Slimy Scott

Interesting article in the WP about Scott McClellan's grasping at the fabled "trust me" straw yesterday on the same day the Press Corps questions every aspect of The Administration's, and his personal, responses to their questions regarding the Plame Affair and the SCOTUS nominations:

Instead of explaining himself, McClellan appealed for understanding.

"I'm very confident in the relationship that we have in this room and the trust that has been established between us," the spokesman said, making his plea for "trust" thrice more. "This relationship is built on trust, and you know very well that I have worked very hard to earn the trust of the people in this room, and I think I've earned it."

President Bush tried a similar "trust me" defense of Miers, telling conservatives she would be sufficiently conservative because he said so. Conservatives didn't buy that, and Miers was withdrawn.

McClellan doesn't seem to be having any better luck getting the White House press corps to trust him. ABC News's Terry Moran informed McClellan that "we can't vouch for you" and said he couldn't "carry your water for you." Moran added: "There's been a wound to your credibility here. A falsehood, wittingly or unwittingly, was told from this podium."

NBC's David Gregory was no more trusting, telling McClellan that his credibility "may very well be on trial with the American public" and asking, "Don't you agree?"

"No," McClellan said, and when Gregory continued to demand an answer, the spokesman told him he was "rude" and "disrespectful."

Nice work, Scotty.