Is David Gregory Trying To Replace Helen?
I am beginning to think so! Today, he had yet another outburst. Helen can be excused because of age, but David is displaying a behavior that you see just before someone “seeks treatment” for a problem! Today, he took on Tony Snow.
Q The President, in his last speech, made very clear that the American people have a choice — right? — in the way forward in the war on terror, which suggests, by definition, that he is trying to frame the political debate for the midterm election when it comes to national security. Is that fair?
MR. SNOW: I think both parties — if you take a look again at the letter -
Q But I’m asking about the President. I’m not asking about Democrat — you don’t speak for Democrats. I’m asking about the President.
MR. SNOW: Well, but I’m trying to answer, because there are two parts of this equation, David. There seems to be a presumption that if Democrats make political points the President shouldn’t respond because that would be political. The President — these are important issues, and you can call it politics, you can call it whatever you want, but the most important thing to do is to provide a basis for people to take a look at the facts and reach thoughtful conclusions…
- This is a favorite tactic of Democrats and the Old Media, advancing a political argument then claiming that responding to it is “playing politics”.
Q Okay. There’s so much emphasis by the President on his resolve and on the consequences of failure, which seems to dovetail to the political strategy of casting the vote as not a referendum on his leadership or his conduct in the war on terror, leading the war on terror, but on a choice between two parties and their visions. And I’m curious whether, in this document, there’s any reflection on the fact that this White House, this administration failed to anticipate a violent terrorist-based insurgency in Iraq, and also failed to adapt once it learned of its presence? And shouldn’t that be put before the voters this fall?
MR. SNOW: I think you’ve admirably expressed the Democratic point of view, but I don’t think —
- He shoots, he scores!
Q It’s not a Democratic argument, Tony.
MR. SNOW: Let me answer the question, David.
Q But hold on, let’s not let you get away with saying that’s a Democratic argument.
MR. SNOW: Okay, let me — let’s not let you get away with being rude. Let me just answer the question, and you can come back at me.
Q Excuse me. Don’t point your finger at me. I’m not being rude.
MR. SNOW: Yes, you are.
Q Don’t try to dismiss me as making a Democratic argument, Tony, when I’m speaking fact.
MR. SNOW: Well, okay — well, no —
Q You can do that to the Democrats; don’t do it to me.
MR. SNOW: No, I’m doing it to you because the second part was factually tendentious, okay? Now, when you were talking about the fact that it failed to adapt, that’s just flat wrong. And you will be — there has been — there have been repeated attempts to try to adapt to military realities, to diplomatic realities, to development of new weapons and tools on the part of al Qaeda, including the very creative use of the Internet. So the idea that somehow we’re staying the course is just wrong. It is absolutely wrong…
Q No, you described me as rude in making a Democratic argument and said —
MR. SNOW: Well, that’s because I kept trying to answer the question, and you kept jumping in. We need to come to an accommodation, because I’m perfectly happy to take on both sides.
