Obama “has to have an opinion on this! He can’t be a simple, casual bystander” exclaimed an exasperated CBS’ chief White House correspondent Major Garrett at a heated press briefing today.
“Over the weekend, Senate Democrats spent a good deal among themselves about whether this was the right time to release [the Senate Intelligence] report,” said Garrett. “And there are many that believe that this is not the right time, that it’s a very, very close call, that there are a number of objective reasons why it’s, as you hinted a moment ago, never a good time to release this report.”
Garrett: “From the White House’s perspective, what is the deciding factor that makes this the right time – other than the political calendar, which suggests that if Senate Republicans are in charge, this report will never see the light of day?”
“The fact is Major, the right time will be determined by Members of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence,” replied White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest haltingly. “That is as it should be. It’s their report, and they should make the decision about the appropriate time for releasing it.”
“But as you often remind us, the President is chiefly responsible for articulating and defending the security of this country, its embassies and its personnel,” said Garrett.
“He has to have an opinion on this! He can’t be a simple, casual bystander, leaving it to the committee to decide entirely on its own, without any guidance whatsoever whether this is the best time!” exclaimed an exasperated Garrett.
"...the legislative branch is a separate branch of government,” said Earnest.
“Well, uh, again – we have been,” stumbled Earnest. “I don’t want to leave you the impression that there hasn’t been any guidance. There has been communication between the administration and the committee.”
Garrett: “So why is this the right time?”
“Again, that is something that members of the committee have to decide for themselves,” said Earnest. “And again, as you have reminded me on a number of occasions, despite the President’s – uh – priority that he places on the security and safety of the United States of America, the legislative branch is a separate branch of government.”
It is truly ironic that Earnest’s dodge on the timing of the report’s release, which many think will have security implications abroad, includes an admission that the legislative branch is separate from the executive.
When it is convenient for the White House.