It's crunch time in the White House.
Scandal, innuendo, and political intrigue are as ubiquitous as pictures of eagles
clutching arrows and olives. In the midst of the confusion, Press
Secretary Mike McCurry, stuff of legends, steps up to the mike.
Equally at home with witty banter, scathing response, and artful dodge,
the Press Secretary is like a god among men. Who is this enigmatic figure who won't parse the
President's statement?
... and click here for the Press Secretary's latest witticisms!
MR. MCCURRY: You tell me how long you are going to come and bust the pinata here every day.
Q Until you start answering questions.
MR. MCCURRY: Why do I get the feeling there's like millions of people looking at their television sets saying, why are they interrupting my soaps for this guy who never says anything? Anybody got an answer to that?
Q You're so photogenic.
Q Mr. McCurry, I'm not familiar with the proceedings in the White House, so forgive me, but --
MR. MCCURRY: Well, it's usually a little bit calmer.
Q First I want to ask you, because I'm so unfamiliar with events here, is am I right in thinking that at no other time has the American press pursued an American President quite as vigorously and as enthusiastically -- (laughter) -- as this one? And if I am right, can you explain why?
MR. MCCURRY: I don't know if I can comment on that, because I don't have enough experience. But I doubt that they've ever pursued the White House press secretary quite as vigorously.
Q Will it concern you if there is a story, a lot of stories that say you're stonewalling?
MR. MCCURRY: Not if we are rallying around the Arkansan the way the Confederacy rallied around the Virginians at Bull Run.
Q The Confederacy lost. (Laughter.)
MR. MCCURRY: At that battle, Sam, they did not.
Q Mike, if you don't want us to rely on leaks, then do you expect us to wait until there is perhaps a trial before we see the WAVES records?
MR. MCCURRY: No, I just expect you to do what good news organizations would reasonably do, which is to report as accurately as you can based on factual information that you know.
Q How can we if we don't have this information?
MR. MCCURRY: Well, I think you all know the constraint that I'm laboring under here, and I don't want to belabor the pain and anguish I feel.
