Helen Thomas on Scott McClellan

Helen Thomas, "Queen of the White House press Corps", had a few words about Scott McClellan, former White House press secretary under GW Bush, and author of the current bestseller ripping the Bush administration.

In Helen's recent book, "Watchdogs of Democracy," she says,"McClellan was unflappable in defending the indefensible at times. I am, however, criticial of the media for taking too long to challenge the administration on the war, to ask the tough questions, to stop accepting at face value the administration's stand on war justification, human rights, and international cooperation, including violations of the Geneva Convention."

"On May 25, 2005:

Helen: The other day--in fact this week, you [McClellan]said that we, the United States, [are] in Afghanistan and Iraq by invitation. Would you like to correct that incredible distortion of American history--
Scott: No. We are--that's where we are currently--
Helen: In view of your credibility [which] is already mired? How can you say that?
Scott: Helen, I think everyone is this room knows that you're taking that comment out of context. There are two democratically -elected governments in Iraq and--
Helen: Were we invited into Iraq?
Scott: There are democratically elected governments now in Iraq and Afghanistan, and we are there at their invitation. They are sovereign governments, and we are there today--
Helen: You mean, if they asked us out, that we would haveleft?
Scott: No, Helen, I'm talking about today. We are there at their invitation. They are sovereign governments--
Helen: I'm talking about today, too.
Scott:--and we are doing all we can to train and equip their security forces so that they can provide for their own security as they move forward on a free and democratic future.
Helen: Did we invade those countries?
Scott: Go ahead, Steve [with your question, referring to Steve Holland, Reuters White House Correspondent]

Those were the days when I longed for ABC-TV's great Sam Donaldson to back up my questions as he always did, and I did the same for him and other daring reporters.

Then I realized that the old pros, reporters whom I had known in the past, many around during WWII and later the Vietnam War, reporters who had some historical perspective on government deception and folly, were not around anymore. "

Helen Thomas, Watchdogs Of Democracy.