McCurry melts down

Last April when President Clinton was withholding subpoenaed evidence from Rep. Dan Burton (R.-Ind.), chairman of the House Government Reform and Oversight Committee, White House Press Secretary Mike McCurry humiliated a reporter who asked him a basic question on the issue.

When asked simply if the White House had turned over all requested documents, McCurry did not reply. Instead, he pulled a quarter from his pocket, flipped it to the offending journalist and quipped, "Here's a quarter. Go call him [Burton], tell him to come on down here and he can look in any document he wants to."

On January 21, when allegations broke that the President may have perjured himself in the Paula Jones case, engaged in obstruction of justice and conspired to suborn perjury by his alleged former mistress, Monica Lewinsky, McCurry was no longer jocular.

McCurry read this brief statement to reporters: "The President is outraged at these allegations. He's never had any improper relationship with this woman. He's made it clear from the beginning that he wants people to tell the truth in all matters:"

At the midday White House news brief ing, reporters demanded clarification:

Q: "Mike, you said this morning that the President did not have an improper relationship with his former intern. What do you mean by an "improper relationship'?"

McCurry: "I'm not going to parse the statement. You all got the statement I made earlier, and it speaks for itself. Claire?"

Q: "Are you saying no relationship?"

Q: "But would an improper relationship-"

McCurry: "I am not going to parse the statement. You've got the statement I made earlier, and it speaks for itself."

Q: "It doesn't speak for itself. I mean, we need a definition of what an 'improper' relationship means."

McCurry: "I am not going to-"

Q: "Are you standing by that statement?"

McCurry: "That statement is where we are, and that's what I am-that's what I said."

Q: "Does that mean there was a sexual relationship?"

McCurry: "Claire, I am just not going to parse this statement for you. It speaks for itself...."

Q: "Mike, could you describe the President's demeanor when he discussed this story with you and how his demeanor has been through the morning?"

McCurry: "Matter of fact...."

Q: "Mike-"

Q: "Mike, you said he was-"

McCurry: "Paul? I'll come back, Scott."

Q: "-outraged this morning, and now you say matter of fact-"

Q: "What kind of relationship did he have with her? Any?"

MuCurry: "I am not characterizing it beyond what the statement that I've already issued says."

Q: "Did they ever do anything socially at all or-"

not going to beyond what I said already. Scott?"

McCurry: "I am not characterizing it beyond what the statement that I've already issued says."

Q: "Did they ever do anything socially at all or-"

McCurry: "I am not going to parse this statement. I am not going to beyond what I said already. Scott?"

Q: "You said he was outraged this morning. Now you say his reaction is matter of fact. Which is it?"

McCurry: "I've given you the statement. He's outraged about the allegations...."

Q: "Mike, would it be improper for the President of the United States to have had a sexual relationship with this woman?"

McCurry: "Look, the President has made a statement that has expressed his outrage at allegations. I've made it very clear I'm not going to go beyond that statement, and you can stand here and ask a lot of questions over and over again which will elicit the exact same answer."

Q: "But, Mike, you're leaving-you're willing to leave-"

McCurry: "I'm not leaving any impression, David, and don't twist my words. It's very clear what the President has said in the statement. He said he has had no improper relationship with this woman. That clearly means that there would be things that would be improper, and I think you all know what they are and I don't need to, you know, parse it any further. Scott?"

Q: "Mike, the President is saying he did not commit perjury?"

McCurry: "Look, the President has made it clear, and I've made it clear in the statement I've issued on behalf of what he's said. He tells people to tell the truth.". . .

Q: "Just for the record, the President is also saying he never encouraged anyone to commit perjury?"

McCurry: "The President's statement speaks for itself. I'm not going to go beyond the statement that we've already issued...."

Q: "Would you be able to say that you are absolutely confident these are not true? How about you personally?"

McCurry: "Look, I-my personal views don't count. I'm here to represent the thinking, the actions, the decisions of the President. That's what I get paid to do. Yeah?"

Q: "Mike, part of what you get paid to do also is to make sure that the American people are informed correctly of what it is the White House is trying to say. So if-"

McCurry: "I'm doing my best at that at the moment."

Q: "And that's why I'm asking you. Are you trying to leave us with the impression that a President could have a 'proper' sexual relationship with this woman?"

McCurry: "Of course not, David. And that's-the question flies in the face of the statement you've gotten from the President that I think addresses that pretty clearly. Yeah, Deborah?"