WH reporter calls for death penalty for families of killed soldiers.

[paineinthearse]

The "gaggle" thought it was funny.....Did anybody catch this live? Who was the idiot?

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2005/02/20050201-7.html

Q Two quick ones. What are your thoughts on increasing the death penalties for loved ones of those killed in the war? And if Congress takes --

MR. McCLELLAN: The death benefit.

Q Right, the death benefits -- sorry. (Laughter.) Wow. All right, let's start again. Your thoughts on increasing the death benefits, and if Congress stalls on passing it, can the President pass this quickly by executive order?

MR. McCLELLAN: Oh, I think Congress shares the President's view that we should be doing everything we can to support not only our men and women in uniform, particularly those in harm's way, but also the families of our men and women who are serving and sacrificing in defense of freedom. We need to do all we can to support the families of those who have made the ultimate sacrifice defending the freedom's that we enjoy and making the world a better and more peaceful place.

And so the President strongly supports increasing the death gratuity, or the death benefit for the families of the fallen. Undersecretary for Personnel and Readiness at the Department of Defense, David Chu, has been testifying on this issue this morning before the Senate Armed Services Committee, and we hope Congress will act on this proposal. This is retroactive, so it would go back to the beginning of combat operation in October 2001.

Certainly, we can never fully compensate the families of those who have made the ultimate sacrifice. There is nothing that can compensate them for the loss of a loved one, but we should do all that we can to support them, and this is one way to show that support.

more........:puke:

[MADem]

1. Oh, bwahahahahahaha...NOT.

Fucking assholes, did they all break for koolaid at the backroom morning gaggle, or after the formal conference?

Lame ass, insensitive IDIOTS. Fuck 'em, the fools.

[BrklynLiberal]

2. Just shows the mentality of the press corps in the White House lately.

Wonder if Jon Stewart will have that on his show tonight.

[paineinthearse]

3. Feel free to submit it via Comedy Central.

Just credit DU.

[sueh]

4. Sending our troops to Iraq is a death sentence.

And I noticed that McClellan skirted the question anyway. The reporter asked if Bush would use an executive order to incease the death benefit if Congress stalls it.

[Old and In the Way]

5. Sounds like Jeff Gannon, the official media plant of the RNC.

[paineinthearse]

6. You're probably right

I sent him an email - [e-mail] - asking if he was there and knew who asked the question. Holding my breath for a reply.

[paineinthearse]

7. Still holding my breath....

...must have been Gannon.

[dsc]

8. And you have never mispoke

I highly doubt this was an intended joke but a misspeak. Anyone can do that from time to time.

[paineinthearse]

9. Yes, I have

But I am not a paid professional journalist.

My objection is not so much over the gaffe, but the laughter and levity in response.

Guess that is what happens when the press room water cooler is filled with kool aid.