Monday, July 25, 2005

The Loyal Foil Goyal

Long before Mr. Gannon lobbed softballs (!) to Scott McClellan, journalist have been pointing out how the White House goes to Raghubir Goyal when the questioning gets tough. This has become especially true during the recent revelations regarding the Plame case. Even NPR dared the Wrath of the Right-Wing by airing a story by Mr. Goyal. Here's an except from today's press briefing.

Notice the hard hitting approach and crystal-clear questioning:

MR. McCLELLAN: Goyal.

Q Scott, lately we have been in the news. My short comment is part of my question. First of all, I am really thankful to the President for inviting me to the grand State Dinner for the Prime Minister of India last week; it was great.

Q I wasn't there --

MR. McCLELLAN: There are other opportunities.

Q But my -- one of my comment is that, again, I said before that I am really thankful to this press corps, White House press corps, that you have been so supporting and helpful and also very kind and nice to me for those years -- 15 or for also 25 years here at the White House, ever since President Clinton.

MR. McCLELLAN: I appreciate that. Let's get to your question, because I do want to try to meet this meeting with --

Q You're a nice guy. (Laughter.)

MR. McCLELLAN: -- or make it to this meeting.

Q What I'm saying, Scott, that why do you have problems that I should ask the same questions that everybody asked, because when the Prime Minister of India is here, I should not ask the same questions everybody is asking. I did the same thing during President Clinton. Why should I ask about Monica Lewinsky when Prime Minister of India --

MR. McCLELLAN: People in this room have the right to ask whatever questions -- have the right to ask whatever questions they want.

Q What I'm saying is really that it was a grand -- beyond red carpet -- what India Globe said that Prime Minister of India got from the President and from the United States and also grand -- renewed of new friendship and new relations between the United States and India.

What my question is that from this -- from that grand dinner and red carpet -- beyond red carpet welcome, where we do go and also because I have not seen much in other paper. Like, I didn't come for the last two days, and I didn't see any question on the Prime Minister of India in town, rather than other question. So where -- what President --

MR. McCLELLAN: The two leaders had a very good visit. The President appreciated the call from Prime Minister Singh after he had returned to India expressing his deep appreciation for the hospitality that the President and Mrs. Bush showed.

We were able to move forward on some important priorities. That was all listed in the joint statement that we put out, and I appreciate your interest in those important issues.

Let me keep going. Let me keep going. Bill. I need to keep going.

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