The job forecasting question led to some amazingly contentious back-and-forth at yesterday's press briefing, with NBC's David Gregory taking a major role. Here's an excerpt from the full transcript:
"Q But it would appear, though, that people very high up in this administration didn't have a whole lot of faith in the forecast of the report that went up to Congress just a week ago in terms of the job creation numbers.
"MR. McCLELLAN: Again, it's an annual economic report that is put out by the administration based on the economic modeling and the data that's available at that point in time.
"Q Can you answer the specific question, though? Was this report -- was the prediction of this many jobs, 2.6 million jobs, vetted prior to publication by the entire economic team?
"MR. McCLELLAN: It's an annual report, David. It goes through the usual -- it goes through the usual --
"Q That's not the question. Was it or was it not vetted by the entire economic team?
"MR. McCLELLAN: It's an annual report. It goes through the usual --
"Q So you don't know, or it was, or it wasn't?
"MR. McCLELLAN: Can I get -- can I finish that sentence?
"Q When you answer the question. Let's hear it. What's the answer?
"MR. McCLELLAN: The answer was, it is an annual economic report and it goes through the normal vetting process. And if you would let me get to that, I would answer your question.
"Q -- the full economic team vetted the prediction --
"MR. McCLELLAN: It's an annual economic report. It's the President's Economic Report. But again, the President --
"Q Just say yes or no --
"MR. McCLELLAN: -- it goes through the normal -- it goes through the normal vetting process.
"Q So the answer is, yes. I'm not done yet, I've got another one.
"MR. McCLELLAN: Okay.
"Q Why -- if you're suggesting that people will debate the numbers, that's kind of a backhanded way to say, oh, who cares about the numbers. Well, apparently, the President's top economic advisors do, because that's why they wrote a very large report and sent it to Congress. So why was the prediction made in the first place, if the President and you and his Treasury Secretary were going to just back away from it?
"MR. McCLELLAN: Well, one, I disagree with the premise of the way you stated that. This is the annual Economic Report of the President and the economic modeling is done this way every year. It's been done this way for 20-some years.
"Q So why not -- why aren't you standing behind it?
"MR. McCLELLAN: I think what the President stands behind is the policies that he is implementing, the policies that he is advocating. That's what's important.
"Q That's not in dispute. The number is the question.
"MR. McCLELLAN: I know, but the President's concern is on the number of jobs being created --
"Q My question is, why was the prediction made --
"MR. McCLELLAN: -- and the President's focus is on making sure that people who are hurting because they cannot find work have a job. That's where the President's focus is.
"Q Then why predict a number? Why was the number predicted? Why was the number predicted? You can't get away with not -- just answer the question. Why was that number predicted?
"MR. McCLELLAN: I've been asked this, and I've asked -- I've been asked, and I've answered.
"Q No, you have not answered. And everybody watching knows you haven't answered.
"MR. McCLELLAN: I disagree."
"Q But it would appear, though, that people very high up in this administration didn't have a whole lot of faith in the forecast of the report that went up to Congress just a week ago in terms of the job creation numbers.
"MR. McCLELLAN: Again, it's an annual economic report that is put out by the administration based on the economic modeling and the data that's available at that point in time.
"Q Can you answer the specific question, though? Was this report -- was the prediction of this many jobs, 2.6 million jobs, vetted prior to publication by the entire economic team?
"MR. McCLELLAN: It's an annual report, David. It goes through the usual -- it goes through the usual --
"Q That's not the question. Was it or was it not vetted by the entire economic team?
"MR. McCLELLAN: It's an annual report. It goes through the usual --
"Q So you don't know, or it was, or it wasn't?
"MR. McCLELLAN: Can I get -- can I finish that sentence?
"Q When you answer the question. Let's hear it. What's the answer?
"MR. McCLELLAN: The answer was, it is an annual economic report and it goes through the normal vetting process. And if you would let me get to that, I would answer your question.
"Q -- the full economic team vetted the prediction --
"MR. McCLELLAN: It's an annual economic report. It's the President's Economic Report. But again, the President --
"Q Just say yes or no --
"MR. McCLELLAN: -- it goes through the normal -- it goes through the normal vetting process.
"Q So the answer is, yes. I'm not done yet, I've got another one.
"MR. McCLELLAN: Okay.
"Q Why -- if you're suggesting that people will debate the numbers, that's kind of a backhanded way to say, oh, who cares about the numbers. Well, apparently, the President's top economic advisors do, because that's why they wrote a very large report and sent it to Congress. So why was the prediction made in the first place, if the President and you and his Treasury Secretary were going to just back away from it?
"MR. McCLELLAN: Well, one, I disagree with the premise of the way you stated that. This is the annual Economic Report of the President and the economic modeling is done this way every year. It's been done this way for 20-some years.
"Q So why not -- why aren't you standing behind it?
"MR. McCLELLAN: I think what the President stands behind is the policies that he is implementing, the policies that he is advocating. That's what's important.
"Q That's not in dispute. The number is the question.
"MR. McCLELLAN: I know, but the President's concern is on the number of jobs being created --
"Q My question is, why was the prediction made --
"MR. McCLELLAN: -- and the President's focus is on making sure that people who are hurting because they cannot find work have a job. That's where the President's focus is.
"Q Then why predict a number? Why was the number predicted? Why was the number predicted? You can't get away with not -- just answer the question. Why was that number predicted?
"MR. McCLELLAN: I've been asked this, and I've asked -- I've been asked, and I've answered.
"Q No, you have not answered. And everybody watching knows you haven't answered.
"MR. McCLELLAN: I disagree."
