  Curioser and curioser... When they won't answer a direct question, it's usually because they're hiding something.
And Weasel Words work. For instance, did the White House state that Karl Rover and (Cheney aid) Scooter Libby had nothing to do with the Plame leak? That's what the press has repeated in nearly every story on the subject. But if you go back and look at their actual words - they were very very careful to always say the two were "... not involved in the leak of classified information.
" Does that mean they weren't involved in the Plame leak? Or does that mean that the White House, as some were arguing at the time, doesn't believe that the fact that Valerie Plame was an undercover CIA agent was classified information? Watch how it works in action - from urlLink today's White House Press Gaggle : Q Scott, are you able to say that the President has no information as to who leaked -- MR. McCLELLAN: Hang on one second, Mark. Remember, the President directed the White House to cooperate fully and that's why I said he was pleased to do his part to help this investigation.
Q Are you able to state that the President has no information as to who leaked the information regarding -- MR. McCLELLAN: Again, Mark, that's just getting into questions that are best directed to the officials in charge of the investigation. And I would not read anything into that one way or the other. This is an ongoing investigation. I think that the officials in charge would prefer that questions be directed to them. Note what Press Secretary Scott McLellan does.
Each time, he interrupts the questioners before the words "Valerie Plame" are out of their mouths. When you go back to search the record, you won't be able to find a single instance of Scott being asked "Did the president know who leaked the name of Valerie Plame" and him answering "no". Watch the Weasel Words in these two exchanges: Q When did he actually retain Sharp? Meaning, when was he informed that this interview would take place? MR. McCLELLAN: Recently. Q Scott, could you, for us -- I know that you may not know now, but can you, for us, find out when the President retained Sharp?
MR. McCLELLAN: I think I would just describe it as recently. Q Can you find out for us? MR. McCLELLAN: I will look into it, but that's probably the extent to -- Q The President of the United States is retaining a private attorney -- MR. McCLELLAN: -- how I would characterize it. Q I'm putting the inquiry in, then. When he retains -- the President is retaining a private attorney, we'd like to know what day it was.
MR. McCLELLAN: I appreciate that and if I have more on this, I'll let you know, I'll put it on the end of the gaggle transcript. Needless to say, there has been (to date) no further information. Why not? The only possible reason is that Bush retained Sharp right away , possibly as soon as the case went to Justice. Which would be a dead giveaway, wouldn't it? 
