Reply #5: McClellan from earlier today

[paineinthearse]

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2005/03/print/20050315-5.html#12

For Immediate Release
March 15, 2005

Press Briefing by Scott McClellan
James S. Brady Press Briefing Room


Q Scott, on video news releases, yesterday the Comptroller General, reacting to the Bolten memo, said that it's not just a legal question, there are ethical questions. Does our President --

MR. McCLELLAN: I'm sorry, who said that?

Q The Comptroller General, David Walker. Does our President think there are ethical questions to be answered concerning the use of video news releases?

MR. McCLELLAN: I think the President looks at this and -- in the sense that there are some clear guidelines in terms of what department and agencies can or cannot do. There -- and in that memo that you were given yesterday, it references some of those and says that you need to make sure you're complying with those guidelines. In terms of these informational news releases, that is something that has been used for quite some time now by federal agencies. And as long as that information is factual and not crossing the line into advocacy, the Justice Department believes that it is perfectly appropriate. And it's well-known to the television stations where this information is coming from.

Q Has the administration reviewed any of these? Have you found any that you thought crossed a line, or have they all been okay?

MR. McCLELLAN: No. And one thing we wanted to do was make it clear to federal departments and agencies what the guidelines were and what they can and cannot do, and so that's why we sent the memo out last week spelling out those guidelines.