of Defense. It’s my understanding the Department of Defense asked that those records be sent here, and we expect that we will receive some information, as well.
Q: So they are reviewing it?
Scott McClellan: — receive that information, as well. I’m sorry?
Q: So DOD is reviewing his file?
Scott McClellan: I don’t know what they’re doing with it. I’m just telling you it’s my understanding that they have requested that that information be sent to the Department of Defense. We expect that we will have that information, as well.
Can’t come clean. Won’t release the records he said he would. Sorta seems like there’s a problem lurking in there, don’t it?
